Where to explore for Section 8 in Indiana

You explore for Section 8 through your local Public Housing Authority (PHA), not through a state office or the federal government. Indiana has multiple PHAs, each serving a specific county or region. The PHA that serves you depends on where you want to live, not where you live now. If you are looking for housing in Marion County, you contact the Indianapolis Housing Authority. If you are looking in Lake County, you contact the Gary Housing Authority.

To find your local PHA, visit the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) website or call 211 Indiana, which can tell you which PHA covers your area and whether their waiting list is open. Many Indiana PHAs have closed waiting lists, meaning they are not taking new applications right now. Calling first saves you a trip.

Once you know your PHA, you can usually start the process by visiting their office in person, calling them, or checking their website for an online process portal. Some PHAs accept applications only during certain windows each year. Others accept them year-round but add you to a waiting list that may take months or years to reach.

Key Takeaways

  • You explore through your local Public Housing Authority, which varies by county — Marion County uses Indianapolis Housing Authority, Lake County uses Gary Housing Authority, and so on.
  • Many Indiana PHAs have closed waiting lists, so call 211 Indiana or your local PHA first to confirm they are taking applications before you gather documents.
  • You will need proof of income, citizenship or legal residency, a photo ID, and Social Security numbers for everyone in your household.
  • The PHA will conduct a background check and home inspection before you receive a voucher, a process that typically takes several months.
  • Once you have a voucher, you have a limited time to find a landlord willing to accept Section 8 — the important date varies by PHA but is often 60 to 120 days.

Documents You Need Before You Start

Gather these documents before you contact your PHA. Having them ready speeds up the process and shows the PHA you are serious. You will need proof of income for the past 30 days — a pay stub, a letter from your employer, or a bank statement showing regular deposits. If you are unemployed, bring documentation of unemployment benefits or other income sources.

Bring proof of citizenship or legal residency. A U.S. birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers work. If you are not a citizen, you need an Alien Registration Number (also called an A-number) and proof that your immigration status allows you to receive housing information. Bring a photo ID for the head of household and Social Security cards or numbers for everyone in your household, including children.

You will also need proof of your current address — a lease, utility bill, or mail from a government agency. If you are homeless or living in a shelter, bring documentation from that shelter. The PHA uses this to verify your current situation and confirm you meet income limits for your household size.

Income Limits and Household Size Rules

Section 8 is available only to households whose income falls below a certain level. That level depends on your household size and the county where you want to live. A single person in Marion County has a different income limit than a family of four in the same county. The PHA will tell you the exact limit when you call or visit.

Your household size includes everyone living with you, whether or not they are related to you. Children, elderly parents, and unrelated roommates all count. The PHA counts income from all household members, even if some are not on the lease. If your income is above the limit, you do not meet the basic requirement, and the PHA will not process your process.

Income limits change each year, usually in April. If you are close to the limit, ask the PHA whether you will be grandfathered in if you are already on the waiting list when your income rises slightly. Some PHAs allow this; others do not.

The Background Check and What Can Disqualify You

After you submit your process, the PHA will run a background check. They look at criminal history, eviction records, and whether you owe money to a previous landlord or PHA. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you — the PHA considers the type of crime, how long ago it happened, and whether you have shown rehabilitation. Drug-related convictions and crimes of violence are treated more seriously than other offenses.

Eviction history matters. If you were evicted for non-payment of rent within the past three years, you may be denied. If you were evicted for lease violations or criminal activity, denial is more likely. Some PHAs have hardship waivers that allow people with recent evictions to proceed if they can show the circumstances have changed.

The PHA will also verify that you have not been terminated from Section 8 in the past for lease violations or fraud. If a previous PHA removed you from the program, you may not be able to reapply in Indiana for a set period, often three to five years.

The Home Inspection and Finding a Landlord

Before you receive your voucher, the PHA will inspect the unit where you plan to live. The inspection checks that the property meets Housing Quality Standards — the roof does not leak, the plumbing works, the electrical system is safe, and there is no lead paint hazard. Landlords know about this inspection, and many will not rent to Section 8 tenants because they see the inspection as burdensome or because they prefer to charge more than the voucher allows.

Once you have your voucher, you have a limited time to find a landlord. In Indiana, this is usually 60 to 120 days, depending on your PHA. You can look for any rental property in your PHA's jurisdiction that meets the standards and is within the payment limit. The PHA will tell you the maximum rent they will cover for your area. If a landlord wants more, you pay the difference out of pocket.

Finding a landlord willing to accept Section 8 can be the hardest part of the process. Some landlords refuse outright. Others will rent to you only if you pay a higher security deposit or sign a longer lease. It is legal for a landlord to decline Section 8 tenants in Indiana, so you may need to contact many landlords before you find one who will work with you.

How Long the Process Takes

From the day you submit your process to the day you move into a unit typically takes four to twelve months, though it can be longer. The timeline depends on how busy your PHA is, how quickly you gather documents, and how long it takes you to find a landlord. If your PHA has a long waiting list, you may wait months just to be called for an interview.

Once you are called for an interview, the PHA usually gives you a important date to complete it — often 10 to 14 days. If you miss the important date, your process may be denied and you will have to start over. After the interview, the background check and income verification take another two to four weeks. Then comes the home inspection, which the landlord must schedule and pass.

During this entire time, stay in touch with your PHA. If your contact information changes, tell them when ready. If you move, tell them. If your income changes significantly, tell them. PHAs sometimes deny applications because they cannot reach the applicant or because the applicant did not update their information.

What Happens After You Get Your Voucher

Once the PHA approves you and you receive your voucher, you become a Section 8 tenant. The PHA pays the landlord a portion of the rent each month, and you pay the rest. Your share is usually 30 percent of your household income, though it can be less if the rent is very low. The PHA's portion is called the housing information payment, or HAP.

You must recertify your income and household composition each year. If your income rises, your rent share may rise. If your income falls, your rent share falls. If someone moves out of your household, you must report it. If you want to move to a different unit, you must get PHA approval and the new unit must pass inspection.

You can stay in the program as long as you follow the lease, pay your share of the rent on time, and allow the PHA to inspect the unit annually. If you violate the lease or commit fraud, the PHA can terminate your information and you will lose the voucher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my local PHA's waiting list is closed?

Call back every few months to check whether it has reopened. Some PHAs open their lists for a few weeks each year. Others open them when someone leaves the program. You can also ask to be placed on a priority list if you are homeless or have a disability — some PHAs prioritize these households even when the general list is closed.

Can I explore to more than one PHA at the same time?

Yes. If you are willing to live in multiple counties, you can explore to each PHA that serves those areas. However, once you receive a voucher from one PHA, you must notify the others and withdraw your applications. You cannot hold vouchers from two PHAs at once.

Do I have to live in the same county where I work?

No. You explore through the PHA that serves the county where you want to live, not where you work. If you work in Marion County but want to live in Hendricks County, you explore to the Hendricks County PHA. The PHA cares only about where the rental unit is located.

What if I have a felony conviction?

A felony does not automatically disqualify you. The PHA considers the type of crime, when it happened, and what you have done since. Drug-related felonies and crimes of violence are reviewed more carefully. Ask your PHA whether they have a waiver process for people with criminal histories, and be honest about your past during the interview.

Can a landlord charge me more than the PHA's payment limit?

Yes, but you would have to pay the difference yourself. If the PHA's limit for your area is $800 and a landlord wants $900, you would pay $100 out of pocket each month. Many Section 8 tenants cannot afford this, so landlords who charge above the limit have fewer applicants.