Your complete resource for understanding the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program — eligibility, applications, finding approved apartments, and tracking waitlists nationwide.
Wyoming has a small but active network of Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) administering the federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program — commonly called Section 8. Like everywhere in the country, the program is federally funded through HUD but locally administered, meaning rules, waitlists, payment standards, and availability vary depending on which PHA serves your area.
The HCV program helps low-income households afford housing in the private rental market. Instead of moving into a government-owned unit, a voucher holder finds a willing landlord, and the PHA pays a portion of the rent directly to that landlord through a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract. The tenant pays the difference — typically calculated as approximately 30% of their adjusted monthly income, though actual amounts depend on local payment standards and the rent of the unit chosen.
Wyoming's rental market is shaped by geography. Communities like Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, and Gillette each have distinct housing costs, and the PHAs serving those areas set payment standards — the maximum subsidy amounts — based on local fair market rents (FMRs) published annually by HUD. A payment standard that works in one Wyoming city may not reflect market conditions in another.
PHAs determine eligibility using several factors:
| Factor | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|
| Income limits | Typically set at 50% of Area Median Income (AMI); priority often given to those at or below 30% AMI |
| Household composition | Size affects which income limits apply and what voucher bedroom size is issued |
| Citizenship/immigration status | At least one household member must meet HUD's eligibility requirements |
| Criminal history | PHAs may screen for certain convictions; rules vary by PHA |
| Prior rental/program history | Past terminations from HCV or debts owed to a PHA can affect eligibility |
Income limits in Wyoming vary by county because AMI differs across the state's metropolitan statistical areas and rural areas. A household that qualifies in one Wyoming county may fall above the limit in another. PHAs publish their specific income limits, and HUD updates these figures annually.
Most Wyoming PHAs do not have open waitlists at all times. When a waitlist opens, it may accept applications for a limited window — sometimes just days — before closing again. Some PHAs use first-come-first-served ordering; others use a lottery system where all applications received during an open period are randomly ranked.
Preference categories can affect where a household lands on the waitlist. Common preferences include:
Wait times in Wyoming can range from months to several years depending on the PHA, its funding allocation, and local demand. Smaller PHAs in rural Wyoming may have shorter waits or may not administer HCV programs at all, instead referring applicants to the Wyoming Housing Network or the state-level programs operated through the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA).
When a household reaches the top of the waitlist and is determined eligible, they attend a briefing — an orientation explaining program rules, where they can search for housing, how to submit a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA), and what the voucher covers.
Vouchers have a search period — typically 60 days, though PHAs may grant extensions. During this time, the household must find a unit where:
If the unit passes inspection and rent reasonableness review, the PHA executes a HAP contract with the landlord. The tenant's share of rent depends on the unit's gross rent (contract rent plus any applicable utility allowance) relative to the PHA's payment standard for that bedroom size.
Tenant-based vouchers move with the household. Project-based vouchers (PBVs) are tied to specific units — if a household leaves, they leave the subsidy behind, though they may be eligible for a tenant-based voucher after meeting certain residency requirements.
Landlord participation is voluntary in most of Wyoming. Landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers agree to:
Inspections occur at move-in and typically at least annually thereafter. Failed inspection items must be corrected within a set timeframe. If a unit fails and repairs aren't made, the HAP contract can be suspended or terminated. Wyoming's rental housing stock varies widely in age and condition, and inspection outcomes reflect that variation.
Wyoming voucher holders who have met their initial lease-up requirements — generally, living in the issuing PHA's jurisdiction for at least 12 months — may use portability to move to another PHA's jurisdiction, including out of state.
The process involves the initial PHA (which issued the voucher) coordinating with the receiving PHA (where the household wants to move). The receiving PHA can absorb the voucher into its own program or bill the initial PHA. Wyoming's rural geography means some households may look to port to larger metro areas in neighboring states — or in the opposite direction, households from other states may port into Wyoming.
Voucher holders must complete annual recertifications — reporting current income, household composition, and any other changes to the PHA. If income increases, the tenant's share of rent typically rises. If income decreases, or if a household member is added, the subsidy may change. Some changes require interim recertifications outside the annual cycle.
A PHA can deny an application or terminate assistance based on factors including income limit violations, criminal history, fraud, or program rule violations. In both cases, households generally have the right to request an informal hearing — a review process where the household can present their side before a decision becomes final.
How hearing procedures work, what documentation matters, and how decisions are made varies by PHA and the specific grounds involved.
Wyoming's HCV program operates within federal rules, but every element — from income limits to payment standards to waitlist status to landlord availability — is shaped by which PHA administers the program in a given area, local housing market conditions, and the specific details of a household's situation. Those are the variables that determine what the program actually looks like for any individual household.
Select your state to view local waitlists, PHAs, and application information.