Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 115 housing authorities managing a combined 579 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 315 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 54%. This data was last verified on Aug 6, 2026.
Navigating affordable housing assistance in Wisconsin involves understanding a dynamic landscape of opportunities. Across the state, 115 housing authorities manage a total of 418 waiting lists. Currently, 203 of these lists are open, representing a 49% open rate, while 114 lists are closed. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) serves as the state's housing agency, and Wisconsin also offers state-level rental assistance to complement federal programs. The Milwaukee Housing Authority is the largest Public Housing Authority (PHA) in the state, while Madison and Green Bay operate independently to serve their communities.
Applicants seeking assistance have access to various programs. Public Housing leads with 85 open lists out of 115, offering significant opportunities. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program currently has 39 open lists from its 115 total. Project-Based Voucher (PBV) programs provide 23 open lists out of 47 available, and Mainstream vouchers have 3 open lists from 25. Other program types with available openings include Rural Development (2 open lists), Affordable Housing (2 open lists), Rural Development Multifamily (2 open lists), Senior Housing (2 open lists), and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) (1 open list), among others, reflecting a diverse range of support options.
Opportunities for housing assistance are present in cities across Wisconsin. Madison has 3 Housing Authorities with 11 open lists, while Milwaukee has 2 Housing Authorities with 4 open lists. Fond Du Lac provides 5 open lists across its 2 Housing Authorities, and Green Bay has 2 Housing Authorities with 3 open lists. La Crosse also presents 4 open lists managed by its 2 Housing Authorities. It is important to note that waitlist statuses can change; for instance, the Lincoln County Housing Authority in Tomahawk recently changed its HCV list from unknown to closed, while the DeForest Housing Authority in Deforest changed its HCV list from closed to open. The Dane County Housing Authority in Madison also changed its PBV list from open to closed, highlighting the importance of regularly checking for current openings.
Advertisement
The affordable housing programs tracked in Wisconsin include Public Housing (84 open), Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (49 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (25 open), Mainstream (5 open), RAD (1 open), VASH (1 open). 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 Wisconsin right now are Madison (24), Altoona (24), Juneau (20), Appleton (19), and Eau Claire (18) . 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: Wisconsin Rapids Housing Authority — PBV
Eligibility Requirements for Wisconsin
To qualify for assistance in Wisconsin, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).
- 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 Wisconsin legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.