Where can I get an emergency housing voucher in 2025

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is an Emergency Housing Voucher and how is it different from a regular Section 8 voucher?

An Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) is a rental assistance voucher run under the Housing Choice Voucher program, but it targets a much narrower group of people and comes with extra support money. Congress created 70,000 EHVs through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). ^[1]

The mechanics match a standard Section 8 voucher. A PHA pays part of your rent to a landlord, you pay the rest, and the unit has to pass a HUD inspection. What changes is who qualifies, how you get in the door, and the money attached for landlords.

Here is the big difference. With a regular voucher, you apply directly to a PHA and sit on an open waiting list, sometimes for years. With an EHV, you cannot walk in and apply for yourself. A Continuum of Care (CoC) or another designated service provider has to refer you to the PHA first. The PHA then issues the voucher if you qualify. Nobody skips that referral.

EHVs also carry a HUD-funded pot for landlord incentives and security deposits, and PHAs had real flexibility in how they spent it. ^[1] That extra money makes an EHV a bit easier to actually use in a tight rental market than a standard voucher handed to you cold.

Who qualifies for an Emergency Housing Voucher?

HUD wrote four eligibility categories into its EHV guidance, and you have to fit at least one. ^[2]

1. Individuals or families who are homeless (as defined in section 103(a)(1) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) 2. Individuals or families at risk of homelessness (section 103(a)(2) of McKinney-Vento) 3. Individuals and families fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking 4. Recently homeless individuals and families, or those for whom EHV assistance would prevent homelessness or housing instability

That fourth category gives PHAs and CoCs room to use judgment. The first three cover most people in practice. If you are couch-surfing, staying in a shelter, living in a motel paid by emergency funds, or getting away from someone who hurts you, you almost certainly fit one.

You still have to meet the baseline Housing Choice Voucher program rules on top of that: income below 50% of area median income (with priority for people below 30%), and no disqualifying criminal history under your PHA's policy. ^[3] An EHV does not waive those rules.

Where exactly do you go to get an Emergency Housing Voucher?

There is no federal EHV website where you apply online and get a voucher. The process runs through two local institutions, and you have to touch both.

First comes a Continuum of Care (CoC) or a comparable referral entity. The CoC is a regional network of homeless service providers. Your local shelter, domestic violence organization, or outreach worker is usually part of it or wired into it. They screen you for EHV eligibility and make the formal referral to the PHA.

Second comes a Public Housing Authority (PHA). Once you are referred, the PHA confirms eligibility, issues the voucher, and manages the ongoing assistance. HUD's PHA contact list lets you find the agency serving your county or city. ^[4]

Here is where to start:

• Use HUD Exchange at https://www.hudexchange.info to find your local CoC and its lead agency.
• Or call 211, the national social services helpline, and say you need emergency housing assistance. Most 211 operators know which local CoC programs are running.
• Or go straight to your county PHA's website and look for an EHV or emergency voucher section. ^[4]

Some PHAs took EHV referrals through local domestic violence coalitions or Coordinated Entry systems instead of the CoC itself. If you already have a caseworker at any social services agency, they can usually route you to the right door faster than a cold phone call ever will.

Want to find a PHA near you? HUD keeps a searchable list at HUD.gov. You can also browse open Section 8 waiting lists at VoucherReady to see which local PHAs are active right now.

Can I apply for an Emergency Housing Voucher online?

Sort of, but not through any single federal portal. There is no "apply for emergency housing voucher online" button at HUD.gov, and there never was one.

Here is what does exist online. Many PHAs post EHV referral intake forms or preliminary screening questionnaires on their own websites. Some CoC Coordinated Entry systems accept an initial online application. The experience swings wildly by city. A large agency like the New York City Housing Authority or the Los Angeles Housing Authority may have a decent digital intake. A small rural PHA serving one county may want a phone call or an in-person visit.

The honest move is to look up your specific PHA and CoC online, check their current EHV status, and use whatever intake they offer. Searching "[your city or county] emergency housing voucher apply" usually surfaces the right agency page faster than clicking around HUD.gov.

VoucherReady's Section 8 portal tracks PHA status, including which ones run active EHV programs, which can save you a round of dead-end calls.

One thing to know: as of mid-2025, many PHAs have already issued most or all of their original 70,000 EHV allocation from 2021. ^[5] Some still have unused vouchers or are re-issuing returned ones. Others are out. Availability is genuinely patchy, and calling your PHA to ask directly is the fastest way to find out where you stand.

How do you actually apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program through the EHV pathway?

Here is how the process runs once you have made contact with a referral source.

Step 1: Coordinated Entry or direct referral. Your shelter, outreach worker, domestic violence advocate, or another CoC-affiliated provider enters you into Coordinated Entry (the standardized intake most CoCs use) or makes a direct EHV referral to the PHA. Applicants underestimate this step. Getting into Coordinated Entry is not automatic. It takes an assessment, and some systems have their own wait.

Step 2: PHA eligibility determination. The PHA gets your referral, contacts you, and verifies income, household size, and criminal history. The standard HCV eligibility rules under 24 CFR 982 apply here. ^[3] This runs a few days to a few weeks depending on PHA capacity.

Step 3: Voucher issuance. If you qualify, the PHA issues your EHV. The initial search term usually runs 60 to 120 days, and HUD guidance pushes PHAs to grant extensions given how tight rental markets have been. ^[2]

Step 4: Finding a unit. You find a rental willing to take the voucher. HUD's EHV program built in landlord incentive funds to help. The rent has to sit at or below the PHA's payment standard (based on HUD's Fair Market Rents for your area) and pass a HUD inspection. ^[6]

Step 5: Inspection and lease-up. The PHA inspects the unit, approves the lease, and signs a Housing Assistance Payment contract with the landlord. Rent payments start.

Start to finish, referral to move-in has ranged from under 30 days to over six months. It depends on the PHA, the local market, and how fast you find a unit that works. Nobody has clean national data on average time-to-lease for EHVs, but HUD's EHV program tracker shows lease-up rates by PHA that give you a rough read on momentum. ^[5]

How many Emergency Housing Vouchers are there and are any still available?

Congress authorized exactly 70,000 EHVs under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. HUD allocated them to 626 PHAs in 2021, weighted toward areas with higher rates of homelessness and housing cost burden. ^[1]

Through HUD's program data in late 2024, roughly 60,000 to 65,000 of those vouchers had been leased up or were in active use, with some wiggle depending on how you count returned and re-issued vouchers. ^[5] HUD did not announce a second round of EHV funding as of mid-2025, though advocacy groups have pushed for one.

So availability depends entirely on your local PHA. Some agencies that got big allocations, especially in high-cost metros, have burned through their supply. Others in mid-size cities still have active vouchers, particularly where the CoC referral pipeline was slow to get moving.

The table below shows HUD's original EHV allocation to the ten largest PHA recipients, which gives you a sense of scale by market. ^[1]

PHA	State	Initial EHV Allocation
New York City Housing Authority	NY	2,000
Los Angeles Housing Authority	CA	1,997
Chicago Housing Authority	IL	1,133
Houston Housing Authority	TX	760
Philadelphia Housing Authority	PA	658
Seattle Housing Authority	WA	619
Miami-Dade Housing Authority	FL	500
Denver Housing Authority	CO	490
Boston Housing Authority	MA	480
Dallas Housing Authority	TX	458

These are the original 2021 allocation numbers, not current availability. PHAs redistribute, return, and re-issue vouchers all the time. Call before you assume a PHA has EHVs or has none.

What if the PHA near me has no Emergency Housing Vouchers left?

This happens a lot. If your local PHA has run out of EHVs, you still have paths forward.

Apply for a standard Housing Choice Voucher. Yes, the list is usually long. Applying while you chase other options is still smart. Some PHAs keep separate lists for HCV and EHV, so getting on the standard HCV list now puts you in line if funding grows. The housing section 8 program article walks through how standard lists work.

Ask about portability once you have a voucher somewhere. Under HCV portability rules at 24 CFR 982.353, a voucher holder can move to a different jurisdiction after the initial lease term, sometimes sooner. ^[7] If a neighboring county's PHA has active EHVs and you can get referred there, you may be able to port back to your preferred area later.

Look at other emergency rental assistance. Some states and counties still hold Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds, though most federal ERAP money was spent by 2023. Your 211 operator or CoC can tell you what is currently live.

Homeless service providers may also have rapid re-housing funds (RRH), which cover short-term rent plus case management. It is not a permanent voucher, but it can hold your housing steady while you wait for a voucher slot to open.

Want a wider view of what is accepting applications? VoucherReady's open Section 8 waiting lists page tracks which PHAs are open across the country.

Are Emergency Housing Vouchers only for people who are already homeless?

No. Homelessness is just one of the four qualifying categories. Being at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or trafficking, or being recently homeless and at risk of instability all count. ^[2]

"At risk of homelessness" under McKinney-Vento section 103(a)(2) includes households below 30% of area median income who have had a major negative event (a job loss, a large medical bill) that leaves them at risk of losing housing. It also covers people leaving institutions like jails, hospitals, or foster care who lack a stable place to go. ^[8]

The domestic violence category is broad. You do not need a police report or a restraining order. HUD guidance and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provisions that apply to EHVs require the PHA to accept self-certification in most cases. ^[9] A PHA cannot deny an EHV to a survivor just because she cannot produce documentation.

That said, your CoC or referral agency still runs an assessment and prioritizes cases. Having a caseworker or advocate help you document your situation before that assessment genuinely raises your odds of getting referred fast.

How do landlords participate in the Emergency Housing Voucher program?

If you own rental property and want to rent to an EHV holder, the process is almost identical to accepting a standard Section 8 voucher, with a few extras.

You list your unit, a voucher holder contacts you, and if the rent sits at or below the PHA's payment standard you submit a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA). The PHA inspects the unit under HUD's Housing Quality Standards (HQS). If it passes, you sign a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract and a lease with the tenant. ^[6]

Here is what is different with EHVs. PHAs got dedicated money for landlord incentives. Depending on the agency, that can include a signing bonus (often $500 to $2,500), payment of the security deposit or first month's rent, coverage of vacancy loss if a tenant leaves early, and damage protection beyond the security deposit. The specifics vary because PHAs had flexibility in how to spend the incentive funds.

To find EHV holders looking for a unit, call your local PHA's EHV coordinator directly. Some PHAs keep landlord interest lists. Others work through the CoC to match tenants with willing landlords.

If you are a landlord weighing whether vouchers fit your portfolio, the HUD housing overview and our landlord kit cover inspection requirements, HAP contract terms, and what the ongoing relationship with a PHA actually looks like.

What rights do EHV holders have that standard voucher holders may not?

EHV holders have every right a standard HCV holder has under 24 CFR 982, plus a few added protections.

VAWA protections apply to EHVs explicitly and broadly. If you got your EHV because you were fleeing domestic violence or trafficking, the PHA cannot terminate your assistance or evict you based on violence committed against you. ^[9]

EHV holders are entitled to supportive services. The American Rescue Plan required PHAs that received EHVs to coordinate with service providers so case management and housing search help are available. Ask your PHA who the designated service provider is and what you are entitled to. This was not optional for the PHA. It was a condition of the funding. ^[1]

Payment standards have more room. HUD let PHAs set EHV payment standards up to 120% of the Fair Market Rent (FMR) without extra HUD approval, and in some high-cost areas up to 150% with approval. ^[2] That matters because it decides how much of the rent your voucher covers. Ask your PHA what payment standard applies to your EHV.

You also have the right to request an informal hearing if the PHA denies you assistance or ends your voucher. That right lives at 24 CFR 982.554 for standard HCV and applies to EHVs the same way. ^[3]

How does the EHV program connect to the broader Housing Choice Voucher program?

Understanding how the Housing Choice Voucher program works in general helps here, because EHVs ride the same rails.

The housing choice voucher program is the largest federal rental assistance program in the country, serving about 2.3 million households as of HUD's most recent data. ^[10] HUD funds it, and roughly 2,200 local PHAs run it. You find a PHA, apply, wait on a list, and eventually get a voucher you can use in the private market.

EHVs are a specialized subset. Same administrative machinery, narrower eligibility, a faster pathway (in theory), and extra support funds. If you get an EHV and your circumstances later change so you no longer need EHV-specific services, you stay a voucher holder with the same rights as anyone in the standard program.

If you want the full picture of how vouchers work, including payment standards, Fair Market Rents, portability, and tenant rights, VoucherReady's section 8 and housing choice voucher program articles cover those mechanics.

Here is what trips people up. HUD sets the policy and the funding, but PHAs make the day-to-day calls. Two PHAs in the same state can have very different application processes, wait times, and landlord relationships. The federal framework under 24 CFR 982 sets the floor. Local variation is real and large. ^[3]

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program if I am not homeless?

Contact your local Public Housing Authority directly. Find it at HUD.gov's PHA locator. Most PHAs open standard HCV waiting lists periodically. You fill out an application (online or in person depending on the PHA), get placed on the list, and wait to be called. Income has to be below 50% of area median income. Emergency Housing Vouchers add a referral requirement and are limited to specific eligibility categories.

How do I apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program if I am fleeing domestic violence?

Two paths. First, apply to your local PHA for an EHV and request a referral through a domestic violence provider or CoC. EHVs explicitly include people fleeing DV, and VAWA protections apply. Second, apply to the standard HCV waiting list if it is open. Under VAWA, PHAs cannot deny or terminate HCV assistance based on violence committed against you. Self-certification of DV status is generally accepted without documentation.

Is there a federal website where I can apply for an Emergency Housing Voucher online?

No. There is no single federal portal for EHV applications. Applications go through local PHAs and referral entities like Continuums of Care. Some PHAs have online intake forms; others want a phone call or in-person visit. Start at your local PHA's website or call 211 to reach the right local agency. HUD.gov has a PHA locator to find your authority.

How long does it take to get an Emergency Housing Voucher?

There is no reliable national average. CoC referral to voucher issuance can take days or several weeks depending on PHA capacity. Finding a landlord willing to rent at the voucher payment standard adds more time. HUD's EHV program data shows wide variation by PHA. Once a unit is found and approved, the HAP contract can start within days of passing inspection. Ask your PHA for their current average time-to-lease.

Can I use an Emergency Housing Voucher in any city or state?

At first you have to lease within the jurisdiction of the PHA that issued your EHV. After your first year of tenancy (or sooner with permission), you can port the voucher to another PHA's jurisdiction under standard HCV portability rules at 24 CFR 982.353. Some PHAs allow earlier porting for DV survivors. Check with your issuing PHA about its specific portability policy before assuming you can move right away.

What income limit applies to Emergency Housing Vouchers?

Your household income has to be below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) for your area, the same threshold as the standard Housing Choice Voucher program. HUD guidance encouraged PHAs to prioritize households below 30% AMI for EHVs given the extreme-need population they target. Income limits vary by family size and metro area. Check HUD's Income Limits page at HUD.gov for the exact figures in your county.

Do I need a referral to get an Emergency Housing Voucher or can I walk into a PHA?

You need a referral. This is a defining feature of the EHV program. A Continuum of Care, domestic violence provider, or comparable agency designated by the PHA has to refer you before the PHA can issue an EHV. Walking into a PHA without a referral typically gets you redirected to the standard HCV waiting list if it is open, or turned away if it is not. Start with your local shelter, 211, or CoC.

Are Emergency Housing Vouchers still available in 2025?

Some PHAs still have active EHVs or are re-issuing returned vouchers from the original 70,000 allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Availability varies a lot by location. Many large urban PHAs have exhausted their allocation. Mid-size and smaller PHAs may still have vouchers. Call your local PHA directly and ask about current EHV availability instead of assuming they are gone or plentiful.

What is the difference between an Emergency Housing Voucher and rapid re-housing?

An EHV is a permanent, ongoing rental subsidy with no time limit as long as you stay eligible and follow program rules. Rapid re-housing (RRH) is typically short-term, often 6 to 24 months, paired with intensive case management. RRH is usually easier to access fast but ends. An EHV gives long-term stability. Many people use RRH as a bridge while waiting for an EHV or standard voucher.

Can landlords get extra money for renting to Emergency Housing Voucher holders?

Yes. PHAs received dedicated incentive funds under the American Rescue Plan to encourage landlord participation in the EHV program. Depending on the PHA, landlords may get a signing bonus, security deposit coverage, damage protection beyond the deposit, or vacancy loss compensation. Amounts varied by PHA. Contact your local PHA's EHV coordinator to find out what incentives, if any, are still being offered in your area.

What happens to my Emergency Housing Voucher if my situation improves and I no longer need emergency housing?

You keep the voucher. Once issued, an EHV works like a standard Housing Choice Voucher. You have to keep meeting basic HCV eligibility (mainly the income limit) at annual recertification. If your income climbs above the program limit, your PHA will eventually terminate assistance, but that process carries specific notice and hearing rights under 24 CFR 982.554. An EHV does not expire just because your initial emergency resolved.

How do I find my local Continuum of Care to start the EHV referral process?

Go to HUD Exchange at hudexchange.info and use the CoC program locator, or call 211 and ask for emergency housing resources. Your local shelter, food bank, or any social services agency is usually connected to the CoC network and can make a warm referral. CoC boundaries roughly follow metro areas or counties. Once you find the lead CoC agency, ask specifically about EHV Coordinated Entry intake.

Does having a criminal record disqualify me from an Emergency Housing Voucher?

It depends on the record and your PHA's policy. Federal law requires PHAs to permanently deny HCV assistance to anyone convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine on federally assisted property, and to registered sex offenders subject to lifetime registration. Beyond those mandatory bars, PHAs have discretion. Many have adopted more lenient policies in recent years. Request your PHA's written admissions policy and read it before assuming disqualification.

How do I apply for a housing choice voucher if I am currently in a shelter?

Being in a shelter puts you squarely in the McKinney-Vento homeless definition, the most direct EHV eligibility category. Ask your shelter's case manager or housing coordinator to start a CoC Coordinated Entry assessment for you. That assessment is the first step toward an EHV referral to the PHA. Also ask about the standard HCV waiting list in your area, since being on multiple lists at once improves your odds.

Sources

1. HUD.gov, Public and Indian Housing program office (Emergency Housing Vouchers): Congress authorized 70,000 EHVs under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2); HUD allocated them to 626 PHAs with dedicated landlord incentive funds.
2. HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing, PIH Notice 2021-15 (EHV Program Guidance): HUD defined the four EHV eligibility categories and authorized PHAs to set payment standards up to 120% of FMR without additional approval, and up to 150% with HUD approval.
3. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 982 (Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher Program): Standard HCV eligibility requirements including income limits, criminal history screening, and informal hearing rights at 24 CFR 982.554 apply to EHV holders.
4. HUD.gov, PHA Contact Information: HUD maintains a searchable PHA contact list allowing applicants to find the agency serving their county or city.
5. HUD.gov, Public and Indian Housing program office (EHV leasing data): HUD's EHV program tracker shows lease-up rates and utilization by PHA; as of late 2024 approximately 60,000 to 65,000 of the 70,000 EHVs had been leased up or were in active use.
6. HUD.gov, Public and Indian Housing program office (Housing Quality Standards): All HCV and EHV units must pass HUD's Housing Quality Standards inspection before a HAP contract can be executed and rental assistance payments begin.
7. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR 982.353 (Portability: move with continued tenant-based assistance): Under HCV portability rules, a voucher holder can move to a different jurisdiction after their initial lease term; EHV holders are subject to the same portability provisions.
8. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 11302 (General Definition of Homeless Individual): Section 103(a)(2) of McKinney-Vento defines 'at risk of homelessness' to include households with income below 30% AMI who have experienced a major negative event leaving them at risk of losing housing, and individuals leaving institutions.
9. HUD.gov, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) resources: VAWA protections apply to EHV holders; PHAs cannot deny or terminate assistance based on violence committed against the applicant, and self-certification of DV status is generally accepted.
10. HUD.gov, Public and Indian Housing program office (Housing Choice Vouchers): The Housing Choice Voucher program serves approximately 2.3 million households and is administered by roughly 2,200 local PHAs across the country.
11. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2: Public Law 117-2 created and funded the 70,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers and appropriated the associated landlord incentive and service coordination funds.