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Seattle Housing Authority

Waiting Lists

Learn more about Seattle Housing Authority.

Open: Seattle Housing Authority 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Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.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 Seattle Housing Authority is currently accepting public housing waiting list applications for families and senior/disabled individuals.

This housing authority offers 31 public housing communities for families and senior/disabled individuals. For a complete listing of each community please follow this link.

There are three ways to apply for public housing:
2. Download the application here, then print and complete.
3. Visit the housing authority to pick up an application, located at 190 Queen Anne Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109, Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm.

Once the paper application has been completed, it can be mailed or hand delivered to the address listed above. No documents are needed at this time.

Please Note: You must check in with the housing authority every month to keep your spot on the waiting list by calling 866-623-5111.

This housing authority does have a preference point system that may improve your spot on the waiting list: homeless, or extremely low income.

More information can be found by visiting the housing authority website at http://seattlehousing.org/, or by calling 206-239-1737, during normal office hours.
Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (206)615-3300.

Next Steps

Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.

Last Updated on 05/22/2015.

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Closed: Seattle, Washington Section 8 HCV


The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed. It was last open for nearly three weeks in February 2017; and before that from March 2015 until April 2015.


To apply during the opening period, applicants were required to complete the online application.


This waiting list has the following preference: Households that are 30% of less of AMI.


3,500 applicants were placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.


For more information, visit the SHA website, or call the office at (206) 615-3300.

Last Updated on 02/24/2017.

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About Seattle Housing Authority

190 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle, WA | Visit Website | (206) 615-3300

Seattle Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 17,813 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing programs..

In addition, Seattle Housing Authority offers other programs for eligible households, including:

  • Moving to Work

Housing Authority Jurisdiction

Low-income housing managed by Seattle Housing Authority is located in Seattle, WA.

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

About the Seattle Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Seattle Housing Authority manages 10,607 active Housing Choice Vouchers.

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

Family Unification Tenant Protection Moving To Work VASH
Vouchers 276 702 8,776 471
Monthly Cost Per Voucher $1,280 $1,013 $997 $839
Monthly Cost $353,174 $710,863 $8,754,033 $395,022
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 14% having issued approximately 564 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 8 years0 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of -1 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 $14,253 per year. 96% of households were very low income (VLI) and 84% were extremely low income (ELI). 26% of households had wages as a major source of income, 13% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 60% 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, 41% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 26% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 31% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 3% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.

32% of households included children, 8% of which had two adults in the household. 26% of households with children have a female head of household. 59% of all households were headed by a female.

64% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 44% of all heads of households being Black and 1% being Hispanic.

Of all households participating in the Seattle Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program, 33% include at least one person with a disability. 50% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 76% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.

Bedroom Size and Overhousing

56% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 25% with 2 bedrooms and 20% with 3 or more bedrooms. 8% 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 Seattle Housing Authority voucher holders in 2016 was $352 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $776. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $88.

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.