Housing Authority of the City of Key West

Waiting Lists

Learn more about Housing Authority of the City of Key West.

Open: Housing Authority of the City of Key West Public Housing

Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West (HAKW) Public Housing waiting list is currently open, since at least March, 2019, until further notice. Waiting lists for a specific community or bedroom size may be closed.

There are two ways to apply:

  1. Download and print the application online here. Select the "Key West Public Housing Preliminary Application" link.     
  2. Pick up an application at the HAKW office located at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, Florida, 33040, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, ET.

Once the paper application has been completed, it must be either:

  1. Mailed to the HAKW office located at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, Florida, 33040.
  2. Dropped off at the HAKW office at the above location, during office hours.

This waiting list has the following preferences: Elderly, Disabled, Live or Work Locally, Working/Employed.

For more information visit the HAKW website here.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (305) 296-5621.

Next Steps

Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.

Last Updated on 03/15/2019.

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Open: Affordable Housing Low-Income

Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West (HAKW) Affordable Housing waiting list is currently open, since at least March, 2019, until further notice. Waiting lists for a specific community or bedroom size may be closed.

There are two ways to apply:

  1. Download and print the application online here. Select the "Affordable Housing Preliminary Application" link.
  2. Pick up an application at the HAKW office located at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, Florida, 33040, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET.

Once the paper application has been completed, it must be either:

  1. Mailed to the HAKW office located at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, Florida, 33040.
  2. Dropped off at the HAKW office at the above location, during office hours.

This waiting list has the following preferences: Elderly, Disabled, Live or Work Locally, Working/Employed.

For more information visit the HAKW website here.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (305) 296-5621.

Last Updated on 03/15/2019.

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Closed: Housing Authority of Key West Section 8 HCV

The Housing Authority of Key West (HAKW) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed. It was last opened for one week in April 2015. There is no notice of when this waiting list will reopen.


In 2015, 100 qualified applicants were placed on the waiting list by random lottery.


For more information, call the HAKW office at (305) 296-5621.

Last Updated on 08/10/2015.

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About Housing Authority of the City of Key West

1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, FL | Visit Website | (305) 296-5621

Housing Authority of the City of Key West provides affordable housing for up to 844 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing programs..

Housing Authority Jurisdiction

Low-income housing managed by Housing Authority of the City of Key West is located in Key West, FL.

Households with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher managed by this housing authority must rent within its jurisdiction.

About the Housing Authority of the City of Key West Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Housing Authority of the City of Key West manages 247 active Housing Choice Vouchers.

The following table summarizes types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2021:

Standard Ported Out
Vouchers 243 4
Monthly Cost Per Voucher $1,071 $896
Monthly Cost $260,274 $3,585
Waiting List and Tenancy

According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 3% having issued approximately 77 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 7 years and 4 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 5 months on the waiting list1.

Income Characteristics

According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 2.1 persons and has a household income of $21,549 per year. 87% of households were very low income (VLI) and 57% were extremely low income (ELI). 48% of households had wages as a major source of income, -1% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 50% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.

Heads of Household Characteristics

2% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 42% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 26% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 30% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 2% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.

37% of households included children, 8% of which had two adults in the household. 33% of households with children have a female head of household. 64% of all households were headed by a female.

57% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 21% of all heads of households being Black and 3% being Hispanic.

Of all households participating in the Housing Authority of the City of Key West Housing Choice Voucher program, 21% include at least one person with a disability. 31% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 46% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.

Bedroom Size and Overhousing

42% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 33% with 2 bedrooms and 25% with 3 or more bedrooms. 12% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.

Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances

The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Housing Authority of the City of Key West voucher holders in 2016 was $550 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $1,130. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $178.

1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.