Housing assistance for immigrants in the US — by state

Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and emergency rental assistance — eligibility and immigration-status restrictions vary by program. Mixed-status families may qualify for prorated assistance.

Browse by state

Last verified: 2026-06-09.

General information — not legal advice. Verify current rules with the issuing agency.

Who qualifies — the federal rules in detail

Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) gives you a voucher to pay part of the rent in private housing you choose; Public Housing is apartments run directly by a housing agency. Both use the same federal eligibility:

  • Low income — typically under 30-50% of Area Median Income for your county
  • At least one household member must be a citizen or hold an eligible status:
    • US citizen
    • Permanent resident (green card)
    • Refugee or asylee
    • Cuban-Haitian entrant
    • VAWA self-petitioner
  • Not eligible on their own: undocumented persons, DACA recipients, F-1 students

Mixed-status households (some members eligible, some not) receive a prorated voucher under HUD’s Mixed Status Family rule — the household is not disqualified.

How to apply, anywhere in the US:

  1. Find your local Public Housing Agency (PHA): hud.gov/findpha
  2. Join the waiting list (months to years in saturated metros)
  3. When called, present ID, income proof, and status documents for eligible members
  4. If approved, you receive the voucher or a unit assignment — voucher households pay ~30% of adjusted income toward rent

Under the current Public Charge rule (2022), Section 8 does not count against a green-card application — verify the rule is unchanged when you apply.