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 familie
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
- Alabama
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- District of Columbia
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- South Dakota
- Tennessee
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- Washington
- West Virginia
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Related procedural information
- Consulate of your country in the US — passport renewal, consular ID, document apostille
- ITIN — file federal taxes without SSN — required regardless of immigration status
- USCIS form library — federal immigration forms (I-130, I-485, N-400, etc.)
- Find an immigration attorney — pro bono lists + AILA + BIA-recognized
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections
Last verified: 2026-05-27.
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:
- Find your local Public Housing Agency (PHA): hud.gov/findpha
- Join the waiting list (months to years in saturated metros)
- When called, present ID, income proof, and status documents for eligible members
- 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.
The rules change. Hear about it first.
Monthly digest of USCIS, IRS, and consulate fee, form, and deadline changes — no spam.
Housing assistance in Alabama for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Alabama for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Alaska for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Alaska for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Arizona for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Arizona for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Arkansas for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Arkansas for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in California for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in California for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Colorado for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Colorado for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Connecticut for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Connecticut for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Delaware for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Delaware for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in District of Columbia for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in District of Columbia for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Florida for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Florida for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Georgia for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Georgia for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Hawaii for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Hawaii for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Idaho for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Idaho for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Illinois for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Illinois for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Indiana for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Indiana for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Iowa for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Iowa for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Kansas for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Kansas for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Kentucky for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Kentucky for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Louisiana for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Louisiana for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Maine for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Maine for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Maryland for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Maryland for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Massachusetts for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Massachusetts for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Michigan for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Michigan for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Minnesota for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Minnesota for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Mississippi for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Mississippi for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Missouri for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Missouri for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Montana for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Montana for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Nebraska for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Nebraska for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Nevada for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Nevada for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in New Hampshire for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in New Hampshire for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in New Jersey for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in New Jersey for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in New Mexico for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in New Mexico for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in New York for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in New York for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in North Carolina for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in North Carolina for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in North Dakota for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in North Dakota for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Ohio for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Ohio for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Oklahoma for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Oklahoma for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Oregon for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Oregon for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Pennsylvania for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Pennsylvania for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Puerto Rico for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Puerto Rico for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Rhode Island for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Rhode Island for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in South Carolina for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in South Carolina for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in South Dakota for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in South Dakota for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Tennessee for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Tennessee for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Texas for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Texas for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Utah for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Utah for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Vermont for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Vermont for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Virginia for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Virginia for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Washington for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Washington for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in West Virginia for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in West Virginia for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Wisconsin for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Wisconsin for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
Housing assistance in Wyoming for immigrants — Section 8, shelters, state programs
Housing assistance programs in Wyoming for immigrants: Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher), Public Housing, emergency shelters. Federal rules + state options.
General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.