What is the income limit for Section 8 in Oregon?

Last updated 2026-07-09

How does HUD set Section 8 income limits in Oregon?

HUD sets the limits, not Oregon. Every year, usually in April, HUD publishes income limits built from American Community Survey data that calculates the Area Median Income (AMI) for each county or metro. From that AMI, HUD derives three tiers: 80% of AMI ("low income"), 50% of AMI ("very low income"), and 30% of AMI ("extremely low income") ^[1].

The housing choice voucher program, which is the formal name for Section 8, requires applicants to be at or below 50% AMI to qualify at all. Here's the catch most people miss. Federal law also requires that at least 75% of new vouchers issued each year go to households at or below 30% AMI ^[2]. The 50% limit is the door. Most people who actually walk through it are well below that line.

Oregon has 36 counties, and their median incomes span a wide range, so the dollar thresholds swing hard from Harney County in the rural southeast to the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro. HUD groups some counties together when their AMIs are close, so you may see one set of limits covering two or three neighboring counties.

What are the 2024 Section 8 income limits for Oregon by county?

The table below shows 2024 HUD income limits at the 50% AMI ("very low income") threshold, which is the eligibility cutoff for most Section 8 programs in Oregon. These are the numbers your housing authority uses to screen applicants ^[1].

Area	1-Person	2-Person	4-Person	8-Person
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro MSA (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia)	$41,950	$47,950	$59,900	$79,200
Lane County (Eugene-Springfield)	$36,450	$41,650	$52,050	$68,850
Jackson County (Medford)	$33,850	$38,700	$48,350	$63,950
Benton County (Corvallis)	$44,150	$50,450	$63,050	$83,400
Deschutes County (Bend)	$43,550	$49,750	$62,200	$82,250
Marion County (Salem)	$34,500	$39,450	$49,300	$65,200
Josephine County (Grants Pass)	$29,750	$34,000	$42,500	$56,200
Harney County (rural southeast)	$31,300	$35,750	$44,700	$59,100

Figures are approximate. Confirm HUD's official tables at HUD.gov before you make any application decision ^[1]. Benton County carries one of the higher limits in the state because Corvallis's AMI gets pushed up by Oregon State University wages and local housing costs. Josephine County sits near the bottom, which, oddly, makes it harder to find landlords willing to accept vouchers at the local payment standard.

Want the 30% AMI ("extremely low income") limits that decide priority placement on most waitlists? Divide the 50% figures by roughly 1.65 for a rough estimate, though HUD calculates these separately to account for a federal floor tied to the poverty guideline. Pull the exact figure from HUD's Income Limits dataset or ask your local housing authority.

How does household size change your income limit?

Income limits scale up with every person in your household. HUD starts with the four-person limit and adjusts from there: smaller households get less, larger ones get more ^[1]. The adjustment factors run roughly 70% for one person, 80% for two, 90% for three, 100% for four, 108% for five, 116% for six, 124% for seven, and 132% for eight.

That scaling changes everything in Oregon's larger cities. A single adult in Portland faces a 50% AMI limit around $41,950. A family of five in the same metro can earn up to about $64,700 and still qualify. If you're close to the line, make sure your housing authority counts every person who will live in the unit, including newborns and kids not yet in school.

Household composition also sets which bedroom size you qualify for, which sets the voucher's payment standard. Those two numbers together, the income limit and the payment standard, decide both whether you get a voucher and how much rent help you actually receive.

What counts as income for Section 8 eligibility in Oregon?

HUD's definition of income is broader than most applicants expect. Under 24 CFR Part 5, "annual income" includes wages, salaries, tips, net business income, interest and dividends, Social Security and SSI payments, pension and retirement income, child support and alimony actually received, and the full amount of any regular contributions from people outside the household ^[3].

The exclusions matter just as much. Earned income of full-time students who are not the household head or spouse is excluded. Income tax refunds don't count. Adoption assistance payments and foster care payments for a non-family-member child don't count. Lump-sum Social Security back payments are excluded if the household asks within 12 months. Temporary or sporadic income, like the odd babysitting gig, is usually excluded at the housing authority's discretion.

Oregon housing authorities follow HUD's rules here, not state rules. Got irregular income, like farm or gig work that swings season to season? The housing authority will usually annualize your last few months of earnings or use your most recent federal tax return as the baseline. Bring documentation for everything. A missing pay stub is one of the most common reasons applications stall.

Which Oregon housing authorities run Section 8 programs?

Oregon has roughly 29 public housing authorities (PHAs) that administer Housing Choice Vouchers, and each covers a specific geographic area ^[4]. The largest include:

• Home Forward (serves Multnomah County / Portland)
• Housing Authority of Washington County (HAWC)
• Housing Authority of the City of Salem
• Lane County Housing Authority
• Deschutes County Housing Authority
• Housing Authority of Jackson County

HUD also runs a state-level program through Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), which allocates some vouchers to smaller rural counties that don't have their own PHA ^[5].

You apply to the PHA that covers the area where you want to live, not necessarily where you live now. Each PHA runs its own waitlist and sets local preferences, like priority for working families, veterans, or people experiencing homelessness. Those local preferences often matter more than your raw income number in how fast you climb a waitlist. Check open Section 8 waiting lists to see which Oregon PHAs are accepting applications right now.

How do Oregon's income limits compare to neighboring states?

The HUD formula is uniform. Local AMI is not. That single fact explains why an income that qualifies you in rural Oregon might disqualify you in Bend or Portland, and why states next door look so different.

Oregon's larger metros generally have higher AMIs than Idaho's. The 50% AMI limit for a family of four in the Boise City metro in Idaho is around $44,750 for 2024, lower than Portland's $59,900 ^[1]. Idaho Section 8 income limits tend to sit lower across the board because Idaho's AMIs are lower, though that's shifting fast as Boise's housing costs climb.

Virginia sits at the other end. The Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. carry some of the highest AMIs in the country. Ask what the income limit for Section 8 in Virginia is for those D.C. suburbs, and you'll find 50% AMI limits for a family of four that can top $70,000, depending on the exact locality ^[1]. Rural Virginia counties fall far lower, mirroring the rural-urban split you see across Oregon.

What happens if your income goes up after you get a voucher?

A raise won't cost you the voucher. Housing authorities run annual recertifications and recheck your income and family composition at each one ^[6]. If your income rises, your voucher stays, but your share of the rent goes up, because you pay 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent.

You'd only lose the voucher if your income climbs above the 80% AMI threshold and stays there. Even then, most PHAs have grace-period rules and aren't in the business of terminating vouchers from families who landed steady jobs. The design phases out assistance gradually. It doesn't punish upward mobility with an abrupt cutoff.

Oregon PHAs also use the Earned Income Disregard for people with disabilities, which excludes a portion of new earned income from the calculation for the first 12 months of employment and partially excludes it for the next 12 ^[9]. If you have a disability and you're entering the workforce, ask your housing authority about this by name.

Are there preference categories that get you to the top of Oregon waitlists?

Yes, and they can matter more than your income number. Each Oregon PHA sets its own local preferences within HUD's rules, and those preferences change how long you wait ^[4]. Common ones in Oregon:

• Homeless or at risk of homelessness (most PHAs weight this very heavily)
• Victims of domestic violence
• Veterans and their surviving spouses
• Working families or households where an adult is in job training
• Residents already living within the PHA's jurisdiction

Home Forward in Portland has historically used a preference system weighted toward people experiencing homelessness, coordinated through the Coordinated Access system run by 211info ^[10]. Apply in Multnomah County without a referral through that system, and your realistic wait gets longer, even with a low income.

Meeting the income limit is necessary but not enough. Knowing which preferences apply at your specific PHA is just as important as knowing your income. Call the PHA, read their administrative plan (it's a public document), and ask directly which preferences they're using and how many vouchers they issued last year.

How does the payment standard affect what rent you can actually afford?

Qualifying by income is step one. What you can actually rent depends on the payment standard, the maximum subsidy the local PHA will pay for a unit of a given bedroom size. Oregon PHAs set payment standards between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for their area, and can go to 120% with HUD approval ^[11].

For 2024, Portland's FMR for a two-bedroom unit is roughly $1,938 per month ^[7]. If the PHA's payment standard sits at 100% of FMR, the PHA pays the difference between $1,938 and 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Pick a unit that rents above the payment standard, and you cover the gap out of pocket, on top of your 30% share.

In Oregon's tight markets, especially Portland and Bend, plenty of available units rent above the payment standard, so voucher holders sometimes can't find a place where the math works. That's not an income limit problem. It's a practical ceiling on where a voucher can go. Tools like go section 8 help you search for units landlords have already agreed to list at voucher-compatible rents.

VoucherReady's free payment standard lookup tool shows current FMRs and typical payment standards for each Oregon county in one place, so you can run the numbers before you spend time on applications.

How do you apply for Section 8 in Oregon?

There's no single statewide Oregon application. You apply separately to each PHA whose waitlist is open. The practical sequence:

1. Check which Oregon PHAs have open waitlists. Most stay closed for years and open only briefly, sometimes for a few days. 2. Pull the income limits for that PHA's county from HUD's database or the PHA's website to confirm you qualify. 3. Gather documentation: photo ID, Social Security cards for all household members, birth certificates, three to six months of pay stubs or income statements, bank statements, and proof of disability or veteran status if it applies. 4. Submit online or in person during the open window. Miss the window by a day and you usually start over. 5. Get a waitlist confirmation number. Keep it. You need it to check your position.

Waitlist times in Oregon are long. Home Forward in Portland kept its waitlist closed for years, and when it reopened it used a lottery rather than first-come-first-served, because tens of thousands of households apply at once ^[10]. Rural PHAs sometimes move faster, and a few have recently had no wait at all, but those windows are rare and close quickly.

For a broader look at how the program works before you apply, the section 8 guide on this site covers the full mechanics.

What if you don't qualify for Section 8? Other Oregon rental assistance options

Above the 50% AMI cutoff, or every waitlist near you is closed? Oregon has a few other paths worth knowing.

The Oregon Housing Stability Council, working through OHCS, funds local rental assistance programs with state and federal dollars that carry different income thresholds, sometimes up to 80% AMI ^[5]. These are often short-term bridge programs, not permanent subsidies, but they can keep you housed while you wait for a voucher slot.

The Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program builds apartments with below-market rents across Oregon. These units don't require a voucher, and income limits sit at 50% or 60% AMI depending on the project. Chase these in parallel. See low income housing tax credit for how that system works.

For seniors, low income senior housing programs run by HUD, including Section 202, provide project-based assistance in buildings for people 62 and older. These have their own income limits and their own waitlists, separate from the voucher program.

If you're a landlord weighing whether to accept vouchers rather than a tenant applying for one, the landlord kit at VoucherReady walks through Oregon's source-of-income protections (Oregon law bars discrimination based on housing subsidy under ORS 659A.421), the inspection process, and how to set a rent that works within local payment standards ^[8].

Frequently asked questions

What is the income limit for Section 8 in Oregon for a family of four?

For a family of four in 2024, the 50% AMI income limit (the eligibility cutoff) runs from roughly $42,500 in lower-cost counties like Josephine to about $63,050 in Benton County and $59,900 in the Portland metro. The exact figure depends on which county's housing authority you apply to. Confirm the current number at HUD's Income Limits page or with your local PHA.

Does Oregon use the 30% AMI limit or the 50% AMI limit for Section 8 eligibility?

Oregon PHAs use the 50% AMI limit as the eligibility cutoff. But federal law requires that 75% of new vouchers each year go to households at or below 30% AMI. So you can qualify at 50% AMI, while applicants at 30% AMI get priority. Being near the 50% line means you'll likely wait much longer on most Oregon waitlists.

How often does HUD update Section 8 income limits in Oregon?

HUD updates income limits annually, usually publishing new figures in April. The limits come from American Community Survey data and apply to the federal fiscal year. Oregon PHAs adopt the new limits shortly after HUD releases them. If you're mid-application when limits change, the PHA should tell you which year's limits apply to your case.

Can I apply to multiple Oregon housing authorities at the same time?

Yes. No rule stops you from applying to multiple Oregon PHAs at once. Because waitlists can run years long, applying to every open waitlist in areas where you could realistically live is a smart move. Each PHA has its own process, its own preferences, and its own waitlist position. Keep a record of every confirmation number you get.

Does Oregon protect tenants from landlords who refuse Section 8?

Yes. Oregon Revised Statute 659A.421 bars landlords from refusing to rent to someone solely because they use a housing subsidy like a Section 8 voucher. This is called source-of-income protection. A landlord can still decline an applicant over credit, rental history, or income relative to the unsubsidized portion of rent, but blanket "no vouchers" policies are illegal in Oregon.

How do Oregon's Section 8 income limits compare to Idaho's?

Idaho Section 8 income limits generally sit lower than Oregon's because Idaho's AMIs, especially outside the Boise metro, run lower. A family of four in a rural Idaho county might face a 50% AMI limit around $35,000 to $40,000, close to a comparable rural Oregon county. The Boise metro has climbed sharply and now sits near mid-tier Oregon markets.

What income counts against the Section 8 limit in Oregon?

HUD includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, SSI, pensions, child support actually received, alimony, interest, dividends, and regular gifts from outside the household. Excluded: income tax refunds, lump-sum inheritances, most foster care payments, and the earned income of full-time student household members who aren't the head or spouse. Oregon PHAs follow HUD's 24 CFR Part 5 definition, not a separate state standard.

How long is the Section 8 waitlist in Oregon right now?

Waitlist times vary widely. Home Forward in Portland has historically had waits of five to ten years and uses a lottery when it opens briefly. Smaller rural PHAs sometimes have waits of one to three years, and occasionally near-immediate availability. No statewide figure is reliable, since each of Oregon's roughly 29 PHAs runs its own list. Check directly with the PHA for its current estimate.

Will a pay raise disqualify me from Section 8 after I already have a voucher?

A raise lifts your contribution toward rent (you pay 30% of adjusted income) but won't disqualify you unless your income tops 80% AMI and stays there. Most Oregon PHAs handle income increases at annual recertification. People with disabilities may also have earned income partially excluded for up to 24 months under HUD's Earned Income Disregard rule.

Do assets like savings accounts count as income for Section 8 in Oregon?

Assets themselves don't count as income, but the income those assets generate does. Interest on a savings account, dividends from investments, and net rental income all count. If total household assets exceed $5,000, HUD imputes an income from them using a passbook rate, even if the actual return is lower. That imputed income then gets added to your gross annual income figure.

Can I use my Oregon Section 8 voucher in another state?

Yes. After holding your voucher for at least 12 months (or immediately if you have family in another area or are fleeing domestic violence), you can port it to another state. The receiving PHA administers it. Idaho, Washington, and California all have PHAs that accept ported Oregon vouchers, though the receiving PHA can set conditions. Check the moving and porting rules before you commit to a unit.

Are there income limits specifically for seniors applying for Section 8 in Oregon?

The same 50% AMI income limits apply to seniors applying for a Housing Choice Voucher. There's no separate, lower threshold for older adults. Seniors can also apply for HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, which uses its own income limits (also around 50% AMI) and is built for people 62 and older. Social Security income counts toward the limit.

What documentation do I need to prove my income when applying for Section 8 in Oregon?

Most Oregon PHAs ask for the last three to six months of pay stubs or employer statements, your most recent federal tax return, award letters for Social Security or SSI, child support court orders and payment records, bank statements showing interest or other asset income, and a self-employment profit/loss statement if it applies. Missing documents are the most common reason applications get delayed or rejected.

Sources

1. HUD, FY 2024 Income Limits Documentation System: 2024 Section 8 income limits by county and household size for Oregon and all U.S. jurisdictions
2. HUD, Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook (Chapter 4): Federal law requires that 75% of new vouchers annually go to households at or below 30% of AMI
3. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 5 Subpart F, Annual Income: HUD's definition of annual income for Section 8 eligibility, including inclusions and exclusions
4. HUD, PHA Contact Information for Oregon: List of public housing authorities in Oregon that administer Housing Choice Vouchers
5. Oregon Housing and Community Services, Rental Housing Programs: OHCS administers state-level vouchers and rental assistance for rural counties and coordinates with PHAs
6. HUD, Housing Choice Voucher Program: Annual Reexamination Requirements: Housing authorities must conduct annual recertification of income and household composition for voucher holders
7. HUD, FY 2024 Fair Market Rents for Oregon: Portland two-bedroom FMR for FY2024 and statewide Fair Market Rent figures used to set payment standards
8. Oregon Revised Statutes, ORS 659A.421, Unlawful Discrimination in Selling or Renting Real Property: Oregon law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent based on source of income, including Section 8 vouchers
9. HUD, Earned Income Disregard for Persons with Disabilities: New earned income excluded for first 12 months and partially excluded for following 12 months for disabled voucher holders entering workforce
10. Home Forward (Portland metro PHA), Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy: Home Forward uses a lottery and coordinated access system for waitlist management in Multnomah County
11. HUD, Voucher Payment Standards: Regulatory Guidance (24 CFR 982.503): PHAs may set payment standards between 90% and 110% of FMR, or up to 120% with HUD approval