Affordable Housing in Houston, TX

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Houston and Harris County — not generic Section 8 advice. HHA's Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed with a 45-month average wait, and Harris County HA has been closed since May 2026, so the realistic short-term path is one-time help through BakerRipley, Harris County CSD, and the named shelters and legal services below. Houston also has Texas's fastest eviction timeline — 3-day notice plus 2025 SB 38 acceleration — so Lone Star Legal Aid speed-dial matters.

Emergency Help Tonight in Houston

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

• Star of Hope Mission — Houston's largest faith-based shelter system. Men's Development Center, Women & Family Development Center, and Cornerstone (recovery). Family Shelter line: (713) 222-2220 · sohmission.org
• Salvation Army Family Residence — emergency family shelter, men's adult rehabilitation center, and Sally House. (713) 650-6530
• SEARCH Homeless Services — day shelter, employment training, behavioral health, and housing navigation. The House of Tiny Treasures preschool for children experiencing homelessness. (713) 739-7752 · searchhomeless.org
• Houston Coalition for the Homeless (Lead Agency, The Way Home CoC) — coordinated access for all homeless services in Houston/Harris County. homelesshouston.org
• Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County — Coordinated Access — central intake. Call 211 to be screened
• Magnificat Houses — emergency shelter, transitional housing, and street outreach. (713) 655-4000
• The Beacon — day shelter, meals, showers, and case management downtown. (713) 236-0643
• Covenant House Texas — emergency shelter for youth ages 18-24. (713) 523-7900
• The Bridge Over Troubled Waters — domestic violence shelter, Pasadena. (713) 473-1605
• The Houston Area Women's Center — DV and sexual assault shelter, 24-hour crisis line. (713) 528-7273
• 211 Texas — free 24/7 information line. Dial 211

For a full walkthrough, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Houston: HHA and HCHA Status

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in the Houston area are administered by two separate authorities. Current status (checked July 2026):

• Houston Housing Authority (HHA) — serves the City of Houston. HCV waitlist is closed as of July 2026 with no announced reopening. HHA periodically re-registers existing waitlist members; if you're already on the list, watch your email and mail. Failure to re-register removes you from the list
• Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA) — serves unincorporated Harris County and contracting municipalities outside Houston city limits. HCHA is not accepting applications for any waiting lists as of May 21, 2026, with no reopening scheduled. (713) 578-2100 · hchatexas.org
• Wait time once on the list: households spend an average of 45 months (3.75 years) on the Houston-area waitlist before receiving a voucher
• Public Housing waitlist: separate from HCV — check housingforhouston.com/residents/public-housing/public-housing-waitlist-notice/
• Specialty referrals still accepted: HUD-VASH (veterans), Family Unification Program (FUP), Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities
• Other Texas authorities you can apply to simultaneously: Pasadena Housing Authority, Pasadena Second Ward HA, Galveston Housing Authority, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs statewide voucher program
• Contact: Houston Housing Authority (713) 260-0500 · housingforhouston.com

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Houston (Named Programs)

• Harris County Community Services Department (CSD) Rental Assistance Program — county-administered eviction prevention for Harris County residents. hcd.harriscountytx.gov
• BakerRipley — Houston's largest community action agency, administers rental and utility assistance and case management. (713) 400-4900 · bakerripley.org
• Lone Star Legal Aid — Houston Office — free eviction defense for income-eligible tenants in Harris County and surrounding counties. Eviction Defense Coalition (LSLA + Houston Volunteer Lawyers + South Texas College of Law + Thurgood Marshall School of Law + UH Law Center) puts lawyers at Justice of the Peace courts. (713) 226-0600 or toll-free 1-800-733-1789 · lonestarlegal.org
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston — emergency financial assistance, case management. (713) 874-6555
• Star of Hope Family Shelter — emergency shelter combined with case management
• Salvation Army Greater Houston — emergency rental and utility assistance
• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Houston — one-time rental and utility help through parish conferences
• West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) — west Houston rental and utility help. (713) 464-2530
• Houston Heights Action Coalition (HHAC) — neighborhood eviction-prevention partnerships
• Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) through BakerRipley — Texas LIHEAP administered locally
• 211 Texas — screens and routes you to whichever provider has funds open this month

Texas Rent Relief (TRR) has ended

The Texas Rent Relief Program and the Texas Eviction Diversion Program closed in summer 2023. Current paths are Harris County CSD, BakerRipley, and the nonprofits listed above. Don't waste time on closed pandemic portals.

Tenant Rights in Texas (and Recent Changes)

Texas has one of the more landlord-friendly legal frameworks in the country. The 2025 SB 38 made evictions even faster. Houston tenants are covered by the Texas Property Code Chapters 24, 92, and 301:

• Texas SB 38 (2025) accelerated eviction: Texas SB 38 took effect in 2025 and streamlined the eviction process in landlords' favor — changes to summary disposition and the tenant appearance period. If served, you have less time than under the old rules. Contact Lone Star Legal Aid immediately
• 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
• No source-of-income protection — cities preempted: Texas SB 267 (2015) prohibits cities from passing local source-of-income ordinances. Houston cannot enact one. A landlord can lawfully decline to accept a voucher
• Security deposit return: 30 days after move-out with itemized deductions (TX § 92.103). Texas does not cap deposits
• Warranty of habitability and right to repair — TX Property Code Chapter 92 requires diligent effort to repair conditions materially affecting health or safety after written notice. Don't withhold rent without legal advice
• Notice to end month-to-month: one full rental period (usually 30 days), from either side
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal (TX § 92.331) — within the prior 6 months of a tenant's good-faith complaint or organizing
• Self-help eviction is illegal (TX § 92.0081) — landlords cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or remove belongings. They must go through Justice of the Peace court
• Justice of the Peace court venue: Harris County has 16 JP precincts that hear evictions. Trial is usually 6-21 days after the petition is filed. After a tenant loss, the writ of possession typically issues 6 days later
• Fair housing: federal Fair Housing Act and TX Property Code Chapter 301 cover race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability

For free legal help: Lone Star Legal Aid at (713) 226-0600 or 1-800-733-1789 — Houston Office handles housing, fair housing, and emergency eviction defense. For state-level details, see our Texas housing resources.

Other Housing Programs in Houston

• Public housing: HHA owns and manages public-housing communities across Houston. Waitlist managed separately
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): Houston has substantial LIHTC inventory. Search HUD's LIHTC database
• HUD-VASH (veterans): Houston veterans are referred through the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through The Way Home CoC
• TDHCA — Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs · tdhca.texas.gov
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions and routes you to the right combination of programs.

The HHA voucher waitlist is closed and average wait is 45 months — call (713) 260-0500 to verify your existing position or ask about specialty referrals (HUD-VASH, FUP). For rent help, call (713) 400-4900 (BakerRipley) or 211. If you got a 3-day notice, call Lone Star Legal Aid at (713) 226-0600 the same day — Texas evictions are among the fastest and the 2025 SB 38 made them even faster.