Waythrough is an independent resource, not RHA. We summarize public information to help you get oriented. For applications and the most current waiting-list status, always use the official links below.

The Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) is the public housing authority that runs Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing for the City of Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a separate agency from the Housing Authority of the County of Wake, which runs its own programs and its own waiting lists across Wake County — so if you are not sure which one you need, check both. This page summarizes what RHA itself publishes about its waiting-list status, contact information, and how to apply, and links to RHA's own pages for anything time-sensitive.

Quick Facts

Serves: the City of Raleigh, North Carolina
Phone: (919) 831-8300
Official site: rhanc.gov/
Apply: RHA application page
Status last checked: July 30, 2026

Waiting-List Status

Waiting lists open and close frequently, so treat the status below as a starting point and confirm on the official site before you rely on it.

  • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): Closed — Closed and not accepting applications (checked July 30, 2026). RHA's own notice reads: "As of 5pm on October 31, 2023, all Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) Section 8 Voucher and Public Housing waiting lists are temporarily closed and are not accepting new applications." RHA has not announced a reopening date. When the list closed, RHA said it held over 9,000 families, and RHA's voucher FAQ states: "The waiting list for a Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher is 4-7 years long."
  • Public Housing: Closed — Closed (checked July 30, 2026). RHA briefly reopened its public housing waiting lists at 10am on Monday, June 2, 2025, then closed them again four days later. Its waiting-list page now reads: "All public housing lists have reached capacity and are now CLOSED" and "As of 1pm on Friday, June 6, 2025, all waiting lists have been closed." RHA's 2023 closure notice estimated a wait of 2-5 years for public housing.
  • Site-based project-based voucher (PBV) lists: Closed to new applicants — You do not apply to these separately. RHA states that applications on its Housing Choice Voucher waiting list "will be automatically added to all new site-based, project-based voucher waiting lists." Because the voucher list itself is closed, there is currently no way to join them (checked July 30, 2026).

Programs RHA Runs

  • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
  • Public Housing
  • Site-based project-based voucher (PBV) developments
  • Public housing redevelopment and repositioning (RAD and Section 18)

How to Apply

Apply directly through the authority's official application page: portal.rhanc.gov/. If you have already applied, call (919) 831-8300 to verify your position and keep your contact information current — if the authority cannot reach you when your name comes up, you can be dropped from the list.

New to the process? Our step-by-step guide to applying for Section 8 walks through the whole thing, and how to find your PHA helps you locate the right authority.

Other Authorities Serving This Area

  • Housing Authority of the County of Wake (HACW) is a separate authority, based at 100 Shannon Drive in Zebulon, that serves Wake County. Its own site lists Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon — so it can be worth applying to both agencies. Its lists are closed too: "The Waiting Lists for Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers are currently closed. Applications are not being accepted at this time." Phone (919) 269-6404 (checked July 30, 2026).
  • Moving a voucher into Wake County? HACW announced on April 24, 2026 that "Wake County Housing Authority (WCHA) is not accepting incoming Portability Participants into the Portability Program," and says the moratorium was approved by HUD. Call before you plan a move.
  • HACW now requires an online account. Its June 2026 notice states: "Effective July 1, 2026, all Applicants, Residents, and Landlords are required to use RENT Café," and that using it "is required to remain eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Public Housing Program." There is no cost to create an account.
  • Neither agency runs emergency housing. HACW says plainly: "Wake County Housing Authority does not offer any type of Emergency Housing." If you need shelter tonight, that runs through separate providers — see the Raleigh resources page linked below.

More Local Resources

For the full picture of affordable housing in this area — emergency shelter, rental assistance, tenant rights, and legal aid — see our Raleigh housing resources page and our NC state resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Raleigh Section 8 waiting list open?

No. As of July 30, 2026 the Raleigh Housing Authority's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is closed, and RHA has not announced a reopening date. RHA's notice states that "as of 5pm on October 31, 2023, all Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) Section 8 Voucher and Public Housing waiting lists are temporarily closed and are not accepting new applications." RHA says it will announce any change through an email sign-up, local newspapers, its website, and notices at its offices. Check rhanc.gov/waiting-list or call (919) 831-8300 before you rely on this.

Is Raleigh public housing open?

Not right now. RHA reopened its public housing waiting lists on Monday, June 2, 2025, and closed them again on Friday, June 6, 2025 — its page says the lists "have reached capacity and are now CLOSED." That four-day window is a good illustration of why it is worth checking rhanc.gov directly and often: when RHA opens a list, it may not stay open for long.

How long is the wait for housing in Raleigh?

RHA publishes two slightly different estimates, both its own. Its Housing Choice Voucher FAQ says "the waiting list for a Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher is 4-7 years long." Its 2023 closure notice estimated "a wait time of 2-5 years for public housing and 3-7 years for Section 8." Either way, plan for a multi-year wait, keep your contact information current with every authority you apply to, and apply to more than one agency.

What preferences does RHA use?

RHA gives preference to applicants who live or work in Wake County; mobility-impaired applicants when an accessible unit is available; working families; elderly applicants, which RHA defines as 62 years of age or older; and people with disabilities. RHA notes that "preferences do not guarantee admission. They establish the order of placement on the waiting list." The hours-per-week threshold in the working-family definition has been under revision, so confirm the current definition with RHA at (919) 831-8300 rather than relying on an older published figure.

What is happening to Raleigh's public housing?

RHA is redeveloping it. RHA states that it "plans to reposition all existing public housing developments, committing to at least a one-for-one replacement," and its five-year plan sets a goal to reposition all public housing developments with an increase of at least 2,000 units. It has already repositioned four properties into project-based vouchers through a RAD award and has filed a Section 18 application covering Heritage Park. If you are a current public housing resident, ask RHA directly how your development is affected and what your relocation rights are.

Who covers the rest of Wake County?

The Housing Authority of the County of Wake (HACW), based in Zebulon at (919) 269-6404, runs its own vouchers and public housing and lists Raleigh and eleven other Wake County communities as its service area. Its waiting lists for public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers are also closed as of July 30, 2026, it is not accepting incoming portability participants as of an April 24, 2026 announcement, and since July 1, 2026 it requires applicants, residents and landlords to use its RENT Café online portal.

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