Last updated 2026-07-09
TL;DR
The Housing Authority of the City of Shreveport (HACS) runs the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for Caddo Parish. Its HCV waitlist opens for short windows and stays closed most of the time. Payment standards track HUD Fair Market Rents by bedroom size. Every unit must pass an HQS inspection before the lease starts. This guide covers applications, waitlists, payment standards, and landlord steps from primary sources.
What is the Shreveport Housing Authority and what programs does it run?
The Housing Authority of the City of Shreveport, known as HACS, is the public housing agency (PHA) for Shreveport and the surrounding Caddo Parish area in northwest Louisiana. It works under a cooperative agreement with HUD and runs two main programs: the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) and traditional public housing developments [1].
HACS also handles special-purpose vouchers that ride on the same HCV framework. That includes Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers for homeless veterans and, from time to time, other targeted voucher types that HUD funds. If you hold a standard tenant-based voucher, the core rules in this article are the ones that apply to you.
Public housing and the housing choice voucher program are two different things. Public housing puts you in a unit the authority owns. A voucher lets you rent on the private market. That is why landlords and tenants both need to understand how HACS sits in the middle between them.
For the federal background on how PHAs fit together, HUD's program office page is the place to start [2].
Is the HACS Section 8 waitlist open right now?
As of mid-2025, the HACS Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is not continuously open. It cycles. HACS has kept the list closed for long stretches because demand runs far past the voucher funding it gets. When the list does open, the window is short, sometimes only a few days to a few weeks, and HACS announces it through local media, its website, and 211 Louisiana.
The only source that knows the current open or closed status is HACS itself. The main number is (318) 673-7600 and the website is shreveporthousingauthority.org. You can also watch open Section 8 waiting lists trackers that follow PHA status nationally, but confirm with HACS directly, because third-party trackers run behind.
When an opening happens, it usually runs as a lottery. HACS takes pre-applications online or in person during the window, then draws names at random to set placement order on the list. Getting drawn in the lottery does not get you a voucher. It gets you a spot in line. You could wait another year or more before your name reaches the active pool.
Here is the blunt part: nobody publishes reliable data on the current HACS waitlist length. HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households data shows HACS serving roughly 2,200 to 2,400 HCV households in Caddo Parish in recent years [3]. That gives you a sense of scale. The waitlist backlog is a separate number, and HACS does not post it in real time.
How do you apply for Section 8 in Shreveport?
When HACS opens its waitlist, the pre-application process runs like this.
You submit a pre-application during the open window. HACS has used online portals and paper forms in past openings. The pre-application asks for basic household information: names, Social Security numbers, income, and current address. This is not the full application yet.
If the lottery draws your name, HACS sends a notice to complete the full application. That is when you bring documents: photo ID for every adult, Social Security cards, birth certificates, proof of income (pay stubs, benefit award letters), and any documentation of disability or a preference category.
HACS gives priority to certain applicants. Federal law at 24 CFR 982.207 lets PHAs set local preferences [4]. HACS has used preferences that include Shreveport and Caddo Parish residency, working families, elderly and disabled households, and survivors of domestic violence. A preference does not guarantee faster service, but it can move you ahead of applicants without one at the same lottery position.
A criminal background check and a credit and landlord history check happen at the full-application stage. A prior eviction from subsidized housing is disqualifying under most circumstances. Drug-related or violent criminal activity inside a lookback period (usually three to five years, depending on HACS policy) can also draw a denial, though HACS has to give you a chance to dispute the information under fair housing law and HUD rules.
Get denied, and you can request an informal hearing within a set number of days of the denial letter. Do not miss that deadline.
What are the HACS payment standards for 2024 and 2025?
Payment standards are the ceiling HACS uses to figure your monthly housing assistance payment (HAP) toward rent and utilities for each bedroom size. They are not the same as Fair Market Rents, though HUD's Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are the baseline PHAs build them from [5].
HUD publishes FMRs for the Shreveport-Bossier City MSA every year, usually in the Federal Register around September for the coming fiscal year. A PHA like HACS can set its payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR without special HUD sign-off, and it can request exception standards up to 120% in high-cost areas with HUD approval.
For HUD fiscal year 2025 (effective October 1, 2024), the published FMRs for the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA are [5]:
| Bedrooms | FY2025 FMR (Shreveport-Bossier City MSA) |
|---|---|
| SRO (0BR equivalent) | ~$594 |
| 1 BR | $792 |
| 2 BR | $952 |
| 3 BR | $1,236 |
| 4 BR | $1,407 |
Those are HUD's FMRs. HACS's actual payment standards can land a little above or below them, because the authority sets its own schedule. Ask HACS for the current payment standard schedule when you get a voucher or start lease-up. The payment standard sets your maximum subsidy. If the rent runs higher than the payment standard, you pay the gap out of pocket on top of your regular income-based share.
Families pay roughly 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. If the gross rent (rent plus utilities) sits at or below the payment standard, HACS covers the difference between your share and the total. If the gross rent runs over the payment standard, you pay the excess. Federal rules cap the initial family share at 40% of adjusted monthly income at the time of initial lease-up [4].
For the full math, see the section 8 primer.
How does the HQS inspection process work for Shreveport rentals?
Before any Section 8 lease can start through HACS, the unit has to pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. That is a federal requirement at 24 CFR 982.401 [4]. HACS inspectors walk the property and check a standard list of items.
The main HQS categories: sanitary facilities (working plumbing, hot water), heating and cooling that actually works, structural soundness (roof, floors, windows), electrical safety, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, lead-based paint compliance for units built before 1978, and basic security (working door and window locks).
For Shreveport landlords, a handful of things trip up the first inspection over and over. Older housing stock in areas like Allendale, Highland, and Queensborough carries deferred maintenance that fails HQS on the first pass. The usual culprits: missing GFCI outlets in kitchens and bathrooms, dead or missing smoke detectors, signs of moisture or mold, and broken window glass. None of that is a huge repair. You just have to fix it before the unit passes.
Fail the inspection, and you get a window to make repairs. HACS sets the timeframe based on whether the deficiencies are life-threatening or standard. Then you request a re-inspection. Pass it, and HACS issues a Housing Assistance Payments contract so the lease can start.
HACS also re-inspects every assisted unit once a year. If a unit fails at the annual, HACS notifies both the landlord and the tenant. Repeated failures can push HACS to abate the housing assistance payments until repairs are done. The tenant cannot cover the landlord's share during an abatement. That money sits with HACS.
Landlords who want the full checklist can pull HUD's HQS inspection form (Form HUD-52580) [6].
What do Shreveport landlords need to do to accept Section 8 vouchers?
Louisiana has no statewide source-of-income anti-discrimination law as of mid-2025, so Shreveport landlords are free to accept vouchers or turn them down [7]. Accepting them buys you access to a large pool of pre-screened tenants and a guaranteed monthly subsidy check from HACS.
The landlord steps run roughly in this order.
List your unit. You can post on the HACS portal directly or use third-party platforms. Section 8 houses for rent listings also show up on sites like GoSection8. The go section 8 guide walks through how that platform works.
When a voucher holder wants your unit, they hand you their Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet from HACS. You fill it out, agreeing to a proposed rent and lease term. HACS reviews that rent for reasonableness against similar unassisted units nearby. If the rent clears the reasonableness test and the voucher holder is income-eligible for the unit size, HACS schedules the inspection.
Pass the HQS inspection (see the section above). Once you pass, HACS sends you a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract. Sign it. This contract is really between you and the federal government, more than between you and the tenant.
Sign a separate lease with the tenant for the same term as the HAP contract. HACS requires the lease to include HUD's tenancy addendum, which overrides any conflicting lease terms.
HACS sends the HAP portion (the subsidy) straight to you, usually by direct deposit on a monthly schedule. The tenant pays their share to you separately. If the tenant stops paying their share, you follow normal Louisiana eviction procedure. HACS does not guarantee the tenant's share.
For a full landlord orientation, read the housing authority explainer and the rental assistance overview back to back.
How does HACS determine rent reasonableness?
Rent reasonableness is a HUD requirement at 24 CFR 982.507 [4]. HACS cannot approve a lease if the proposed rent runs higher than the rent for comparable unassisted units in the same area. This is a separate test from the payment standard.
HACS builds comparables from a database that can pull in MLS data, rental listings, and its own inspection records. It weighs unit size, location, age of the structure, amenities, and condition. If your rent fails reasonableness, HACS tells you what the reasonable rent determination is, and you either lower the rent or lose the tenancy.
This matters in Shreveport because rents in some neighborhoods have climbed faster than HUD FMRs. Own a well-kept 3-bedroom in a desirable zip code and ask market rent, and HACS may approve it if comparables back it up. In lower-cost areas, the reasonableness cap and the payment standard can land close together, which leaves less room to negotiate.
Landlords can ask HACS to explain how it ran the comparables. The process is not always transparent, but you have the right to request the information and to submit your own comparable data for HACS to consider.
Can you port a Section 8 voucher to or from Shreveport?
Yes. Portability is a federal right at 24 CFR 982.353 [4]. A voucher holder with a valid voucher from any PHA in the country can move to Shreveport and have the voucher billed to HACS or absorbed by HACS. A HACS voucher holder who has met the initial lease-up requirements (usually 12 months in the jurisdiction) can move out of the Shreveport area and port to another PHA.
The mechanics work like this. Porting into Shreveport, you notify your current PHA, which sends portability paperwork to HACS. HACS then decides whether to absorb your voucher (make it a HACS voucher) or bill your original PHA. If HACS is up against its budget cap, absorbing can be slow. Call HACS's portability coordinator early, because delays here eat straight into your voucher search time.
Porting out of Shreveport, you have to be in good standing, have a clean tenant history with HACS, and have finished your initial 12-month lease unless an exception applies (domestic violence, or the landlord selling or declining to renew). HACS issues you a portability packet for the receiving PHA.
One practical note. HACS's payment standards apply while you are on a HACS voucher in Shreveport. Port out, and the receiving PHA's payment standards take over, which can run much higher or lower depending on where you land.
What public housing does HACS operate, separate from vouchers?
HACS runs several public housing developments in Shreveport alongside the voucher program. These are agency-owned units rented directly to income-eligible tenants at rents set at 30% of adjusted income.
HACS has operated sites including Sunset Acres and Ledbetter Heights, among others, though the portfolio has shifted over the years through HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. RAD converts public housing to project-based Section 8 contracts run through private entities [8]. It does not cut the subsidy. It changes the contract structure. Tenants in RAD-converted units keep the right to a tenant-based voucher if they want to move.
Eligibility for public housing runs through the same HACS office and uses similar income limits. For Shreveport (Caddo Parish), HUD publishes area median income (AMI) limits every year. Public housing generally serves households at or below 80% of AMI, though most units go to those under 50% or even 30% [9].
If public housing is what you want specifically, call HACS about current openings in its owned developments. Those waitlists are managed separately from the HCV waitlist.
What are the income limits for HACS programs in 2025?
HUD sets income limits by household size and county every year. For Caddo Parish (which covers Shreveport), HUD's FY2024 income limits are the current benchmark [9]. The HCV program generally admits households at or below 50% of AMI, and by federal statute at least 75% of new vouchers each year have to go to households at or below 30% of AMI [2].
HUD's FY2024 income limits for Caddo Parish, Louisiana, run approximately:
| Household Size | 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | 50% AMI (Very Low) | 80% AMI (Low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $16,600 | $27,650 | $44,200 |
| 2 persons | $18,950 | $31,600 | $50,500 |
| 3 persons | $21,300 | $35,550 | $56,800 |
| 4 persons | $25,820 | $39,500 | $63,100 |
| 5 persons | $30,170 | $42,650 | $68,150 |
These figures come from HUD's income limits dataset for Caddo County, Louisiana [9]. They update every year, usually in April, so check HUD's income limits tool for the current year if you are reading this after mid-2025.
Income counts wages, Social Security, child support, pension payments, and most regular cash income. Some deductions apply: dependent deductions, medical expense deductions for elderly and disabled households, and childcare deductions. HACS runs the adjusted income calculation to set your rent contribution.
How do tenants maintain their voucher and avoid losing it?
Once you have a HACS voucher, keeping it means staying inside the program rules. Your main obligations under 24 CFR 982.551 [4]: pay your rent share on time, keep the unit in good shape, report income and household changes fast (HUD's baseline is prompt reporting, and HACS may set a specific window, so check your briefing packet), and follow your lease terms.
Termination happens when a family breaks program rules. The common reasons: unreported income, unauthorized household members, drug-related or criminal activity, or two failed annual inspections caused by tenant damage. HUD rules require HACS to offer an informal hearing before it terminates assistance. Always request that hearing in writing inside the deadline on your notice.
Annual recertification is your yearly check-in. HACS sends a notice asking you to document current income, household makeup, and assets. Miss it, and your assistance can be suspended. Do it on time, every time.
You also have the right to move with your voucher after the initial lease term ends, as long as HACS has funds available and you give your landlord proper notice. This is the right to move, protected under 24 CFR 982.354 [4].
For the wider view of tenant protections, the tenant rights and hud housing articles cover the federal framework in more depth.
VoucherReady's free tenant tools help you track recertification deadlines and document income changes before your annual review, which is exactly the kind of thing that slips and causes avoidable terminations.
How does HACS compare to other Louisiana PHAs?
Louisiana has multiple PHAs. The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), the Baton Rouge Housing Authority (BRHA), and the Alexandria Housing Authority are the other big ones. Each sets its own payment standards, waitlist procedures, and inspection timelines.
HACS is a mid-size PHA. HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households data shows HACS serving roughly 2,200 to 2,400 HCV households in recent years [3], against HANO's much larger portfolio. Mid-size means HACS sometimes moves faster than the biggest PHAs, but it also runs a tighter budget that leads to long waitlist closures.
Hunting for rental assistance across Louisiana more broadly, some applicants apply to several PHAs at once whenever waitlists open. Nothing bars that. If more than one PHA offers you a voucher, take one and withdraw from the rest. For a statewide view, the low income housing tax credit program also funds affordable units in Shreveport that need no voucher at all, and those buildings often keep their own waitlists.
For seniors, HACS and other programs overlap with low income senior housing options in Caddo Parish, including Section 202 properties that set aside units for households 62 and older.
Where can I contact HACS and get my application status?
The Housing Authority of the City of Shreveport's main office is at 2500 Line Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71104. Phone: (318) 673-7600. Website: shreveporthousingauthority.org.
For application status after a waitlist opens and closes, HACS usually offers an online portal or a phone-based status check. After a lottery, you get a confirmation number or letter. Keep it. That paper is your only proof of your position.
If your address changes while you are on the waitlist, tell HACS right away, by phone or in writing. This matters more than people expect. HACS mails its notices, and missing one can get you dropped. Many PHAs, HACS included, purge the list periodically and remove applicants who do not answer a purge notice.
For disputes, complaints about how HACS runs the program, or fair housing violations, contact HUD's Southwest Regional Office or file a complaint at HUD.gov [10]. The Louisiana Housing Corporation also keeps tenant resources [11].
If you are a landlord ready to list a unit or want a step-by-step packet on RFTA completion, HAP contract requirements, and inspection prep, VoucherReady's landlord kit pulls those forms and checklists into one place.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HACS Section 8 waitlist open right now?
The HACS HCV waitlist opens periodically, not continuously. As of mid-2025, check directly with HACS at (318) 673-7600 or shreveporthousingauthority.org for current status. Third-party trackers can lag by weeks. When the list opens, the application window is often short, sometimes just a few days, so checking regularly matters.
How long is the wait for a Section 8 voucher in Shreveport?
No reliable public figure exists for the current HACS waitlist length. With HACS serving roughly 2,200 to 2,400 HCV households and demand outrunning funding, waits of one to three years or more after reaching the list are common for applicants without a preference. Applicants with elderly, disability, or local residency preferences may move faster.
What documents do I need to apply for Section 8 at HACS?
At the pre-application stage, basic household information is enough. When HACS calls you forward for the full application, bring photo ID for every adult, Social Security cards, birth certificates for all household members, proof of every income source (pay stubs, benefit letters, child support), and documentation for any preference you claim. Bring originals and copies.
What is the HACS payment standard for a 2-bedroom in Shreveport?
HUD's FY2025 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in the Shreveport-Bossier City MSA is $952. HACS sets its own payment standard between 90% and 110% of that FMR without special HUD approval. Contact HACS directly for the current payment standard schedule, since it can differ from the base FMR.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 vouchers in Shreveport?
Yes. Louisiana has no statewide source-of-income anti-discrimination law as of mid-2025, so Shreveport landlords can legally decline voucher holders. Accepting vouchers does bring a guaranteed monthly HAP payment from HACS and a large applicant pool. Landlords still cannot discriminate on race, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status under the Fair Housing Act, voucher or not.
What happens at a HACS HQS inspection and what do landlords need to fix?
HACS inspectors check the unit against HUD's Housing Quality Standards (24 CFR 982.401). Common failures in older Shreveport housing: missing GFCI outlets, dead smoke detectors, broken window glass, moisture or mold, and unsecured entry points. Life-threatening deficiencies need immediate repair; standard failures give you a set repair window before re-inspection.
What income limits apply for Section 8 in Caddo Parish?
For FY2024, the 50% AMI limit (Very Low Income) for a 4-person household in Caddo Parish is roughly $39,500. The 30% AMI (Extremely Low Income) limit for a 4-person household is roughly $25,820. By federal rule, at least 75% of new HCV vouchers each year go to households at or below 30% of AMI. HUD updates these limits every year, usually in April.
Can I port my Section 8 voucher from another city to Shreveport?
Yes. Federal portability rules at 24 CFR 982.353 let you move your voucher to any PHA jurisdiction, including HACS. Notify your current PHA, which sends portability paperwork to HACS. HACS may absorb the voucher or bill your originating PHA. Call HACS's portability coordinator early, because processing delays can cut into your search period.
What is the difference between HACS public housing and Section 8 vouchers?
Public housing means HACS owns the unit and rents it to you at 30% of adjusted income. A Housing Choice Voucher lets you find a private-market rental and use the voucher there. Public housing eligibility runs up to 80% AMI; vouchers target 50% AMI or below. Each has its own waitlist. Some HACS public housing has converted to project-based Section 8 through HUD's RAD program.
How do I check my waitlist position with HACS?
After you submit a pre-application during an open lottery period, HACS gives you a confirmation number or letter. Some HACS lottery cycles offer an online status portal; others need you to call (318) 673-7600. Keep your confirmation. If your address changes while you wait, notify HACS immediately in writing, since a missed mailed notice can get you removed from the list.
How does HACS decide if a rent is reasonable for a Section 8 unit?
Under 24 CFR 982.507, HACS has to verify the proposed rent is not more than comparable unassisted units in the area. It uses rental databases and its own inspection records to build comparables from unit size, location, condition, and amenities. If your rent fails, HACS shares the determination, and you can submit your own comparable data or adjust the proposed rent.
What can cause a HACS voucher to be terminated?
Common causes: unreported income or household members, drug-related or violent criminal activity, repeated lease violations, tenant-caused HQS failures, and missed annual recertification deadlines. HACS must offer an informal hearing before it terminates assistance. Request that hearing in writing within the deadline on your termination notice; missing that window usually waives your right to appeal.
Does HACS have special vouchers for veterans or elderly residents?
Yes. HACS administers Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, tenant-based HCV vouchers paired with VA case management for homeless veterans. Elderly and disabled households may qualify for a preference on the standard HCV waitlist. Separate Section 202 developments in Shreveport serve households 62 and older and take their own applications, independent of HACS.
Where do I file a complaint against HACS or a landlord who denied my voucher?
For program administration complaints (HACS not following HUD rules), contact HUD's Southwest Regional Office or file online at hud.gov. For fair housing discrimination by a landlord (race, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, religion), file a Fair Housing complaint at hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777. The Louisiana Housing Corporation also runs a tenant resource line.
Sources
- HUD, Picture of Subsidized Households dataset: HACS served approximately 2,200 to 2,400 HCV households in Caddo Parish in recent years
- Code of Federal Regulations, Title 24, Part 982, Housing Choice Voucher Program: 24 CFR 982.207 (local preferences), 982.401 (HQS), 982.507 (rent reasonableness), 982.353 (portability), 982.354 (right to move), 982.551 (family obligations), initial family share not to exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income at initial lease-up
- HUD, FY2025 Fair Market Rents for Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA: FY2025 FMRs for the Shreveport-Bossier City MSA: 1BR $792, 2BR $952, 3BR $1,236, 4BR $1,407
- National Housing Law Project, Source of Income Discrimination map: Louisiana does not have a statewide source-of-income anti-discrimination law as of 2025, permitting landlords to decline voucher holders
- HUD, Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program page: HUD's RAD program converts public housing to project-based Section 8 contracts; tenants retain right to tenant-based voucher if they choose to move
- HUD, FY2024 Income Limits for Caddo County, Louisiana: FY2024 income limits for Caddo Parish: 50% AMI for 4-person household approximately $39,500; 30% AMI approximately $25,820
- HUD, Fair Housing complaint process: Tenants can file Fair Housing complaints and program administration complaints with HUD's Southwest Regional Office or online at hud.gov
- Louisiana Housing Corporation, official website: The Louisiana Housing Corporation provides tenant resources and affordable housing program information for Louisiana residents