How to Apply for Section 8 in Buffalo, NY

In Buffalo, three main agencies run Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) programs, and each keeps its own waitlist. Getting on one list does not put you on the others. Lists open rarely and usually through a short online window followed by a lottery, so the best plan is to get ready now and apply to every list you qualify for.

This guide covers who runs Section 8 in Buffalo and Erie County, which lists are closed, how rent limits work by ZIP code, income limits, documents, and what to do while you wait. Applying is always free.

Is the Buffalo Section 8 waiting list open?

Here is what each agency's official website said when we checked:

Agency	Section 8 list	Source
Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA)	Closed	bmhahousing.com (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo (RAC)	Not accepting applications	racbny.org (checked Nov 4, 2026)
NYS HCR / Belmont – Erie County Consortium	Closed	belmonthousingwny.org (checked Nov 4, 2026)

As of our November 4, 2026 check, BMHA's voucher page said it expected to reopen Section 8 applications sometime in 2026, and that openings would be advertised through local media and BMHA's social media accounts. Nothing has been announced on its site yet, so check back often.

Who runs Section 8 in Buffalo

Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA)

BMHA runs public housing and a voucher program. Phone: 716-855-6711. Website: bmhahousing.com. Watch BMHA's site, local news and BMHA's social media for the next voucher opening.

Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo (RAC)

RAC is a nonprofit that the City of Buffalo, as the housing authority, contracts with to run its Section 8 programs. RAC runs the Housing Voucher and Moderate Rehabilitation programs, plus a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program and a small homeownership program for FSS participants. Website: racbny.org.

RAC's waiting list page says, "Currently RACB is not accepting applications." If you are already on RAC's list, you can log in from that page to see your record and send changes to your information. Keep your address, phone and email current so you don't miss a letter.

NYS HCR through Belmont Housing Resources for WNY

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) runs a voucher program across the state through local administrators. HCR lists Belmont Housing Resources of WNY as its local administrator for Erie County:

• Phone: 716-884-7791
• Address: 2393 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM (Housing Resource Center: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–5 PM, Fridays by appointment)
• Website: belmonthousingwny.org

Belmont runs vouchers for three programs: the Erie County Consortium, the City of North Tonawanda, and Niagara County through NYS. On November 4, 2026, Belmont's Section 8 page said the Erie County Consortium and Niagara County lists were closed, and that applications were being accepted through the City of North Tonawanda program. Check Belmont's page for who that program serves and how to apply before you go.

When an HCR list opens for your county, you can apply online at the MyHousing Portal (section8.hcr.ny.gov) or on paper through the local administrator. If you already have a MyHousing account, you can add newly opened lists there. HCR's Section 8 call center is 833-791-2748 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; TTY 833-990-4002).

How a Buffalo waitlist opening works

1. A list opens for a short time, often online only.
2. You submit a short pre-application. This puts you in the running. It is not approval.
3. A lottery or preferences decide your place. HUD says your spot depends on available vouchers, when you applied, and any preferences you listed on your application.
4. When your name comes up, you complete a full application and the agency checks your income, household and other rules.
5. If you qualify, you get a voucher and start looking for a home. Being on a list never guarantees a voucher.

Rent limits vary by ZIP code

The Buffalo metro is the only area in New York State on HUD's list of areas required to use Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs). Instead of one rent limit for the whole metro, the limits are set by ZIP code. HUD's payment standards guidebook says that with SAFMRs, each ZIP code counts as its own part of the rent area, and agencies may set payment standards by ZIP code or by groups of ZIP codes. In practice, higher-rent neighborhoods can have higher limits. Ask your agency for the limit in the ZIP code you want.

For reference, these are the metro-wide HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027, effective Oct 1, 2026, for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA (Erie County):

Unit size	Fair Market Rent
Studio	$1,178
1 bedroom	$1,203
2 bedrooms	$1,423
3 bedrooms	$1,732
4 bedrooms	$1,977

Each housing authority sets its own payment standard, usually between 90% and 110% of the Fair Market Rent that applies (in Buffalo, the ZIP-code rent). So the numbers above are a starting point, not the most your voucher will pay.

You generally pay about 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent. HUD says your share can be as high as 40% of your adjusted monthly income. Use our Section 8 rent calculator for an estimate.

Income limits for Buffalo (HUD FY2026)

Section 8 is generally for families with extremely low or very low income. These are HUD's FY2026 limits for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA (Erie and Niagara counties; median family income $101,500):

Household size	Extremely low	Very low (50%)
1 person	$21,350	$35,550
2 people	$24,400	$40,600
3 people	$27,450	$45,700
4 people	$33,000	$50,750
5 people	$38,680	$54,850
6 people	$44,360	$58,900
7 people	$50,040	$62,950
8 people	$55,720	$67,000

Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Income Limits, Erie County. Meeting these limits does not guarantee a voucher. See Section 8 Eligibility: Who Qualifies for the other rules, such as citizenship or eligible immigration status and a valid Social Security number for the head of household.

Documents to get ready now

You usually don't need documents just to join a waitlist, but having them ready helps when you are selected. HUD says agencies typically ask for:

• Pay stubs or other income paperwork, and bank information
• Paperwork for any public assistance you receive
• Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
• Social Security cards for household members

Requirements vary by agency. After you get a voucher and find a unit, the landlord submits a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) to the agency.

Public housing in Buffalo

Public housing is a separate program with its own list, and you can apply for it while you wait for Section 8. Rent is based on your income. When we checked BMHA's website on November 2, 2026, BMHA's public housing application form was posted on its site. Call BMHA at 716-855-6711 to confirm how to turn it in.

While you wait: other options

• Project-based Section 8 buildings. In these buildings the help stays with the apartment. HCR says that for a project-based voucher you apply directly with the administrator where the building is, each building usually has its own list, and you can apply to as many as you like. See Section 8 and subsidized housing in Buffalo for buildings and phone numbers.
• Other lists in New York. Read How to Apply for Section 8 in New York State and Open Section 8 Waiting Lists: How to Find Them.
• Nearby cities. See the guides for Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, Schenectady & Troy.

Tips

1. Apply to every list you qualify for. BMHA, RAC and HCR (Belmont) are separate.
2. Keep your contact information current with each agency.
3. Applying is always free.

Your rights: source-of-income protection

Since 2019, the New York State Human Rights Law protects renters from discrimination based on lawful source of income, and the NYS Division of Human Rights says this includes Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. That means most landlords in New York cannot legally refuse you just because you pay with a voucher or other lawful income. There are limited exemptions, such as an owner-occupied two-family home or a room in the owner's own home.

To report discrimination, contact the NYS Division of Human Rights at (844) 697-3471 (TTY 718-741-8300) or file at dhr.ny.gov, or call the New York Attorney General's office at 1-800-771-7755. Read more in Your Rights as a Voucher Holder.

Watch out for scams

• No real housing authority charges to join a waitlist.
• HCR says it and its local administrators will never ask you to send payments directly to them for security deposits, rent or other charges.
• HCR warns about fake emails that copy real caseworker names and say you were "approved" for a unit, then ask for a deposit.
• RAC's existing-applicant login asks for your Social Security number. Only enter it on RAC's real website (racbny.org), and never on a link from an unexpected email or text.
• Don't pay anyone who promises a voucher or a faster spot on a list.

Related guides

• Section 8 and subsidized housing in Buffalo
• How to Apply for Section 8 in New York State (2026)
• Open Section 8 Waiting Lists: How to Find Them
• Section 8 Eligibility: Who Qualifies
• Section 8 Rent Calculator
• How to Apply for Section 8 in Syracuse
• How to Apply for Section 8 in Rochester
• How to Apply for Section 8 in NYC: 2026 Complete Guide
• Your Rights as a NYC Voucher Holder: A Complete Guide
• How to Apply for Section 8 in Albany, Schenectady & Troy