Registration to be placed on the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is by a lottery process, which is only opened periodically. Registration for the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is currently closed.
SHA provides assistance to rent with landlords in Seattle through its Housing Choice Voucher program.
Participants in the program receive a housing subsidy in the form of a voucher that they can use to rent a unit from any landlord in Seattle who meets the requirements.
Households in this program earn 50 percent or less of area median income (AMI) to qualify, and pay the portion of rent and utilities not covered by the voucher—typically 30 to 40 percent of monthly income. Preference is given to households that are at 30 percent or less of AMI and those who are homeless.
Applicants need to meet several criteria to be eligible for assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. Landlords and their rental units must also meet eligibility standards.
Landlords and current voucher participants who wish to meet with Housing Choice Voucher staff in person are strongly encouraged to book an appointment.
Our Central Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Services are also available by phone, email or online. If you have questions please contact us.
The last lottery was held February 6-24, 2017 and another one is not scheduled. It is anticipated to take several years before Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) issues vouchers to those on the 2017 lottery waitlist and opens another lottery.
See information about orientation, finding a rental, leasing, voucher payment standards, utility estimates, inspections and more.
Over 1500 landlords partner with the Seattle Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher program to provide homes to members of our community with low incomes.
Learn about additional voucher programs such as the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI), Family Unification Program (FUP), Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) and Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO).
Seattle Housing Authority currently has an Administrative Plan for its Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). It explains the policies through which the agency administers the program. The plan has been approved by the Board of Commissioners.
Housing Choice Voucher forms that can be completed online or downloaded, printed, and returned.
* * *
Seattle Housing Authority will, upon request, provide reasonable accommodation to help ensure that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability is excluded from participating in, or denied the benefit of, any agency program. More information
SHA will also provide language assistance upon request. More information
“I really want to make a difference in small but significant ways.”
Printer-friendly version