Affordable Housing in Dallas, TX

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Dallas and the surrounding North Texas counties — not generic Section 8 advice. If you need shelter tonight, want to know whether DHA's waitlist is open, or are looking for an organization that can help with this month's rent, the named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Dallas

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center — Dallas's largest emergency shelter and day center. Walk-ins accepted; offers meals, case management, and pathways to housing. 1818 Corsicana St, (214) 670-1100. bridgehrc.org
• Family Gateway — emergency shelter and rapid rehousing specifically for families with children experiencing homelessness in Dallas County. familygateway.org
• Austin Street Center — overnight shelter for men 45+ and women of any age. austinstreet.org
• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support — emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis line for women and children fleeing domestic violence: (214) 946-HELP (4357)
• OurCalling — Dallas outreach and day shelter that helps locate people in encampments and connect them to services
• Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) — Coordinated Access — single intake point for the Dallas/Collin County Continuum of Care. Call 211 to access
• 211 Texas — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Dallas: DHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Dallas are administered by the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA Housing Solutions for North Texas). Current status (checked September 9, 2026):

• DHA accepts a preliminary application at any time. DHA's own how-to-apply page says "You can submit a preliminary application at any time" and "DHA accepts pre-applications on an ongoing basis instead of limiting it to a few days" — so there is no opening window to watch for. Apply at dhantx.com/applicants
• Your application expires after 18 months. DHA: "Once you apply, your application will stay on the waiting list until you are selected, or for up to 18 months." Its applicants page adds that if you are not selected in a lottery within 18 months the application expires "but you may re-apply" — so diary the date and re-apply rather than assuming you are still on the list
• Public Housing through DHA — a separate program from Section 8, with its own waitlist. Check status when you call
• Other DHA programs that may have separate eligibility: Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities, and HUD-VASH for veterans
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: you are not limited to DHA. The housing authorities of Mesquite, Grand Prairie, McKinney, Plano, Irving, and the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (state) operate separate lists with their own openings
• Status check: call DHA at 214-951-8300 if you've already applied and need to verify your position on the list

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Dallas (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local organizations currently operating in Dallas. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• Home Point — Dallas nonprofit offering emergency rental and utility assistance, free legal workshops with Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, and case management to prevent homelessness. homepointdallas.org
• Dallas County Health & Human Services — Community Action Program — operates rental, utility, and other emergency assistance for residents of Dallas County. Call (214) 819-1968 or visit dallascounty.org
• Catholic Charities Dallas — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services, and case management. Spanish-language services available
• St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Dallas — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Salvation Army DFW Metroplex — eviction prevention and utility assistance programs at locations across Dallas
• Crossroads Community Services — food pantry plus financial-stability resources for families in southern Dallas
• Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) — statewide emergency solutions funding flows through local Community Action Agencies. Check status at tdhca.texas.gov

The Texas Rent Relief Program has ended

The Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR) and the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP), which distributed federal rental funds during the pandemic, both closed in summer 2023. All funds are gone. If anyone tells you to "apply to Texas Rent Relief," that information is out of date. The current paths are Home Point, Dallas County CAP, and the named nonprofits listed above.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP and CEAP

In Texas, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is administered as the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) through local Community Action Agencies. In Dallas County, you apply through Dallas County HHS. Lowering your utility bill frees up cash for rent. Call 211 or visit dallascounty.org to start.

Tenant Rights in Texas

Texas has one of the more landlord-friendly legal frameworks in the country. Knowing the specific rules in Dallas can save your tenancy:

• No source-of-income protection — and cities are preempted: Texas does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. In 2015, Texas SB 267 prohibited cities from passing local source-of-income ordinances, so Dallas cannot adopt one either. Finding a landlord who already accepts vouchers is part of the work — DHA can provide a list of participating landlords
• 3-day notice to vacate for nonpayment (Texas Property Code §24.005) — among the shortest in the country. Once you get one, act immediately. See how to avoid eviction
• Security deposit return: the landlord must return your deposit (or written itemized deductions) within 30 days of move-out (TX Prop Code §92.103). Texas does not cap the deposit amount
• Warranty of habitability and right to repair: Texas Property Code Chapter 92 requires landlords to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect health or safety, after written notice and a reasonable time. Don't withhold rent without legal advice
• Notice to end month-to-month: one full rental period (typically 30 days), from either side
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal: Texas Property Code §92.331 prohibits eviction or rent increases in retaliation for repair requests or tenant organizing within the prior 6 months
• Self-help eviction is illegal: Your landlord cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or remove belongings to force you out. They must go through Justice of the Peace court (TX Prop Code §92.0081)
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under the federal Fair Housing Act and Texas Property Code Chapter 301. The City of Dallas Office of Fair Housing & Human Rights handles local intakes

For free help: the Texas Tenants Union (TTU) runs weekly tenant rights workshops in Dallas, and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas offers free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction or unsafe housing. For state-level details, see our Texas housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Dallas

• Public housing: DHA owns affordable apartments across Dallas. The public housing waitlist is separate from Section 8 — ask about both when you call 214-951-8300
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): privately owned income-restricted apartments — Dallas has one of the largest LIHTC inventories in Texas. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Dallas County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Dallas-area veterans are referred through the VA North Texas Health Care System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance. Access via Coordinated Access (call 211)
• Refugee Services of Texas — initial housing, case management, and employment support for refugees and asylees in the Dallas area
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Credit Coalition and Family Houston-affiliated agencies cover Dallas

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

If you're already on the DHA waitlist and just need to verify your position, the fastest path is calling 214-951-8300. If you got a 3-day notice to vacate, contact Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas immediately — every day counts.