Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) are for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities who want to rent from a private landlord. You can live in any rental unit in King County (excluding Seattle and Renton), and then you can move anywhere after one year.
KCHA is not currently accepting voucher applications. We do not know when the waiting list will re-open in the future.
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Housing Choice Vouchers help people with lower incomes rent homes from landlords across King County (not including Seattle or Renton). The voucher is a federal subsidy that an eligible individual or family can use to rent a unit from any landlord who meets the program requirements. If you have your voucher for at least a year, then you may use it to rent anywhere in the United States.
With a voucher, you pay around 30 percent of your household income for rent and utilities. KCHA pays the landlord the difference between what you pay and what the landlord would usually charge for rent.
If you already have a voucher, visit the Residents section.
If you’re looking for rentals accepting vouchers based on location, features, or nearby services, visit Apartments.com, Emphasys, or AffordableHousing.com.
If you manage a property and would like to rent to people who have a Housing Choice Voucher, visit the Landlords section.
Income and household eligibility requirements for Housing Choice Vouchers, and how to apply when the waiting list is open.
If the contact information listed on your Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher application changes, you must report the changes to KCHA as soon as possible. You do not need to report other application changes (such as income), as these will be reviewed when your number reaches the top of the waiting list.
KCHA’s payment standards define the highest amount KCHA will pay each month to help a voucher holder with rent and utilities. To find out if the home you want to rent is affordable within the limits of the program and your income, use KCHA’s subsidy calculator.
You have up to 120 days (about 4 months) to find a home after receiving your voucher. To help you find a home, KCHA partners with other organizations for free online housing search tools that can look for affordable housing in all parts of King County.
Voucher holders can move into a different housing authority’s jurisdiction through a process called “portability”. When you port your voucher, you have to follow the new housing authority’s rules and policies. These may be different than your previous housing authority’s rules and policies.
