You cannot hold both a HUD housing voucher and a Section 8 voucher at the same time, but the programs work together in ways that matter for your housing search.

Section 8 is a HUD program — HUD stands for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency that runs it. When people say "HUD housing," they usually mean public housing owned and operated by local housing authorities. Section 8 is different: it's a voucher you carry to a private landlord. You cannot be enrolled in both public housing and Section 8 simultaneously because they are two separate ways of getting help with rent, and you would be receiving a subsidy twice for the same apartment.

What you can do is move from one program to the other, or use Section 8 to live in a building that also has public housing units. The rules about switching and the waiting lists involved depend on your local housing authority, so the specifics change by location.

Key Takeaways

  • Section 8 is a program run by HUD, so "HUD housing" and "Section 8" are not two separate things you can combine.
  • You cannot hold a Section 8 voucher and live in public housing at the same time because both are forms of rent subsidy.
  • You can move from public housing to Section 8, or from Section 8 to public housing, but you must leave one program before entering the other.
  • Some buildings contain both public housing units and units rented by Section 8 tenants, but each tenant is in only one program.

The Difference Between Public Housing and Section 8

Public housing is owned and managed by your local housing authority. The authority owns the building, sets the rent (usually 30 percent of your income), and handles maintenance and repairs. You live in a unit that belongs to the housing authority.

Section 8 is a voucher. You find a private landlord willing to accept it, and HUD pays part of the rent directly to that landlord. You sign a lease with the landlord, not with the housing authority. The landlord owns the building. The housing authority's job is to inspect the unit, verify the lease, and send the subsidy payment each month.

Because they work differently, you cannot be in both at once. If you are in public housing and want to switch to Section 8, you would move out of the public housing unit and use your voucher elsewhere. If you have Section 8 and want to move into public housing, you would give up your voucher and explore to the public housing waiting list.

Moving From Public Housing to Section 8

If you live in public housing and want to move to Section 8, you need to contact your local housing authority and ask about their voucher program. Some housing authorities have a separate waiting list for Section 8 vouchers. Others prioritize current public housing residents when vouchers become available. A few authorities do not offer Section 8 at all.

When you receive a Section 8 voucher, you must move out of your public housing unit. The housing authority will give you a important date — usually 60 to 120 days — to find a new place and move. You cannot stay in public housing while you search for a Section 8 apartment. Once you move and your new lease is approved, your public housing tenancy ends.

The advantage of this path is that you may already be on a waiting list or have priority status. The disadvantage is that Section 8 waiting lists are often long, and your local authority may not have vouchers available.

Moving From Section 8 to Public Housing

If you have a Section 8 voucher and want to move into public housing instead, you would explore to your local housing authority's public housing waiting list. This is a separate process from your Section 8 enrollment. You can be on both waiting lists at the same time — one does not disqualify you from the other.

Once you are offered a public housing unit and you accept it, your Section 8 voucher ends. You must move out of your Section 8 apartment and into the public housing unit. You cannot hold both vouchers. After you move, the housing authority will return your Section 8 voucher to the pool so another household can use it.

Some people use this route because public housing has lower rent (capped at 30 percent of income) or because they want the stability of living in a building managed by the housing authority rather than a private landlord.

Mixed-Income Buildings With Both Programs

Some apartment buildings contain both public housing units and units rented by Section 8 tenants. This happens when a housing authority owns part of a building or when a private developer builds a mixed-income complex with both types of subsidy. In these buildings, you might have a neighbor in public housing and another neighbor using Section 8, but each tenant is in only one program.

If you live in such a building on Section 8, you cannot switch to public housing within the same building. You would have to move to a different public housing unit elsewhere. The programs remain separate even when the buildings are the same.

What Happens to Your Voucher When You Switch

When you leave Section 8 to enter public housing, your voucher does not stay with you. It returns to the housing authority's pool and becomes available to the next person on the waiting list. You do not lose it because you "used it up" — it straightforward goes back into circulation.

If you later want Section 8 again, you would need to explore and go through the waiting list process once more. Your previous enrollment does not may provide you priority, though some housing authorities do give preference to people who have successfully completed the program before.

Waiting Lists and Priority Status

Your local housing authority maintains separate waiting lists for public housing and Section 8. Being on one list does not affect your position on the other. You can be waiting for a public housing unit while also waiting for a Section 8 voucher.

Some housing authorities give priority to certain groups — people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, or current residents of public housing who want to move to Section 8. The priorities vary by location. When you contact your housing authority, ask whether they have priority categories and whether you fall into any of them.

Waiting times differ too. Public housing waiting lists in some cities are years long. Section 8 waiting lists can be closed entirely in areas where demand is very high. Your local authority can tell you the current wait time for each program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be on the waiting list for both public housing and Section 8 at the same time?

Yes. The two waiting lists are separate, and being on one does not affect your place on the other. You can explore to both and wait for whichever becomes available first. If you are offered one program, you can accept it and stay on the other waiting list, or you can decline and keep waiting.

What if I have Section 8 and the landlord wants me to leave?

If your landlord ends your lease, you lose your Section 8 apartment but keep your voucher. You have a set amount of time (usually 60 to 120 days) to find a new landlord who will accept Section 8. If you cannot find a new place in time, you may lose the voucher. Contact your housing authority when ready if this happens so they know your situation.

Do I have to give up Section 8 if I want to try public housing?

You do not have to give it up to explore for public housing. You can be on the public housing waiting list while you still have Section 8. But once you are offered and accept a public housing unit, your Section 8 voucher ends and you must move out of your Section 8 apartment.

Can I use Section 8 in a public housing building?

Only if the building is mixed-income and has units designated for Section 8 tenants. Most public housing buildings are entirely public housing. Ask your housing authority whether any of their buildings accept Section 8 vouchers from outside tenants.

What if my housing authority does not offer Section 8?

Some smaller housing authorities run only public housing. If yours does not offer Section 8, you would need to move to a different city or county that does, or wait to see whether your authority starts a program. Contact your local authority to ask about their plans.