Portland Section 8 Waiting List Status
Home Forward is currently reported as not accepting new applications. Contact them directly to confirm current status. Check back regularly — some PHAs reopen for short periods. See alternatives below.
Portland Section 8 Income Limits 2026
Income limits below are official HUD FY2026 figures for the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA (AMI: $124,100). Source: HUD Income Limits API, effective April 1, 2026. Most Section 8 vouchers go to households at or below 50% AMI, with priority for households at or below 30% AMI.
| Household size | 30% AMI (priority) | 50% AMI (standard limit) | 80% AMI (low income) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $26,100/yr | $43,450/yr | $69,550/yr |
| 2 people | $29,800/yr | $49,650/yr | $79,450/yr |
| 3 people | $33,550/yr | $55,850/yr | $89,400/yr |
| 4 people | $37,250/yr | $62,050/yr | $99,300/yr |
| 5 people | $40,250/yr | $67,050/yr | $107,250/yr |
| 6 people | $43,250/yr | $72,000/yr | $115,200/yr |
| 7 people | $48,650/yr | $76,950/yr | $123,150/yr |
| 8 people | $54,150/yr | $81,950/yr | $131,100/yr |
Source: HUD Income Limits API FY2026. Area: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA.
How to Apply for Section 8 in Portland
Call Home Forward at 503-802-8300 or visit https://www.homeforward.org/waitlists/ to check current status.
You can be on multiple waiting lists. Use HUD's PHA directory to find nearby housing authorities also accepting applications.
Photo ID, Social Security numbers, proof of income, rental history, and information about all household members.
Home Forward may give priority to veterans, domestic violence survivors, people experiencing homelessness, or working families. Ask about preference categories when you apply.
Section 8 Waitlist Closed? Other Help Available in Portland
If the Portland Section 8 list is closed, these programs can help while you wait:
- Emergency rental assistance: Dial 211 or contact your local community action agency for emergency rent help
- Public housing: Ask Home Forward about separate public housing availability — different list from Section 8
- Nearby PHAs: Apply to PHAs in surrounding counties that may have open lists
- LIHEAP: Oregon energy bill assistance
- SNAP: Food assistance in Oregon
- HUD rental assistance: Other HUD programs beyond Section 8
Other Housing Authorities Near Portland
Section 8 waiting lists open and close independently. If Home Forward is not currently accepting applications, check these nearby housing authorities in Oregon — they may have open lists:
Use HUD's PHA directory to find all housing authorities near Portland.
Waitlist status updated nightly. Always contact each PHA directly to confirm current availability.
About This Data
Waitlist status for Portland is verified through our automated nightly tracker, which checks Home Forward's public website for changes to their Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program status. We only mark a waitlist as open when the housing authority's website clearly and unambiguously states the HCV program is currently accepting applications from the general public.
Section 8 waitlist status can change with little or no advance notice. Some housing authorities update their websites infrequently, use applicant portals that require a login to check status, or use language our system may not catch. Our tracker monitors over 2,148 HCV programs nightly across all 50 states — but it is not a guarantee of accuracy.
Always confirm current status directly with Home Forward at 503-802-8300 before taking any action. Use our live waitlist tracker to monitor open Section 8 waitlists across all 2,148 programs nightly.