Section 8 Vouchers
What is the Section 8 Voucher program?
Section 8 is a government-funded program that helps low-income households pay the rent on private, market-rate rental units.
How does it work?
After you receive a voucher from a Housing Authority (click to see the map), you search and find a unit (within certain requirements). The rent you will pay will be 30% to 40% of your household’s adjusted gross income. A Housing Authority will pay a portion of the rent directly to the property. If you move, the voucher moves with you. To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you must fall within Minnesota’s income limits.
* Example of rent at 30% of income: Household with one full-time worker at $7.25/hour might pay $348 per month.
How do I apply?
Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds the Section 8 program, it is administered by local housing authorities or other affiliated organizations. You will need to contact the housing authority where you want to live to get on a Section 8 Voucher waiting list (should one of the waiting lists be open). Waiting lists for vouchers are often long or closed. HousingLink cannot tell you about your individual status on a waiting list, but we do maintain a list of which housing authorities have waiting list openings.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you must fall within Minnesota’s income limits.
I have a voucher. How do I find a place that will accept it?
Section 8 is a government-funded program that helps low-income households pay the rent on private, market-rate rental units.
How does it work?
After you receive a voucher from a Housing Authority (click to see the map), you search and find a unit (within certain requirements). The rent you will pay will be 30% to 40% of your household’s adjusted gross income. A Housing Authority will pay a portion of the rent directly to the property. If you move, the voucher moves with you. To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you must fall within Minnesota’s income limits.
* Example of rent at 30% of income: Household with one full-time worker at $7.25/hour might pay $348 per month.
How do I apply?
Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds the Section 8 program, it is administered by local housing authorities or other affiliated organizations. You will need to contact the housing authority where you want to live to get on a Section 8 Voucher waiting list (should one of the waiting lists be open). Waiting lists for vouchers are often long or closed. HousingLink cannot tell you about your individual status on a waiting list, but we do maintain a list of which housing authorities have waiting list openings.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you must fall within Minnesota’s income limits.
I have a voucher. How do I find a place that will accept it?
- You still have to apply for a unit at a rental property. Some properties may choose not to accept vouchers.
- Go to our home page to begin searching for available units.
- Select the counties and/or cities where you can use your voucher.
- Click "Search".
- On the Search Results page, click on the "Section 8 Voucher Accepted" column heading.
- Contact any of the listings with a green check mark.
- The housing authority will give you guidelines that identify an eligible rent amount.
- Most properties will require a credit, criminal, and rental history check.
- The unit must pass an inspection before you can move in and the subsidy payments can start.
