Last updated 2026-07-10
TL;DR
Kansas City straddles a state line, so it has two separate housing authorities. The Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri (HAKC) covers the Missouri side. The Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority (KCKHA) covers the Kansas side. Both run Section 8 voucher programs with different waitlists and payment standards. HAKC's waitlist is closed as of mid-2026. KCKHA opens theirs periodically.
Which housing authority actually covers Kansas City?
Two agencies, one metro, a state line down the middle. Kansas City sits on the Missouri-Kansas border, and each side runs its own housing authority with its own budget, rules, and waitlist. This is the first thing that trips people up.
The Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri (HAKC) serves Kansas City, MO and surrounding Jackson County. Its main office is at 920 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. HAKC administers several thousand Housing Choice Vouchers alongside a public housing portfolio.[1]
The Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority (KCKHA), sometimes called the Unified Government Housing Authority after the Wyandotte County consolidated government, serves KCK and Wyandotte County. It is a smaller agency with a separate waitlist and separate payment standards.
Live or want to rent in Missouri, you deal with HAKC. On the Kansas side, you deal with KCKHA. They do not share a waitlist. They do not coordinate admissions. A voucher from one gives you no priority with the other.
For how local housing authorities fit into the federal picture, see our primer on the housing authority system and on the housing choice voucher program generally.
Is the Kansas City Section 8 waitlist open right now?
As of mid-2026, HAKC's Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed to new applicants. HAKC last opened the list briefly in 2023 and got far more applications than it had slots, which is normal for a large urban PHA.[1] No reopening date has been announced. When it does reopen, HAKC posts it on hakc.org, tells local news, and works through community partner organizations.
KCKHA's status shifts more often. Check directly at wycokck.org or call the office, because this is a case where a phone call beats any secondary source. Some openings last only a few days before closing again.[2]
What to do while you wait: HAKC runs a project-based voucher (PBV) program, where the voucher attaches to a specific unit instead of to you. PBV waitlists sometimes move faster than the tenant-based list and can be open when the main HCV list is shut. Ask HAKC specifically about PBV availability.
You can also check open Section 8 waiting lists across Missouri and Kansas at the HUD PHA locator. Nearby PHAs like Independence (Missouri) or Olathe (Johnson County, Kansas) sometimes have open lists and serve overlapping geography once a voucher is in hand.
One more thing. If HAKC or KCKHA had you on a previous waitlist that closed or was purged, you usually do not keep your old position. You start over. That is standard HUD practice, not a local quirk.[3]
What are the income limits to qualify for HAKC or KCKHA?
Both agencies use HUD-published income limits for the same metro area. HAKC and KCKHA both fall under the Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area, because HUD treats both sides of the state line as one metro for income-limit purposes.
HUD updates these limits every April. Here are the 2025 income limits for Kansas City, published in April 2025.[4]
| Household size | 50% AMI (Very Low Income) | 80% AMI (Low Income) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $37,700 | $60,300 |
| 2 persons | $43,100 | $68,900 |
| 3 persons | $48,500 | $77,500 |
| 4 persons | $53,850 | $86,050 |
| 5 persons | $58,200 | $92,950 |
| 6 persons | $62,500 | $99,850 |
Federal rule requires that at least 75% of new HCV admissions go to households at or below 30% of AMI (Extremely Low Income). In the Kansas City metro for 2025, that 30% AMI line runs roughly $22,600 for one person up to about $32,300 for a family of four.[4] So if your income sits between 30% and 50% AMI, you may qualify but wait longer, behind the extremely low-income households the program has to serve first.
Other eligibility basics: you must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status, you must not have been evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related activity in the past three years, and you must not be subject to a lifetime sex offender registration requirement.[3]
What payment standards does HAKC use in 2025 and 2026?
Payment standards are the ceiling on what HAKC pays, set as a dollar amount per bedroom size. They come from HUD's Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for the Kansas City area. Under 24 CFR 982.503, a PHA can set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the published FMR without asking HUD. Going above 110% takes HUD sign-off.[5]
Here are HUD's FY2025 FMRs for the Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area.[6]
| Bedroom size | FY2025 FMR |
|---|---|
| SRO (0-br equivalent) | $766 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,021 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,238 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,648 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,939 |
HAKC's actual payment standards may land a bit above or below these numbers. Call HAKC or check hakc.org for the current schedule, since the agency resets it at the start of each fiscal year and sometimes mid-year when HUD releases fresh data.
The payment standard is not your rent. Your rent can run higher than the payment standard if you cover the difference, but your share cannot top 40% of your monthly adjusted income at initial lease-up under 24 CFR 982.508.[5]
Landlords should watch this number. If a unit rents above the payment standard, the tenant pays the gap out of pocket. Units priced near or at the payment standard rent fastest to voucher holders.[7]
How does the HAKC application process work?
When HAKC opens its waitlist, you apply online through its official portal. In recent cycles HAKC has not taken paper applications during open enrollment. The agency collects the basics: names and birth dates of everyone in the household, Social Security numbers, income sources, and your current address.
After the list closes, HAKC ranks applicants by preference. HAKC gives preference to Kansas City, MO residents or people working in Kansas City, MO; veterans and their surviving family members; households that are homeless or in substandard housing; and victims of domestic violence.[1] A preference moves you ahead of equally situated applicants who lack one. It does not jump you over households with a higher preference level.
Wait times at HAKC have historically run two to five years for most applicants, though that swings with congressional appropriations and turnover. Nobody has clean real-time data on expected wait. When HAKC reaches your name, it mails a letter with a firm deadline to respond. Miss it and you lose your spot.
At intake, HAKC verifies income, assets, and family composition through third-party sources, including HUD's Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system. Lying on your application is grounds for denial and can get you debarred from HUD programs.[3]
Get denied and you have the right to an informal hearing. Request it in writing within the deadline in the denial letter. That hearing is your best shot at fixing an error. See tenant rights for more on the process.
What does the HAKC inspection process look like for landlords?
Before HAKC pays a dime on any unit, the unit has to pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection under 24 CFR 982.401.[5] Inspectors check roughly 13 categories, including sanitary facilities, food preparation and refuse disposal, space and security, the thermal environment, illumination and electricity, structure and materials, interior air quality, water supply, lead-based paint, and working smoke detectors.
Failures fall into two buckets. Life-threatening fails (no heat in winter, exposed wiring, a dead smoke detector) get 24 hours to fix. Non-life-threatening fails usually get 30 days. Either way, the unit can't be leased under the voucher until it passes.
HAKC inspects every unit under a HAP contract once a year. Landlords who don't prep tend to fail on stuff that's cheap to fix: dead smoke detector batteries, a stove burner that won't light, a broken window lock, peeling paint in a pre-1978 building. Walk the unit yourself before the inspector shows.
HAKC has started using some of HUD's alternative inspection methods, including inspections by accredited third parties, which HOTMA expanded starting in 2024. The default is still an agency-conducted HQS inspection.[8]
If you're a landlord weighing whether to take vouchers, the inspection is the objection I hear most. Honest answer: a unit already in decent shape almost always passes on the first try. Units with deferred maintenance fail. Budget a day or two for prep and the inspection itself. Our landlord kit walks through the common fail points in detail.
How do landlords sign up to accept Housing Choice Vouchers in Kansas City?
Two paths in. A voucher holder finds your unit on their own, usually through Zillow, Facebook Marketplace, or a listing site like Go Section 8, and hands you their voucher paperwork. Or you list your unit yourself with HAKC's owner services team or on HUD's resource locator.
Once a tenant presents a voucher, the sequence runs like this. The tenant submits a Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) to HAKC. HAKC checks that the unit is the right size for the family, that the rent is reasonable against unassisted comparable units nearby (the rent reasonableness determination), and schedules an HQS inspection. If it all passes, HAKC sends you a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract. Payment starts only after you sign the HAP contract and the tenant signs the lease.[5]
Rent reasonableness is where deals sometimes stall. HAKC compares your asking rent to at least two comparable unassisted units. Price above what those comparables command in the neighborhood, and HAKC can make you lower it or the tenant can't use the voucher there. That part isn't negotiable. But comparables get judged on real features and location, so a nicer unit with recent upgrades can support a higher rent.
For how rental assistance moves between agencies and landlords, see our guide to rental assistance.
KCKHA follows the same federal HQS and HAP contract framework, with its own staff and scheduling. Contact KCKHA directly for owner registration on the Kansas side.[2]
Can a voucher holder move from HAKC to another city or state (porting)?
Yes. The Housing Choice Voucher is portable under 24 CFR 982.353 once a family has leased a unit for at least 12 months in most cases.[5] Get your voucher through HAKC and want to move to Denver, Dallas, or anywhere with a participating PHA? You can port it there.
Here's how. Tell HAKC in writing that you want to port. HAKC gives you a portability briefing and sends paperwork to the receiving PHA. That agency either absorbs your voucher (makes you their own participant) or bills HAKC for the subsidy. Either way, you land with assistance in the new city.
HAKC also takes incoming ports. If you hold a voucher from another PHA and want to move to Kansas City, MO, contact HAKC's portability coordinator. They'll tell you whether HAKC is absorbing or billing back right now, and what the backlog looks like.
Timing matters. Vouchers carry an initial search period, usually 60 to 120 days depending on what HAKC grants. Porting eats into that clock. Ask for any extension early and in writing.
For the full mechanics, see our guide to moving and porting.
What public housing and other programs does HAKC operate beyond vouchers?
HAKC is more than a voucher agency. It also runs traditional public housing developments, though that portfolio has shrunk over the past two decades as older developments got demolished or converted.
HAKC has used HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program to convert some public housing units to project-based rental assistance (PBRA), a Section 8 contract on the building rather than a portable tenant voucher. Live in a RAD-converted property and your rent rules and lease protections come from RAD requirements, not the HCV program. HUD's RAD page covers tenant rights in conversions.[9]
HAKC also administers Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funding with the City of Kansas City and regional partners. That's a separate eligibility stream from standard HCV.
For seniors and people with disabilities, HAKC may hold project-based units with accessibility features. Ask about these directly, since PBV waitlists for specific properties are tracked apart from the main HCV waitlist. Our guide to low income senior housing covers how to find age-restricted and accessible subsidized units in a metro area.
KCKHA on the Kansas side also runs a small public housing portfolio alongside its HCV program. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County maintains affordable housing development programs that work with KCKHA on new construction financed through low income housing tax credits.
What are your rights as a HAKC voucher holder if something goes wrong?
The HCV program comes with real tenant protections under federal law and HAKC's Administrative Plan. Know the main ones.
Grievance and informal hearing rights. If HAKC terminates your voucher, cuts your subsidy, or denies your application, you get an informal hearing under 24 CFR 982.555.[5] Request it in writing the moment you get notice. Miss the deadline and you usually forfeit the right.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protections. Under VAWA, you cannot be evicted or lose your voucher solely because you are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. HAKC has to give you a VAWA notice and certification form. You also have the right to an emergency transfer to a new unit.[10]
Anti-discrimination. Landlords in the HCV program cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status under the Fair Housing Act.[11] Kansas City, MO also bars source-of-income discrimination through a local ordinance, so a landlord in the city can't refuse you solely because you have a voucher. Kansas has no statewide source-of-income protection, so confirm Wyandotte County's specific rules with the county.
HAP contract protections. Even if your landlord sells the building or faces foreclosure, you generally get 90 days notice before you have to vacate, and the voucher follows you to a new unit.
Think your rights got violated? File a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at hud.gov or call 1-800-669-9777. You can also contact the Kansas City Human Relations Department for local fair housing enforcement.[11]
Where can tenants find Section 8 houses for rent in Kansas City right now?
Finding the unit is often harder than getting the voucher. Here's where people actually land housing in Kansas City.
HAKC's own unit listing is the first stop. HAKC keeps a list of units whose landlords have worked with the agency before and take vouchers. Ask for it at your voucher briefing.
Go Section 8 (gosection8.com) is the most-used third-party listing site for voucher-friendly rentals. Landlords self-list and update availability. Quality varies, but the volume is high. Our Go Section 8 guide shows how to use the site without wasting time on stale listings.
HUD's Resource Locator (resources.hud.gov) maps subsidized properties, including project-based Section 8 and public housing, by address. Anyone open to project-based options rather than a tenant voucher should use it. Most people don't.
Facebook groups and Nextdoor feeds tied to specific Kansas City neighborhoods often surface voucher-experienced landlords who aren't advertising on the big platforms. Search for groups named after neighborhoods like Midtown KC, the Troost Corridor, or Argentine in KCK.
Start searching before your voucher arrives. HAKC lets you begin submitting tenancy approvals as soon as the voucher is in hand, and the search-period clock starts on issuance. Eastern Jackson County and parts of Wyandotte County generally hold more voucher-accepting inventory than higher-cost areas like the Plaza or Brookside.
For section 8 houses for rent across the broader metro, our database covers Missouri and Kansas listings updated regularly.
VoucherReady also runs a free unit-match tool for tenants with active vouchers. It filters by bedroom size and payment standard, so you can see which listings actually fit your subsidy before you pick up the phone.
How do HAKC and KCKHA compare on key program metrics?
A side-by-side of these two agencies is hard to find in one place. Here's what the data shows, drawn from HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households and public agency documents.
| Metric | HAKC (MO side) | KCKHA (KS side) |
|---|---|---|
| Vouchers under lease (approx. 2023) | ~3,200 [12] | ~1,200 [12] |
| Annual HAP expenditure (approx.) | $35-40M | $12-15M |
| Average voucher subsidy per month | ~$900-950 | ~$850-900 |
| Waitlist status (mid-2026) | Closed | Periodically open |
| Payment standard basis | ~100% of FMR | ~90-100% of FMR |
| Inspection model | HQS, agency-conducted | HQS, agency-conducted |
Both are small-to-mid-size PHAs by HUD classification. Neither has the staffing of, say, the Chicago or New York housing authorities, which matters for how fast they schedule inspections and process ports. Plan for a few extra days of lead time on any request.
HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households database is the best public source for PHA-level data, though it runs 12 to 18 months behind.[12] For real-time operational questions, nothing beats calling the agency.
Want the bigger picture of how section 8 works as a program, and where agencies like HAKC and KCKHA sit in the national framework? That overview covers the federal rules every PHA has to follow.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HAKC Section 8 waitlist open in 2026?
As of mid-2026, the HAKC Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed. HAKC posts reopening dates on its website (hakc.org) and through local media. There is no announced reopening date right now. In the meantime, ask HAKC about project-based voucher opportunities, which sometimes have separate open waitlists for specific properties even when the main HCV list is shut.
How do I contact the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri?
HAKC's main office is at 920 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. The general phone number is (816) 968-4100. For voucher questions, ask for the HCV department directly. The website is hakc.org. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, but confirm current hours since they can change.
How long is the wait for a Section 8 voucher in Kansas City?
Wait times at HAKC have historically run two to five years for most applicants, depending on income level, household size, and preference status. Households at 30% of AMI or below get priority by federal rule. Households with local preferences (Kansas City residents, veterans, homeless) move ahead of non-preference applicants at the same income level. No agency publishes a real-time estimate.
What are the income limits for Section 8 in Kansas City for 2025?
For the Kansas City HUD metro area in 2025, the Very Low Income limit (50% AMI) is $37,700 for one person and $53,850 for a family of four. The Extremely Low Income limit (30% AMI) runs roughly $22,600 for one person and $32,300 for four. HUD updates these each April. At least 75% of new HCV admissions must be at or below 30% AMI under federal targeting rules.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in Kansas City in 2025?
HUD's FY2025 Fair Market Rents for Kansas City are about $1,021 for a one-bedroom, $1,238 for a two-bedroom, and $1,648 for a three-bedroom. HAKC sets its actual payment standards between 90% and 110% of these FMRs without HUD approval. Confirm the current schedule directly with HAKC, since it updates annually and sometimes mid-year.
Can a Kansas City landlord refuse to accept a Section 8 voucher?
In Kansas City, Missouri, a local ordinance bars landlords from refusing to rent solely because an applicant holds a housing voucher (source-of-income protection). On the Kansas side, there is no statewide source-of-income protection. Landlords in both states must still follow the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
What does a HAKC HQS inspection fail on most often?
Common fail items include missing or dead smoke detectors, a stove burner or oven that won't work, broken window locks or missing screens, peeling paint in pre-1978 units (lead-based paint concern), damaged subflooring or trip hazards, and no working HVAC. Walk the unit yourself before the inspection and fix these basics to prevent most first-attempt failures. Life-threatening failures require correction within 24 hours.
Can I port my HAKC voucher to another state?
Yes. After 12 months of continuous assisted occupancy under an HAKC voucher, you can port to any other participating PHA in the country under 24 CFR 982.353. Notify HAKC in writing, attend a portability briefing, and HAKC contacts the receiving PHA. That agency may absorb your voucher or bill HAKC. The process usually takes two to four weeks on top of your normal search period.
Does HAKC have project-based Section 8 units separate from portable vouchers?
Yes. HAKC administers project-based vouchers (PBVs) attached to specific units at particular properties. PBV waitlists are property-specific and sometimes open when the main HCV tenant-based list is closed. After 12 months in a PBV unit, you can request a portable voucher if one becomes available. Ask HAKC's HCV department for the current list of PBV properties and waitlist status.
What is the Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority and how is it different from HAKC?
The Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority (KCKHA), operating under the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, is a separate agency from HAKC. It serves the Kansas side of the metro with its own waitlist, payment standards, and staff. The two agencies do not share applicant data or waitlists. Want to live on the Kansas side, apply to KCKHA. On the Missouri side, apply to HAKC.
What tenant protections apply if my landlord sells or forecloses on a HAKC unit?
Under federal law, if a property under a HAP contract is sold or goes through foreclosure, you generally get at least 90 days notice before you have to vacate. Your voucher stays with you and you can use it at a new unit. HAKC should help you find a new place and may grant a search-period extension in these circumstances. Document all communication with the landlord and HAKC in writing.
How do I report a fair housing violation involving a HAKC landlord?
File a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at hud.gov or by calling 1-800-669-9777. You can also file with the Kansas City Human Relations Department for local enforcement under the city's fair housing ordinance. Complaints generally must be filed within one year of the alleged violation. You don't need a lawyer to file, and retaliation for filing is itself a violation.
Where can I find Section 8 housing listings in Kansas City?
Start with HAKC's own landlord list, handed out at your voucher briefing. Go Section 8 (gosection8.com) lists self-reported voucher-accepting units metro-wide. HUD's Resource Locator maps project-based subsidized properties by address. Facebook groups for specific Kansas City neighborhoods often surface landlords not advertising elsewhere. Eastern Jackson County and parts of Wyandotte County generally hold more voucher-accepting inventory than high-cost areas closer to the Plaza.
Sources
- Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri (HAKC) - Official Website: HAKC operates HCV and public housing programs at 920 Main Street, Kansas City, MO; waitlist status and preferences for Kansas City residents and veterans
- Unified Government of Wyandotte County / Kansas City, Kansas - Housing: KCKHA (Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority) operates under the Unified Government; separate waitlist and program from HAKC
- HUD.gov - Housing Choice Voucher Program: Eligibility rules including citizenship, drug-related eviction bar, sex offender prohibition, and waitlist purge policy
- HUD - FY2025 Income Limits Documentation System: 2025 income limits for Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area: $37,700 (50% AMI, 1 person), $53,850 (50% AMI, 4 persons); 30% AMI targeting requirement
- Code of Federal Regulations - 24 CFR Part 982 (HCV Program): Payment standard range (90-110% FMR at 982.503), 40% rent burden cap at initial lease-up (982.508), HQS inspection standards (982.401), portability rules (982.353), informal hearing rights (982.555)
- HUD - FY2025 Fair Market Rents: FY2025 Fair Market Rents for Kansas City, MO-KS Metro: $1,021 (1BR), $1,238 (2BR), $1,648 (3BR), $1,939 (4BR)
- HUD - Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet: Payment standard determines subsidy; tenant pays the difference when rent exceeds the payment standard
- HUD - Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook: HOTMA expanded alternative inspection methods, including inspections by accredited third parties, starting in 2024
- HUD - Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD): RAD converts public housing to project-based rental assistance; tenant rights protections apply during and after conversion
- HUD - Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Protections: VAWA prohibits eviction or voucher termination based solely on victim status; right to emergency transfer and required VAWA notice
- HUD - Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity: Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination by race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status; complaints filed with FHEO at 1-800-669-9777
- HUD - Picture of Subsidized Households Database: HAKC approximately 3,200 vouchers under lease; KCKHA approximately 1,200 vouchers under lease (2023 data)