Arlington housing authority: waitlist, vouchers, and how to apply

Last updated 2026-07-09

Which Arlington housing authority are you looking for?

Two cities share the name, and they run completely separate programs. The Housing Authority of the City of Arlington, Texas (HAAC) covers Tarrant County and is the larger operation by voucher count. The Arlington Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Arlington, Virginia (ARHA) sits inside the Washington DC metro, where rents run far higher and payment standards follow.

Googled 'Arlington housing authority' without knowing which one you need? Check your zip code. Arlington, TX zip codes start with 760. Arlington, VA zip codes start with 222. The rest of this article covers both, and I'll flag every place the two agencies split.

Both are public housing authorities (PHAs) that run federal housing assistance under HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program. They take federal money, follow 24 CFR Part 982, and build their payment standards on top of HUD's Fair Market Rent (FMR) schedules ^[1].

Is the Arlington housing authority waitlist open right now?

Probably not. That's the honest answer, and you should check the agency site directly because status flips without much warning.

HAAC (Arlington, TX) opens its HCV waitlist for short windows, sometimes only 72 hours, when it has room to process new applicants. Openings get posted at www.haac.org and through local media. Over the past several years, HAAC's HCV waitlist has been closed more often than open ^[2].

ARHA (Arlington, VA) keeps a closed waitlist most of the year too. Northern Virginia rents are among the steepest in the country, so when ARHA opens, the list fills within days. ARHA posts status on the Arlington County website ^[3].

Want a wider view of which agencies are taking applications right now? The open Section 8 waiting lists tracker follows hundreds of PHAs nationwide. Joining several waitlists at once is legal and smart. Nothing in HUD's rules caps how many PHA waitlists a household can sit on ^[4].

Agency	Jurisdiction	Waitlist status (check current)	Contact
HAAC	Arlington, TX	Typically closed; opens periodically	www.haac.org
ARHA	Arlington, VA	Typically closed; opens periodically	www.arlingtonva.us

Both agencies take online pre-applications when the waitlist opens. Paper applications usually aren't accepted.

How do you apply for Section 8 in Arlington?

Both Arlington PHAs follow the same HUD framework, and the details split where you'd expect. Here's how each one works.

HAAC in Texas: when the waitlist opens, you file a pre-application online through HAAC's portal. You give household size, income, and contact info. Depending on the opening, HAAC runs either a lottery or a first-come system. You don't have to live in Arlington to apply, but local preference points can move current residents up faster ^[2].

ARHA in Virginia: ARHA also takes online pre-applications during open enrollment. Arlington County holds a local preference for people who live or work there, which can move your spot in the queue a long way ^[3].

Either way, a pre-application only lands you on the waitlist. You're not approved for a voucher yet. When your name reaches the top, the PHA calls you in for a full eligibility interview. That's when you hand over income verification, household documents, Social Security numbers, and clear a criminal background screening. HUD blocks PHAs from blanket bans on people with records, though two things are statutory bars: methamphetamine manufacture on assisted housing property, and lifetime sex offender registration ^[4].

The stretch from pre-application to an actual voucher runs anywhere from one year to over five in tight markets. Arlington VA, sitting in the DC metro, usually waits longer than Arlington TX. Neither agency publishes an average wait time.

What are the income limits for Arlington housing authority programs?

HUD sets income limits every year off Area Median Income (AMI) for each metro. The two Arlingtons sit in different metros, so the numbers differ a lot.

Arlington, TX falls in the Fort Worth-Arlington HUD metro. For 2025, HUD's very low income limit (50% AMI) for a family of four there is about $46,550, and the low income limit (80% AMI) is about $74,500 ^[5]. HCV eligibility generally caps admission income at 50% AMI.

Arlington, VA falls in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro, where AMI runs much higher because DC-area incomes do. HUD's FY2025 very low income limit (50% AMI) for a family of four there is roughly $69,300 ^[5]. The bigger number doesn't buy more. Rents in Arlington VA climb even faster, which is exactly why the voucher carries so much weight there.

HUD's rule in 24 CFR 982.201 says at least 75% of new HCV admissions each year must go to families at or below 30% of AMI (extremely low income) ^[1]. So above 30% AMI, you may wait longer even on an open list.

Income counts as annual gross from every source: wages, Social Security, pension, child support, certain asset income. PHAs use HUD's definition in 24 CFR 5.609, not the IRS one ^[1].

What do Arlington housing authority payment standards look like?

A payment standard is the ceiling on what a PHA will pay toward rent plus utilities. It's set as a share of HUD's Fair Market Rent, usually between 90% and 110% of FMR ^[1].

For the Fort Worth-Arlington TX area, HUD's FY2025 Fair Market Rents run about $1,151 for a one-bedroom, $1,397 for a two-bedroom, and $1,822 for a three-bedroom ^[6]. HAAC sets its own payment standards inside that band. The tenant covers the gap between the payment standard and the actual rent, on top of a 30% of income contribution.

Arlington VA sits in a far pricier market. Washington DC metro FY2025 FMRs run much higher: roughly $2,050 for a one-bedroom and $2,533 for a two-bedroom ^[6]. ARHA can set standards up to 110% of FMR without extra HUD approval, and in a high-cost submarket like Arlington County, they lean toward the top.

Here's the practical piece. Say you hold an Arlington TX voucher and want a unit at $1,600 a month, but HAAC's payment standard for that bedroom size is $1,397. You'd pay the $203 gap plus your 30% income share. If the rent sits far above the standard, the unit is just out of reach with a voucher.

Landlords: the PHA never pays over the payment standard, no matter what the market charges. That's a hard ceiling. Reading the rent and payment standards rules before you price a unit saves everyone a wasted week.

What does the Section 8 inspection process look like in Arlington?

Before any HCV lease starts, the unit has to pass a HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. That holds everywhere in the country, both Arlingtons included ^[1].

The inspector runs through 13 performance areas: sanitary facilities, food prep and refuse disposal, space and security, thermal environment, illumination and electricity, structure and materials, interior air quality, water supply, lead-based paint (units built before 1978), access, site and neighborhood conditions, sanitary condition, and smoke detectors. One failed item in a serious category sinks the unit.

In Arlington TX, HAAC schedules its own inspectors, and landlords usually get results within a few days. Fail an item, and you get a set window (often 30 days for routine items, 24 hours for emergencies like no heat or a broken lock on an exterior door) to fix it and ask for a reinspection ^[1].

In Arlington VA, ARHA runs the same HQS inspections. Code enforcement there is strong, so most units clear without drama, though older buildings can trip on lead paint.

Landlords new to the program: the inspection is not a negotiation. Fix the unit or lose the tenant. The usual failures are cheap and dull: dead smoke detectors, missing window screens, chewed-up flooring, broken locks, exposed wiring. The real money-loser is letting the unit sit empty because you sat on the punchlist.

Tenants have inspection rights too. If your unit drops below HQS during the tenancy, you can ask the PHA for an interim inspection. If the landlord won't fix it, the PHA can withhold the housing assistance payment ^[4].

How does Arlington housing authority handle landlord payments?

Accept a voucher through HAAC or ARHA and the money moves the same way. The PHA pays the landlord directly through Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) every month. The tenant pays their share straight to the landlord. The landlord signs a HAP contract with the PHA, which sits separate from the lease between landlord and tenant ^[1].

Timing: HAP deposits usually hit at the start of the month by direct deposit. Both HAAC and ARHA use direct deposit, and paper checks are mostly gone. Miss the setup deadline and your first cycle may lag, but the months after that run steady.

If a tenant skips their portion, the PHA doesn't cover it. The HAP contract only backs the PHA's share. Landlords keep every normal eviction right for nonpayment of the tenant's share, under the lease and under Texas or Virginia landlord-tenant law.

Landlords looking to list can use the go section 8 database or post to the PHA's landlord portal. Both HAAC and ARHA keep lists of participating landlords and refer voucher holders to open units.

If you're a landlord just weighing whether to take vouchers, VoucherReady's landlord kit walks through HAP contracts, inspection prep, and rent math in plain language. It's free, and it's written for people who have never touched the program. The question every landlord actually asks is whether the guaranteed PHA payment is worth the inspection and paperwork. With an eligible unit, it usually is.

Can you use an Arlington voucher to move to a different city or state?

Yes. It's called portability, and it's a right built into the HCV program. Under 24 CFR 982.353, a voucher holder who has finished at least 12 months of assisted tenancy can port the voucher to any jurisdiction in the country where a PHA runs the program ^[1]. Hold a HAAC voucher from Arlington TX, and you can use it in Houston, Chicago, or Arlington VA, subject to the receiving PHA's rules.

The process runs in two steps. First you tell your issuing PHA (HAAC or ARHA) you want to port. They send a packet to the receiving PHA. The receiving PHA then either absorbs the voucher into its own program or bills the issuing PHA. Either way, it applies its own payment standards and inspection rules.

Watch the friction. Some receiving PHAs carry portability backlogs and take weeks to process a transfer. Your voucher expiration clock usually pauses or extends during a port, but confirm that with your PHA. And if you port from Arlington TX into Arlington VA, the DC metro payment standards kick in, which may put a unit within reach that the lower Texas standard never could.

Haven't hit 12 months of tenancy yet? The exception is moving to escape domestic violence, an immediate portability right under VAWA ^[4].

More on the mechanics is in the moving and porting section, including a checklist for your portability briefing.

What public housing does Arlington have besides Section 8 vouchers?

Both Arlington PHAs own and run public housing units on top of the voucher program.

HAAC in Texas owns several public housing developments in Arlington. These are units the authority owns and rents at reduced rates to eligible low-income households. Public housing runs its own waitlist, separate from the HCV list, with similar but not identical income and eligibility rules. Some households prefer it because there's no hunt for a private landlord willing to take a voucher.

ARHA in Virginia owns senior housing, family housing, and scattered-site units across Arlington County. ARHA has run heavy redevelopment over the years, swapping older public housing for mixed-income projects that pair Low Income Housing Tax Credits with HUD funding ^[7]. Curious about senior options? The low income senior housing guide covers what's out there and how eligibility shifts for elderly households.

Beyond the PHAs, Arlington TX has several LIHTC-funded apartment communities renting below market whether or not you hold a voucher. Arlington VA has its own LIHTC properties scattered across the county. The low income housing tax credit program works differently from Section 8 but often reaches the same income bands.

So if the HCV waitlist is closed, chase public housing and LIHTC units at the same time. Don't bet everything on one program.

What tenant rights apply to people with Arlington housing authority vouchers?

Voucher holders carry rights on two tracks: as tenants under state law, and as program participants under federal HUD rules.

Under Texas Property Code Chapter 92, Arlington TX tenants get a habitable unit, return of the security deposit within 30 days of move-out, and protection against retaliation for reporting code violations ^[8]. HCV tenants there also get a second layer of accountability, because the PHA inspects the unit every year.

In Virginia, the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Title 55.1, Chapter 12) gives similar habitability rights, plus a rule that landlords give 24 hours notice before entry in most cases ^[9]. Arlington County also runs a tenant-landlord commission that mediates disputes and offers free counseling.

Federal HCV rights include the right to an informal hearing if the PHA moves to end your assistance. Under 24 CFR 982.555, a PHA must offer a hearing before terminating voucher assistance, and you can present evidence and bring a representative ^[1]. That protection is real, and plenty of tenants never hear about it.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protections cover HCV participants: a PHA cannot end your voucher solely because you're a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking ^[4]. You also get the right to an emergency transfer to another unit if you're in danger.

Source-of-income discrimination is banned in Arlington VA under Virginia's fair housing law (Code of Virginia 36-96.1 et seq.) ^[9]. In Texas, source of income is not a protected class, so Arlington TX landlords can legally turn down a voucher. That single split is the most important practical difference between the two Arlingtons.

How to find Section 8 housing in Arlington that accepts vouchers

Finding a landlord who'll take your voucher before it expires is often the hardest part of the whole thing. Vouchers usually carry a 60-day search window, though both HAAC and ARHA can grant extensions if you're clearly trying ^[1].

Start with the PHA's own landlord list. Both HAAC and ARHA keep lists of landlords who've worked with them before. Those are warm leads. A landlord who's already done a HAP contract is far easier than someone who's never heard of the program.

Online databases like go section 8 and HUD's resource locator list voucher-friendly units. The PHA will also send a program packet to any landlord you name, which helps with owners who are curious but unfamiliar.

For section 8 houses for rent, single-family rentals exist in both Arlingtons but go fast. In Arlington VA the competition is brutal. Start searching the day the voucher lands in your hands, not on day 30.

When you reach a landlord, say plainly that you have a voucher, bring your documentation, and be ready to explain the process in a sentence or two. Most hesitation is unfamiliarity, not hostility. The PHA explains the payment structure to the owner. Your job is to look like a reliable, easy-to-reach tenant.

VoucherReady has a free one-page explainer you can hand a prospective landlord to answer the first-round questions about how HAP contracts work and what the inspection involves. It's in the landlord kit, free to download.

How do you contact the Arlington housing authority directly?

For HAAC (Arlington, TX): Website: www.haac.org Phone: (817) 275-3351 Address: 501 W. Sanford Street, Suite 20, Arlington, TX 76011 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM

For ARHA (Arlington, VA): Website: www.arlingtonva.us (search ARHA or Housing Authority) Phone: (703) 228-1300 Address: 2120 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204 Office hours: vary by department; check the website for appointment rules

Both agencies would rather you check waitlist status online than call. Phone lines at both stay busy. If you're checking a pending application or your waitlist spot, use the online portals first.

Got a grievance or think your rights were violated? Both agencies run formal complaint procedures. You can also file with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at hud.gov ^[10]. For housing discrimination, HUD investigates at no cost to the tenant.

For rental assistance beyond what the PHA offers, both Arlington jurisdictions run emergency rental assistance through county social services, separate from HUD. In a housing crisis, call the county first while you keep pursuing the PHA waitlist.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Arlington TX housing authority the same as the Arlington VA housing authority?

No. They are separate public housing authorities in different states. HAAC operates in Arlington, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. ARHA operates in Arlington, Virginia, in the Washington DC metro. They keep separate waitlists, separate payment standards, and separate contact information. Applying to one has no effect on your application to the other.

How long is the wait for a Section 8 voucher in Arlington?

Neither HAAC nor ARHA publishes an average wait time. In a tight market like Arlington VA, waits of three to seven years are common once you're on an open list. In Arlington TX, waits run shorter but still measure in years. The only way to know your position is to check the agency's online portal after you've applied.

What happens if I move while on the Arlington housing authority waitlist?

Update your contact information with the PHA right away. If they mail a notice to an old address and you miss it, they can drop you from the waitlist. Both HAAC and ARHA let you update your address online or by mail. Keep a dated record of every update you send, in case there's a dispute later.

Can I apply for Arlington housing authority assistance if I have an eviction on my record?

An eviction doesn't automatically disqualify you, but PHAs review rental history during eligibility screening. An eviction from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity is a statutory bar. Private evictions get reviewed case by case. Being upfront and providing context or evidence of changed circumstances can help. Each PHA has an administrative plan that spells out its screening standards.

Does Arlington TX have source-of-income protections for voucher holders?

No. Texas law does not make source of income (including a Section 8 voucher) a protected class, so Arlington TX landlords can legally decline voucher holders. Arlington VA falls under Virginia's fair housing law (Code of Virginia 36-96.1), which bans discrimination based on source of funds. That's a meaningful difference between the two cities.

How often does HUD inspect units in the Arlington housing authority program?

HUD rules require PHAs to inspect HCV units at least once a year. Both HAAC and ARHA run an initial HQS inspection before any lease begins and annual reinspections while the lease is active. PHAs can also run interim inspections if a tenant reports a habitability problem. Landlords get notice of inspection dates in advance.

Can I port my Arlington TX voucher to Arlington VA?

Yes. After 12 months of assisted tenancy, you can port your HAAC voucher to ARHA. You notify HAAC, which sends a portability packet to ARHA. ARHA applies its own payment standards, which run higher than HAAC's because the DC metro costs more. The port itself usually takes several weeks to process.

What is the payment standard for a two-bedroom in Arlington TX?

HAAC sets its payment standards off HUD's FMR for the Fort Worth-Arlington metro. HUD's FY2025 two-bedroom FMR there is about $1,397. HAAC's actual standard lands between 90% and 110% of that. Contact HAAC or check their website for the current approved number, since it updates every year.

What is the payment standard for a two-bedroom in Arlington VA?

ARHA uses HUD's FMR for the Washington DC metro. HUD's FY2025 two-bedroom FMR there is about $2,533. ARHA usually sets standards at or near the top of the allowable range given how high local rents run. Check ARHA's current utility allowance schedule too, since that changes your actual out-of-pocket share.

Do I have to live in Arlington to get on the Arlington housing authority waitlist?

Generally no, but local preference can move your position. Both HAAC and ARHA give preference to current residents or workers in their jurisdiction, so those applicants may rise faster. Non-residents can apply but may wait longer. Once you hold a voucher, you can use it anywhere in the country after 12 months, under portability rules.

What documents do I need to apply for Arlington housing authority vouchers?

For the pre-application, you usually just need basic household details: names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and income estimates. The heavy documentation comes later when your name reaches the top. Then expect to provide birth certificates or IDs, Social Security cards, proof of income for everyone in the household, tax returns, and bank statements. Gather these early so you're ready when called.

Can a landlord raise rent on a Section 8 tenant in Arlington?

Yes, but only at lease renewal, and only to a rent the PHA finds reasonable against market rents for similar unassisted units. The landlord submits the proposed rent to the PHA. If the PHA calls it reasonable and it sits within the payment standard, it's approved. Landlords cannot raise rent mid-lease beyond what the lease allows, same as any tenancy.

Sources

1. HUD, 24 CFR Part 982 (Housing Choice Voucher Program regulations): HCV program rules covering eligibility at 50% AMI, payment standards at 90-110% FMR, annual HQS inspections, portability after 12 months, and informal hearing rights under 24 CFR 982.555
2. Housing Authority of the City of Arlington TX (HAAC): HAAC administers the HCV waitlist in Arlington TX, with waitlist openings posted on the agency website; waitlist has been closed more often than open in recent years
3. Arlington Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), Arlington VA: ARHA administers HCV and public housing in Arlington VA and posts current waitlist status on the Arlington County website
4. HUD, Income Limits FY2025: HUD FY2025 very low income limit (50% AMI) for a family of four: approximately $46,550 in Fort Worth-Arlington TX metro; approximately $69,300 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro
5. HUD, Fair Market Rents FY2025: HUD FY2025 FMRs: Fort Worth-Arlington area 1BR ~$1,151, 2BR ~$1,397, 3BR ~$1,822; Washington DC metro 1BR ~$2,050, 2BR ~$2,533
6. HUD, Low Income Housing Tax Credit program overview: ARHA and other PHAs use LIHTC alongside HUD funding to redevelop public housing into mixed-income developments
7. Texas Legislature, Property Code Chapter 92 (Residential Tenancies): Texas Property Code Chapter 92 gives tenants rights to habitable units, security deposit return within 30 days, and retaliation protections; Texas does not classify source of income as a protected class in housing
8. Virginia Legislative Information System, Virginia Fair Housing Law (Code of Virginia Title 36, Chapter 5.1): Virginia Code 36-96.1 et seq. prohibits housing discrimination based on source of funds in Virginia, covering Section 8 vouchers; landlords must also provide 24 hours notice before entry under Title 55.1
9. HUD, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO): HUD FHEO investigates housing discrimination complaints at no cost to tenants and accepts complaints online, by mail, or by phone