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District of Columbia Housing Authority
Official application routes, service-area details, contact information, and HUD-reported program data for this Washington, DC housing agency.
Independent directory: CalculateBenefits is not DCHA or HUD. Recorded source-check date for the agency-specific details below: 2026-11-02.
Is the Washington, DC Section 8 waiting list open?
As of Nov. 2, 2026, DCHA's website said the list was closed.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Closed
What the agency's site said on Nov. 2, 2026. See the notice →
Waiting lists open and close without much notice. Applying is free; only DCHA can take an application or tell you your place on a list.
Start with the official agency
Visit the official DCHA website →
Housing applications and waiting-list registration are free. A third party cannot guarantee approval or move you ahead on a waiting list.
What this agency serves
DCHA serves the District of Columbia. It runs public housing and voucher rental help for extremely low- through moderate-income households across the city.
- Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
- Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP)
- Public housing
Housing Choice Voucher application
DCHA posts waiting list updates on its website. People already on a DCHA list check or update their status through the RentCafe applicant portal at services.dchousing.org.
What DCHA said when we checked on . Waiting lists open and close; check DCHA's official site or call for the current status.
Public housing application
DCHA posts public housing waiting list updates on its website. People already on the list check or update their status through RentCafe.
What DCHA said when we checked on . Waiting lists open and close; check DCHA's official site or call for the current status.
Income limits for District of Columbia
HUD fiscal year 2026 limits (pulled July 27, 2026) for District of Columbia, where DCHA's main office is.
| Household | 30% (extremely low) | 50% (very low) | 80% (low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $34,900 | $58,150 | $74,800 |
| 2 people | $39,900 | $66,450 | $85,450 |
| 3 people | $44,900 | $74,750 | $96,150 |
| 4 people | $49,850 | $83,050 | $106,800 |
Section 8 vouchers generally use the 50% limit, and agencies must give most new vouchers to families at or below 30%; families up to 50% can still qualify. The 80% limit applies to public housing.
Source: HUD income limits. Check 5 to 8 people or another county →
Other help in Washington, DC
Heat and utility bills
DOEE Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) · (202) 737-4404
DC's energy office helps with heating and electric bills. Apply online, or call 311 to set up an in-person appointment at a DOEE service center.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
Food
Capital Area Food Bank · (202) 644-9807
Food bank for the DC region. Use its map to find a nearby pantry, or call the Hunger Lifeline for help finding emergency food.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
Facing eviction
Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) · (202) 832-6577
Free civil legal help for low-income DC residents, including housing and eviction problems. Call or go to an NLSP office for intake.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
These are separate organizations, not DCHA and not CalculateBenefits.
Contact DCHA before you visit
General inquiries: (202) 535-1000
Central office: DCHA Headquarters Customer Service Center, 625 D Street SW, Washington, DC
Housing Choice Voucher line: (202) 535-1000
HCV office: HCVP Customer Service Center, 702 H Street NW, Washington, DC
Published hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm (last walk-in accepted at 3:45 PM)
Voucher applicants and participants should make an appointment at the HCVP Customer Service Center. On Mondays and Fridays it takes walk-ins only for emergencies and document drop-off. The headquarters service center does not take appointments, but you can check walk-in wait times online first. If you have a disability, you can ask for a reasonable accommodation online, in person, or by other means DCHA lists.
DCHA offers free translation and interpreters for people with limited English, including for letters, forms and appointments.
From CalculateBenefits, not DCHA
Waiting-list news by email
Get our free emails. If this agency's main Section 8 waiting list opens and we see it, we email the people who signed up here. Some lists close before we can send. To sign up, you take our free benefits check. You give your name and email and answer a few questions. A phone step is optional. Then you see offers from partners. Your information may be shared with or sold to marketing partners. They may also contact you (how we use it). Signing up does not apply for housing or put you on any waiting list.
Because you've turned on a privacy opt-out, we don't offer this sign-up here. Check the agency's own site for openings.
Before and after you apply
- If you are already on a DCHA waiting list, log in to RentCafe at services.dchousing.org to check your status or update your information.
- Keep your address and phone number current with DCHA so you do not miss a letter about your place on the list.
- You can also get help in person at a DCHA Customer Service Center, including for eligibility interviews and document drop-off.
- Call the DCHA Call Center at (202) 535-1000 with questions.
- DCHA's mailing address is 300 7th Street SW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. This is different from the walk-in service centers.
HUD-reported assistance
These figures are HUD reporting-data snapshots, not a count of openings. Equal inventory and occupied counts do not prove that no future opening is possible. Waiting-list status comes from DCHA, not this dataset.
HUD public housing designation: Standard Performer. Standard Performer means the agency met HUD's overall and individual-indicator minimums but did not qualify as a High Performer. It is an operating assessment, not a customer-review rating.
HUD directory dataset retrieved 2026-07-20; record last updated 2026-04-07. Read the data methods and limitations.
Agency and data sources
Related: All District of Columbia housing agencies · How Housing Choice Vouchers work · Section 8 waiting lists at large agencies.