If your name comes up on a waiting list, but you still owe money to a landlord, do you lose your spot?

You will not lose your spot on the Section 8 waiting list due to a debt, unless that debt is to a housing authority. Housing authorities don't usually require a credit check (though they do require a criminal background check) for the Housing Choice Voucher program.

However, you should make sure that your payment agreement with the landlord is well documented on paper. Make sure to save all of your payment receipts. If there is a public record of that debt to a landlord, you should ask them to remove the record when you pay it in full.

Please confirm this information with your the housing authority you applied through. To find contact information, search our website for your area.

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Renters also ask:

What has to be included in my household income?

Why is the wait so long?

Since Section 8 vouchers are so difficult to get, is there a place to find other housing programs that set rent based on your income?

The housing office I applied through told me I didn't qualify to receive assistance, and I don't know why. What could have made me ineligible?

Who qualifies for affordable housing assistance?

Affordable Housing Online has served low income renters in the U.S. for more than 15 years with the most complete and up-to-date info on low income housing, affordable housing, affordable apartments, subsidized housing, Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting list information. We provide current data on more than 77,500 apartment communities containing more than 6,229,000 apartment homes. We also provide detailed information about 4,058 local Public Housing Authorities (PHA) with housing authority contact, program, and current waiting list information - including instructions on how to apply for waiting lists and complete housing applications.