Your complete resource for understanding the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program — eligibility, applications, finding approved apartments, and tracking waitlists nationwide.
Minnesota has a range of low income housing options available to eligible residents, with the federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program — commonly called Section 8 — serving as the most widely recognized. Understanding how these options are structured, who administers them, and what shapes individual outcomes helps residents navigate a system that varies significantly from one location to the next.
The Housing Choice Voucher program is federally funded through HUD but locally administered by individual Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). Minnesota has dozens of PHAs operating across the state — from the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and Saint Paul Public Housing Agency to smaller county and regional agencies in Greater Minnesota.
Each PHA receives a federal allocation of vouchers and sets its own local policies within HUD's framework. This means income limits, payment standards, waitlist procedures, and program requirements can differ substantially between, say, Hennepin County and a rural PHA in northern Minnesota.
When a household receives a tenant-based voucher, they use it to rent a unit on the private market. The PHA pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord through a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract, and the tenant pays the difference — typically around 30% of their adjusted gross income, though the exact amount depends on local payment standards and the unit's actual rent.
Eligibility for HCV assistance in Minnesota is based on several factors:
| Factor | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Income limits | Generally set at 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the local area; by law, PHAs must prioritize those at or below 30% AMI |
| Household composition | Size of the household affects income limits and the voucher bedroom size |
| Citizenship/immigration status | At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen |
| Criminal background | PHAs may screen for certain criminal history; policies vary |
| Prior rental history | Outstanding debts to a PHA or prior terminations can affect eligibility |
AMI figures vary by metropolitan area and county. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington metro uses different AMI benchmarks than Duluth, Rochester, or rural counties — so the income threshold that determines eligibility is not uniform across the state.
Demand for vouchers consistently exceeds supply across Minnesota. Most PHAs operate closed waitlists the majority of the time, opening them only periodically — sometimes for a matter of days — before closing again. Some PHAs use a lottery system when opening their waitlist, randomly selecting applicants from those who apply during the open window. Others use first-come-first-served enrollment.
Once on a waitlist, households may wait months or years depending on the PHA's voucher turnover rate, local funding, and how many applicants are ahead of them. Local preference categories — such as current residents, veterans, households experiencing homelessness, or people with disabilities — can affect a household's position on the list. Each PHA defines its own preference structure.
The HCV program is not the only low income housing option available in Minnesota. Other commonly available programs include:
Public housing — PHAs directly own and manage housing units rented to income-eligible households at reduced rates. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and several other cities operate public housing stock. Eligibility and waitlists are separate from the HCV program.
Project-Based Vouchers (PBVs) — Unlike tenant-based vouchers, PBVs are tied to a specific unit or development. The subsidy stays with the unit, not the household. Residents may eventually request a tenant-based voucher to move, subject to program rules.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties — Privately developed and managed housing where rents are capped as a condition of the tax credits received. Income limits vary by development. LIHTC units do not require a voucher — households apply directly to the property.
Minnesota Housing programs — The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) funds various rental assistance and supportive housing initiatives that operate alongside or separate from HUD programs. Availability depends on specific funding streams and local administering organizations.
Before a voucher can be used at a specific unit, the PHA must inspect it to confirm it meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS) or, under newer HUD rules, NSPIRE standards. The unit must pass inspection before a HAP contract is signed. If the unit fails, the landlord typically has a set period to make repairs.
The PHA also performs a rent reasonableness determination — comparing the proposed rent to similar unassisted units in the area. If the rent exceeds what the PHA considers reasonable, the household cannot use their voucher there unless the landlord lowers the rent.
Households with a tenant-based HCV can generally use their voucher anywhere in the U.S. where a PHA administers the program — a process called portability. After living in the issuing PHA's jurisdiction for at least 12 months (in most cases), a voucher holder can port to another PHA's jurisdiction, including moving from Minnesota to another state or from one Minnesota PHA's service area to another.
The initial PHA (the one that issued the voucher) and the receiving PHA (where the household wants to move) each have defined roles in the portability process. Timing, billing arrangements, and local payment standards at the destination all affect how the move works in practice.
No two households experience the program the same way. The specific PHA administering the voucher, local AMI figures, the household's size and income, the availability of landlords willing to accept vouchers, local vacancy rates, and the PHA's own policies all interact to determine what a household can access, how long they wait, and what they ultimately pay.
Those variables — specific to each household's location, composition, income, and the PHA serving their area — are what determine how any of this applies to a particular situation.
Select your state to view local waitlists, PHAs, and application information.