Last updated 2026-07-11
TL;DR
The HUD Resource Locator is a free online map at resources.hud.gov that lets voucher holders, landlords, and the public find Public Housing Authorities, HUD-assisted housing, multifamily properties, and Fair Housing offices anywhere in the U.S. It does not list every private landlord who accepts vouchers, but it is the most reliable starting point for locating official housing resources near any address.
What is the HUD Resource Locator exactly?
The HUD Resource Locator is a public map tool published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The address is resources.hud.gov. It stacks several separate HUD program databases into one interface, so you type an address, city, or ZIP code and see every federally registered housing resource inside a radius you set.
HUD built the tool partly so people working through the housing choice voucher program do not have to call a dozen offices blind. It covers Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), HUD-assisted multifamily properties (including Section 8 Project-Based properties, Section 202 elderly housing, Section 811 properties for people with disabilities), Continuum of Care homeless programs, Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) and Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies, and several other resource types.
What it is not: a live rental listing board. Private landlords who accept Housing Choice Vouchers are not catalogued by HUD. The Locator shows institutional and program resources, not individual homeowners or the small landlord with a spare duplex. That distinction matters a lot when you are actively hunting for a unit to rent with your voucher.
Who should use the HUD Resource Locator?
Three groups get the most out of this tool.
First, voucher holders who just got a voucher (or are about to port to a new area) and need to find which PHA runs the program in their destination city. The Locator shows every PHA within a given radius, with contact information and jurisdiction boundaries. That matters enormously when you are moving and porting to an unfamiliar metro area.
Second, people looking for low income housing options beyond the voucher program. HUD's multifamily inventory includes thousands of properties with below-market rents subsidized directly at the property level. Those do not require a voucher. If you are stuck on a long waitlist, finding a nearby Section 202 or project-based Section 8 building can put a roof over your head while you wait.
Third, landlords who want the local PHA's contact information, payment standards, or inspection office before they decide whether to list a unit. A landlord in a new market who has never dealt with section 8 can use the Locator to find the correct PHA phone number and start that conversation without getting bounced around HUD's main 800-number switchboard.
How do you actually use the HUD Resource Locator step by step?
The interface works, but it is not intuitive. Here is a real walkthrough.
Step 1: Go to resources.hud.gov. No login required. The site is free and public.
Step 2: Enter your location. Type a city name, full address, or ZIP code in the search bar. The map centers on that location. You can also hit the "Use My Location" button if you allow browser geolocation.
Step 3: Choose your resource type. This is the step most people miss. The left panel holds a filter menu. By default it shows everything. Click "Public Housing Authorities" to isolate PHAs. Click "HUD Multifamily" to see HUD-assisted apartment properties. Click "Fair Housing" to find enforcement agencies. Each layer toggles on and off on its own.
Step 4: Adjust the search radius. The default is usually 5 miles. For rural areas, push it to 25 or 50 miles or you may see nothing even though a PHA sits an hour away.
Step 5: Click a pin. Each pin opens a small info card with the organization's name, address, phone, and website where available. PHA cards link to their official site. From there you can find waitlist status and payment standards.
Step 6: Use the list view. A list icon flips the map into a sortable table of results. That version is easier to screenshot or share with a case manager.
Total time for a basic search: under five minutes. The tool is plain, but the data is accurate and updated by HUD's own program offices. [1]
Does the HUD Resource Locator show landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers?
Not directly. This is the most common misunderstanding about the tool.
The Locator does show HUD Multifamily properties, and many of those carry Project-Based Section 8 contracts, meaning rent is subsidized at the building level rather than attached to a tenant. You can live in those buildings without holding a Housing Choice Voucher, though you still apply and get income-qualified. That list is genuinely useful for finding hud housing options.
For tenant-based voucher holders who need a private landlord willing to take their voucher, the Locator alone falls short. You will have to pair it with other moves: check your PHA's own landlord database if they keep one, browse go section 8, call local landlord associations, or knock on doors in neighborhoods where your payment standard actually covers the rent.
HUD's own guidance admits this gap. PHAs are required under 24 CFR 982.306 to keep records of units submitted for inspection, but no federal rule forces them to publish a searchable landlord directory. [2] Some large PHAs (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles) built their own landlord portals. Most smaller agencies have nothing. The Locator gets you to the PHA that can tell you what they do have.
What types of housing resources show up in the Locator?
Here is a breakdown of the main resource categories and what each one means for a voucher holder or low-income renter.
| Resource Type | What It Is | Requires a Voucher? |
|---|---|---|
| Public Housing Authority (PHA) | The local agency that runs vouchers and public housing | No (but you apply here for vouchers) |
| HUD Multifamily | HUD-assisted apartment properties (Sec. 8 project-based, Sec. 202, Sec. 811, etc.) | No (building-level subsidy) |
| Public Housing | Traditional government-owned housing developments | No (separate program from vouchers) |
| FHAP/FHIP Agencies | Fair Housing enforcement and counseling offices | No (advocacy/legal help) |
| Continuum of Care | Homeless services networks and providers | No (emergency/transitional housing) |
| HUD-Approved Housing Counselors | Nonprofits certified to give free housing advice | No |
Tenants sleep on the HUD Multifamily category. HUD's portfolio holds thousands of insured and assisted multifamily properties covering more than 1.2 million units nationwide. [3] Many cap rent well below market. If you live in a high-cost city and your voucher payment standard barely covers anything on the market, a Section 202 building for seniors or a Section 811 property for people with disabilities may beat an endless private search.
For low income senior housing specifically, the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program is one of the few federal options with purpose-built senior units and on-site services. The Locator shows every Section 202 property near you once you filter to HUD Multifamily. [10]
How do you find a PHA with an open waitlist using the Locator?
The Locator does not tell you whether a PHA's waitlist is open or closed. That is a separate fact you have to pull straight from the PHA. But the Locator is how you find the right PHA to ask.
For a voucher holder scanning open section 8 waiting lists, the workflow goes like this: use the Locator to build a list of every PHA within, say, 50 miles of your target city, then visit each PHA's website or call to ask about waitlist status. Write down the dates each list opened or last accepted applications. Some PHAs open a list for 72 hours and then close it for years. Watch closely.
HUD's rules at 24 CFR 982.206 require PHAs to give public notice when they open or close a waiting list, but the notice rules do not force them to post that information in a central federal database that feeds the Locator. [4] So the Locator is the directory. Waitlist status lives at the PHA level.
One tip: when you find a PHA through the Locator, look for a link to its Administrative Plan. That document, required by 24 CFR 982.54, spells out their preferences, income targeting rules, and how they run the waitlist. It is usually a dense PDF, but pages 10 to 30 typically cover the waitlist rules. [5]
Can landlords use the HUD Resource Locator?
Yes, and it earns its keep for a few specific jobs.
A landlord with property in several cities, weighing whether to accept vouchers, can use the Locator to find the PHA contact for each location, then compare payment standards (which the PHA sets) against their asking rent. That comparison runs about 20 minutes per market and saves you from submitting a unit for inspection at a rent the PHA will never approve.
Landlords can also use the Fair Housing layer to find local FHAP and FHIP agencies. Sounds backwards, but talking to a fair housing counselor before you list a unit tells you what is legal in your state or city around source-of-income protections. Several dozen jurisdictions now bar landlords from refusing vouchers, and the list keeps growing. [6] Knowing that before you post "no Section 8" saves you from a discrimination complaint.
For a landlord brand new to the program, finding the PHA through the Locator and calling their landlord outreach line is the right first move. Most PHAs run a dedicated landlord services team. They will walk you through the rental assistance process, explain the HAP contract, and give a realistic timeline for inspection and first payment.
VoucherReady's landlord kit covers the HAP contract and inspection prep in detail if you want a structured guide before that first PHA call.
Is the HUD Resource Locator data accurate and up to date?
Reasonably, with some caveats.
PHA contact information is generally reliable because PHAs have to keep current contact data on file with HUD. HUD's PICS (Public and Indian Housing Information Center) system is the underlying database for the PHA layer, and PHAs lose access to federal funding if their program records fall out of compliance. So the PHA addresses and phone numbers are usually right.
The HUD Multifamily layer is also fairly accurate. Properties in HUD's multifamily database register through their loan and subsidy contracts. A property does not drop off unless its contract expires or gets terminated, and HUD tracks those events through its iREMS system. [7]
Accuracy gets shakier in the Continuum of Care and Fair Housing layers. Local nonprofits and CoC programs move, merge, or shut down between HUD reporting cycles. Call a number from the Locator and get a disconnected line, and that is usually why. Verify with a web search before you make a trip.
One thing to keep front of mind: the Locator is not a live feed. It reflects HUD's program databases, which refresh on a periodic basis, not daily. For anything time-sensitive, like a PHA's current waitlist status or a property's current availability, call or check the organization's own website.
What are the limits of the HUD Resource Locator compared to other search tools?
The Locator does one thing well: it maps official HUD program resources with reliable institutional data. It never tries to be a rental listing platform, and that restraint is a feature, not a flaw. Data quality matters more than volume when you are making decisions about a federal housing program.
To find private landlords who accept vouchers, you need other tools. HUD's own site links out to landlord databases some PHAs keep, but coverage is spotty. Sites behind section 8 houses for rent aggregate private listings and are worth checking. Zillow, Apartments.com, and local Craigslist all carry listings marked voucher-friendly, especially in cities with source-of-income protections.
The Locator also tells you nothing about a PHA's current payment standards, which shift as HUD adjusts Fair Market Rents. For that, go to the PHA directly or HUD's Fair Market Rents dataset at huduser.gov. FMRs update annually and publish in the Federal Register each fall. [8]
Against GoSection8 or a PHA's own landlord portal, the Locator is more authoritative but less actionable for daily unit searching. Think of it as the map that gets you to the right institution, not the listing board that gets you to the right apartment. Both belong in a smart voucher search.
What should voucher holders do after using the HUD Resource Locator?
Finding the right PHA or multifamily property is step one. Here is what comes next.
If you found your administering PHA: contact them to confirm your voucher is valid for their jurisdiction, get their current payment standard schedule, and ask whether they keep an approved landlord list or have outreach staff who make introductions. Some PHAs run landlord recruitment events. Ask specifically about that.
If you found a HUD Multifamily property that interests you: call the property manager directly (the Locator gives you the number) and ask about income limits, unit availability, and the waitlist. Section 202 and Section 811 properties often carry long waits too, but they sometimes run shorter than a PHA's voucher waitlist.
If you found a Fair Housing agency: this helps most if a landlord already refused your voucher in a city where that is illegal, or if you suspect discrimination based on race, family status, disability, or another protected class. Fair Housing agencies file complaints and represent you at no cost. [11]
For anyone still working out the basics of the housing section 8 program, the PHA you find through the Locator is the primary relationship. Every next step in the voucher process, from payment standard to inspection scheduling to HAP contract signing, runs through that office. Get the right contact on the phone before you do anything else.
VoucherReady offers a free search tool to check waitlist status and a one-time landlord kit for property owners ready to list, if you want structured support beyond what the Locator provides.
How does the HUD Resource Locator relate to other HUD search tools?
HUD runs several separate online tools that cover different parts of the housing search, and they overlap less cleanly than you might expect.
HUD's Apartment Search at apps.hud.gov lets you search specifically for FHA-insured and HUD-assisted apartments. It shows many of the same multifamily properties as the Locator but with a different interface and sometimes different detail fields. Some people find it easier to filter by property type there. [12]
The HUD Fair Market Rents lookup at huduser.gov shows annual Fair Market Rents by metro area and bedroom size. It is separate from the Locator but essential context for judging whether the voucher amount you hold will work in a given city. For fiscal year 2024, the two-bedroom FMR in San Francisco was $3,054 per month, while in rural Mississippi it was under $700. [8] Those numbers directly shape where voucher holders can realistically search.
HUD's Multifamily property database provides even more detailed property-level information than the Locator, including contract expiration dates and unit counts.
The Locator is the broadest of these tools. Treat it as the starting map, then reach for the specialized tools once you know what type of resource you want. For a voucher holder running a full housing search, the Locator plus the FMR lookup plus a PHA's own landlord portal covers most of the ground open to you through official channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HUD Resource Locator free to use?
Yes. resources.hud.gov is a public federal government tool with no login, fee, or registration required. Anyone can search it at any time. It runs on HUD's servers and is maintained by the department's Office of Policy Development and Research.
Can I find Section 8 apartments directly through the HUD Resource Locator?
You can find HUD-assisted multifamily properties, including Project-Based Section 8 buildings, through the Locator's HUD Multifamily filter. You cannot find private landlords who accept tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers. For private voucher-accepting rentals, you need your PHA's landlord list, a site like GoSection8, or direct outreach in your target neighborhood.
How do I find the Public Housing Authority for a specific city using the Locator?
Go to resources.hud.gov, enter the city name or ZIP code, then select the "Public Housing Authority" layer from the left-side filter menu. All PHAs within your chosen radius appear as pins. Click any pin for the PHA's address, phone number, and website link. Adjust the search radius if your city is rural and returns no results at the default setting.
Does the HUD Resource Locator show waiting list status for PHAs?
No. The Locator shows which PHAs exist and their contact information, but waitlist open or closed status is not displayed. HUD does not keep a real-time central waitlist database. You have to contact each PHA directly or check their website. HUD regulations at 24 CFR 982.206 require PHAs to give public notice when lists open, but those notices go to local media and PHA websites, not the Locator.
What is the difference between the HUD Resource Locator and GoSection8?
The HUD Resource Locator is a federal government tool mapping official program offices and HUD-assisted properties. GoSection8 is a private rental listing platform where individual landlords post units available to voucher holders. They serve different purposes. The Locator helps you find the right PHA and program resources; GoSection8 helps you find available rental units. Use both when actively searching with a voucher.
Can the HUD Resource Locator help me find senior housing?
Yes. Filter the HUD Multifamily layer and it shows Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly properties near you. Section 202 buildings are purpose-built for low-income seniors age 62 and older and carry below-market rents subsidized at the property level. You do not need a voucher to apply. Call the property manager directly for income limits and waitlist information.
How accurate is the contact information on the HUD Resource Locator?
PHA contact data is generally reliable because PHAs must keep their records current with HUD to stay in program compliance. Multifamily property data is also fairly accurate. Nonprofit and Continuum of Care entries are the least reliable, since small organizations change contact info between HUD reporting cycles. Always verify by calling or doing a web search before any in-person visit.
Does the HUD Resource Locator work on a mobile phone?
The site at resources.hud.gov loads on mobile browsers and the map interface functions, though it is not a dedicated mobile app. Some users find the pin-clicking and filter panel awkward on small screens. The list view toggle (icon near the top of the results panel) is much easier to read on a phone than the map pins.
What is a Fair Housing office and why does the Locator show them?
Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) and Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies are HUD-funded organizations that enforce the Fair Housing Act and provide free counseling and complaint assistance. The Locator includes them because housing discrimination is common enough that HUD counts them as a core housing resource. If a landlord refused your voucher in a protected jurisdiction, a local FHAP/FHIP agency can file a complaint on your behalf at no cost.
Can a landlord use the HUD Resource Locator to sign up to accept vouchers?
Not directly. The Locator is a search tool, not an enrollment portal. A landlord who wants to accept vouchers needs to contact their local PHA directly, find a tenant with a valid voucher, submit a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA), and pass a HUD Housing Quality Standards inspection. Use the Locator to find the correct PHA phone number and landlord services contact, then start the process from there.
Are HUD-insured properties the same as HUD-assisted properties in the Locator?
No, and the distinction matters. HUD-insured properties carry an FHA mortgage guarantee but have no subsidy or income restriction for tenants. HUD-assisted properties receive direct subsidy (like a project-based Section 8 contract or Section 202 capital advance) and do have income limits and below-market rents. The Locator's HUD Multifamily layer includes both, so check a property's specific program type before assuming you qualify for reduced rent.
How often is the data in the HUD Resource Locator updated?
HUD updates the underlying program databases periodically, not daily. PHA data comes from HUD's PICS system, which PHAs update as part of ongoing compliance. Multifamily data syncs from HUD's iREMS contract management system. There is no published update schedule for the Locator interface itself. For time-sensitive information like waitlist openings or property availability, always contact the organization directly rather than relying on Locator data alone.
What should I do if a resource listed in the HUD Locator has incorrect information?
PHAs can update their own HUD PICS records directly. If you find an error on a PHA listing, contact the PHA and ask them to update their record in the HUD system. For multifamily properties, errors can be reported to HUD's Multifamily Housing regional office. For other resource types, HUD's main contact center at 1-800-569-4287 can direct your report to the right program office.
Sources
- HUD Resource Locator, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: The HUD Resource Locator is a free public mapping tool at resources.hud.gov covering PHAs, HUD-assisted multifamily properties, Fair Housing agencies, and other HUD program resources searchable by address or ZIP code.
- 24 CFR Part 982 (HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program regulations), eCFR: 24 CFR 982.306 governs PHA records of units submitted for inspection; there is no federal mandate requiring PHAs to publish a searchable landlord directory.
- HUD Multifamily Housing Program, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: HUD's multifamily portfolio includes thousands of insured and assisted properties covering more than 1.2 million units across the United States.
- 24 CFR 982.206, eCFR (HUD waiting list requirements): 24 CFR 982.206 requires PHAs to give adequate public notice when opening or closing a voucher waiting list, but does not mandate posting to a centralized federal database.
- 24 CFR 982.54, eCFR (PHA Administrative Plan requirement): 24 CFR 982.54 requires every PHA to adopt a written Administrative Plan governing voucher program operations including waitlist rules, preferences, and income targeting.
- National Fair Housing Alliance, Source of Income Protections Overview: Several dozen jurisdictions across the United States prohibit landlords from refusing tenants on the basis of voucher use or other lawful source of income.
- HUD Integrated Real Estate Management System (iREMS), HUD Office of Housing: HUD's iREMS system tracks multifamily property contract status, expirations, and terminations, providing the underlying data for the Multifamily layer in the HUD Resource Locator.
- HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents, HUD User (Office of Policy Development and Research): For fiscal year 2024 the two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Francisco was $3,054 per month; rural Mississippi rates were under $700. FMRs are updated annually and published in the Federal Register each fall.
- HUD Resource Locator Help Documentation, HUD Office of Policy Development and Research: The Locator search radius is adjustable by the user; the default is approximately 5 miles and can be expanded to cover larger rural geographies.
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, HUD Office of Housing: The Section 202 program provides capital advances and project rental assistance for housing specifically for low-income persons age 62 and older, with no tenant-based voucher required to occupy a Section 202 unit.
- Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq., HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity: HUD's FHAP and FHIP agencies receive federal funding to enforce the Fair Housing Act and provide free complaint assistance to tenants experiencing housing discrimination.
- HUD Apartment Search, HUD Office of Housing: HUD's Apartment Search tool at apps.hud.gov provides an alternative interface for finding FHA-insured and HUD-assisted apartment properties, covering many of the same multifamily properties available in the Resource Locator.