Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in West Virginia
West Virginia has 32 housing authorities managing a combined 89 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 56 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 63%. This data was last verified on Apr 7, 2026.
West Virginia offers various affordable housing assistance programs managed by local housing authorities. Across the state, 32 housing authorities oversee a total of 89 waiting lists for different housing programs. Currently, 56 of these lists are open and accepting new applications, representing a 63% open rate, while 30 lists are closed. This means many opportunities are available for those seeking assistance.
Key programs include Public Housing, with 32 lists across the state, 25 of which are open. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program also has 32 lists, with 12 currently open. Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) are available through 7 lists, 5 of which are open. Other programs with openings include Mainstream (3 lists, 1 open), Other (2 lists, 2 open), Other (Vouchers) (1 list, 1 open), Pine Haven PB Vouchers (1 list, 1 open), and Moderate Rehabilitation Program (1 list, 1 open), among others like Huntington Gardens Vouchers (1 list, 1 open), Huntington High PB Vouchers (1 list, 1 open), Mod Rehab (1 list, 1 open), Moderate Rehabilitation (1 list, 1 open), Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab) (1 list, 1 open), and FUP (1 list, 1 open). Areas with the most open lists by housing authority count include Beckley (2 HAs, 10 open lists), Elkins (2 HAs, 3 open lists), Bluefield (1 HA, 2 open lists), Charleston (1 HA, 2 open lists), and Clarksburg (1 HA, 2 open lists).
For those seeking assistance, it is worth noting that West Virginia has many small, rural Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) that may have shorter waitlists compared to larger metropolitan areas. Charleston and Huntington house the largest metro PHAs. The West Virginia Housing Development Fund serves as the state's housing agency. Keep in mind that waitlist statuses can change; for example, the Housing Authority of Randolph County in Elkins recently changed its PBV list from open to closed, and the Housing Authority of the City of Dunbar in Dunbar changed its Public Housing list from open to closed. The Housing Authority of the City of Grafton in Grafton also changed its RAD list status from unknown to closed. Regularly checking the current status of specific lists is advisable.
The affordable housing programs tracked in West Virginia include Public Housing (25 open), Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (12 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (5 open), Mainstream (1 open), RAD. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, application process, and wait times. In most cases, applicants can apply to multiple program types at the same housing authority, and there is no limit to the number of housing authorities you can apply to statewide.
The cities with the most open waitlists in West Virginia right now are Beckley (10), Huntington (10), Elkins (3), Bluefield (2), and Charleston (2) . Applicants who are flexible about location will generally receive assistance sooner than those who apply to a single waitlist in a high-demand area.
Latest opening: Housing Authority of the City of Elkins — PBV
Eligibility Requirements for West Virginia
To qualify for assistance in West Virginia, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund.
- Income: Below HUD local limits
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or eligible legal status
- Background: Criminal background check required
- Residency: Preferences often given to locals
Real-Time Data Verification
Section 8 Waitlist aggregates data from official West Virginia legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with West Virginia Housing Development Fund to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.