Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the PHA based on the household’s total annual gross income and family size. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county in which the family chooses to live. By law, a PHA must provide 75 percent of its voucher to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location.    

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. The family and the landlord will submit documentation to determine if the rent is affordable and can be approved. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by HUD’s guidelines and the PHA.    

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program (determined by set area FMR standards).    

Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available to HUD and the local housing agencies, long waiting periods are common. In fact, a PHA will often close its waiting list when it has more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.    

The Waiting List for Housing Choice Vouchers/Section 8 Vouchers administered by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is currently CLOSED for the following counties: Elkton, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.  

• To apply go to the Waiting List Website
• Go to the bottom of the page, click “Get Started”
• Click “Register Now” or Log in with existing username and password
• You must fill in all the boxes with a star *
• Click Submit
• Click “New Application”
• Fill in all requested information
• When you complete the application click “Continue” to submit

Our waitlist is opened as allowed based on funding availability from HUD. If additional funding allows us to open the waitlist to new names, we will notify the public through our website, newspaper announcements, and ads. You may also call our office, or check online, monthly. If the waitlist opens to new names, they will be selected from waitlistcheck.com via random lottery. You may sign into Waitlistcheck.com to view updates regarding your application.

• If you are selected by random lottery to be on the waitlist your application will say “active”.
• If you are not selected by random lottery your application will say “inactive” and you can reapply when the list reopens.
• If you are selected to be on the waitlist, we will contact you by mail once funding becomes available for your area.
• You are responsible for submitting all updates to your contact information to us in writing. You may mail updates to: 411 Dorchester Ave. Suite 202, Cambridge, MD 21613.

You may visit mdhousingsearch.org​ for housing information not associated with MD DHCD. 

Current HCV/Section 8 recipient families are eligible for enrollment into our FSS - Family Self Sufficiency Program, providing the links families need to grow stronger and more stable. Ask your case manager for more info or visit the FSS Page.   

For information on other and local/rural resources, and programming, please visit our DHCD Community Engagement Center.