How to Apply for Section 8 in Columbus, Ohio

In Columbus and the rest of Franklin County, Section 8 is run by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) at cmhanet.com. CMHA runs both the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) and public housing. Each one has its own waitlist, and getting on one does not put you on the other.

One quick warning: there are two "CMHA" agencies in Ohio. This guide is about the Columbus agency (cmhanet.com). The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority in Cleveland (cmha.net) is a different agency with different lists.

This guide covers how to apply, how the waitlist works, who qualifies, how much rent a voucher can cover in Franklin County, and what you can do while you wait.

Is the Columbus Section 8 waitlist open? (November 2026)

CMHA's apply page lets you apply for the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist online, and it says you can apply to new waitlists "when available." But as of November 4, 2026, the official pages do not say whether the voucher waitlist is open right now.

CMHA's Housing Choice Voucher page also says "waitlist selections are currently in process." People who are picked get a notice by mail, and by email if CMHA has one on file. CMHA asks people who have not gotten a letter not to call about their place on the list.

The best way to know where you stand is to log in to CMHA's online portal or call CMHA at 614-421-6000.

How the Housing Choice Voucher program works

Section 8 is a federal HUD program run by local housing agencies. Here is the basic idea:

1. You get a voucher from CMHA.
2. You find a home on the private market. CMHA says the owner must agree to rent under the program, and the unit can even be the place you live now.
3. The unit must meet health and safety standards set by the housing agency.
4. You pay part of the rent. HUD says your share is usually 30% of your adjusted monthly income and can be as high as 40%.
5. CMHA pays the rest straight to the landlord.

CMHA says the program helps very low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities.

How to apply for Section 8 in Columbus

CMHA takes voucher applications through its RentCafe HCV Portal at portal.cmhanet.com. It is open 24/7 from a computer or smartphone. Here are the steps:

1. Get an email address. You need one to create a portal account.
2. Create your account at portal.cmhanet.com. If you already have one, log in with the email you used before.
3. Apply for the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist in the portal.
4. Use the portal to keep up. You can upload documents, sign forms, check your waitlist status, apply to new waitlists when they open, and message CMHA.

Tips from CMHA's voucher page:

• Send only one application per person or family.
• Write last names exactly as they appear on Social Security cards.
• You must be at least 18 when you get the voucher.

If you need help signing up, call 614-421-6000 during business hours. CMHA's main office is at 880 E. 11th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211. Voucher applications and intake are handled at 1407 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43211.

How the waitlist and preferences work

CMHA's voucher page says preferences go to families and people with disabilities. CMHA also lists these local preferences on its requirements page:

• Involuntary displacement
• Homelessness
• Living in substandard housing
• Veterans and their families
• Working families (the head of household or spouse works at least 20 hours a week)
• Age 62 or older, or a disability
• Finishing a residential substance abuse treatment program
• Enrollment in education, training or upward mobility programs
• Full-time students in accredited schools or skills training

CMHA says each preference counts the same, and a preference does not guarantee you will get in. You still have to meet the screening rules. Wait times depend on bedroom size, unit type and preferences.

Who qualifies: Columbus-area income limits

Section 8 is generally for households at or below 50% of Area Median Income (very low income). HUD also requires each housing agency to give most new vouchers each year to extremely low-income families.

HUD FY2026 income limits, Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area (includes Franklin County; effective May 1, 2026):

Household size	Very low income (50%)	Extremely low income
1	$39,050	$23,450
2	$44,600	$26,800
3	$50,200	$30,150
4	$55,750	$33,450
5	$60,250	$38,680
6	$64,700	$44,360
7	$69,150	$50,040
8	$73,600	$55,720

Source: huduser.gov FY2026 income limits. Other rules apply too. CMHA verifies Social Security, wage data and criminal records, and it screens all applicants for drug, violent criminal and sex offender convictions. Read more in our Section 8 eligibility guide.

What rent a voucher can cover in Columbus

How much your voucher pays depends on CMHA's payment standard. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard, usually between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent (FMR). It is the most the agency will pay toward rent and utilities, not a rent limit.

HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027, effective Oct 1, 2026 — Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area (includes Franklin County):

Unit size	Fair Market Rent
Studio	$1,258
1 bedroom	$1,346
2 bedrooms	$1,602
3 bedrooms	$1,909
4 bedrooms	$2,172

Ask CMHA for the current payment standard for the unit size you need. CMHA also has an HCV Affordability Calculator on its website. You can estimate your share with our Section 8 rent calculator.

Documents to get ready now

CMHA's requirements page lists documents it asks for:

• A photo ID (state ID or driver's license) for each adult
• Birth certificates and Social Security cards for every adult and child who will live with you
• Five years of past and present landlord names, addresses and phone numbers
• Addresses and dates if you lived in public housing or used a voucher before
• A divorce decree, if divorced
• A doctor's statement, if pregnant or disabled
• Proof of all income and assets, such as pay stubs, Social Security, SSI, unemployment, child support, TANF, veterans benefits, pensions or bank accounts. If you have no income, a no-income statement can be used.

Keep copies in one folder so you can move fast if you are picked.

What happens after you're selected

1. You get a notice by mail (and email if CMHA has one).
2. Eligibility screening. CMHA checks your income, household and background. If you are found ineligible, CMHA says it will explain why and you can ask for an informal hearing.
3. You get a voucher. HUD says the search time is usually 60 to 120 days, set by the housing agency. You can ask for more time if you need it.
4. Find a unit and pass inspection. The owner agrees to rent to you and the unit must meet health and safety standards.
5. Lease up. You sign the lease, and CMHA pays its share to the landlord.

Your rights

Ohio state law does not list source of income as a protected class in housing. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission covers race, color, sex, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, familial status and military status.

Inside Columbus city limits, there is extra protection. In March 2021, Columbus City Council passed a source-of-income law (Ordinance 0494-2021) as part of its Housing for All package. The city says operators "are prohibited from denying prospective tenants based upon their lawful source of income," including rent vouchers, wages, Social Security, and child or spousal support. That means most Columbus landlords cannot legally refuse you just because you use a voucher. Rules can be different in suburbs outside the city, so ask if you are not sure.

Keep notes, emails and screenshots of your housing search. If you think you faced discrimination:

• Ohio Civil Rights Commission: 614-466-2785 or toll-free 1-888-278-7101. File within one year.
• HUD Fair Housing (Region V, Chicago): toll-free 800-765-9372, or hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination.

What to do while you wait

• Try public housing. CMHA says each of its properties has its own waitlist that opens and closes as needed. You apply by contacting each property directly and asking if it is taking applications.
• Look at HUD-subsidized buildings. Some privately owned buildings get HUD help and charge rent based on income. Each building keeps its own list, so call them one by one.
• Apply to other lists. HUD says you do not have to live where you apply. But if you did not live there when you applied, the agency may require you to rent in its area for the first 12 months. See our Akron Section 8 guide, our Cleveland guide and our list of open Section 8 waiting lists.
• Keep your contact information current. CMHA and HUD both say to report address or phone changes. If you don't, you can lose your place.
• Get free alerts. Sign up for VoucherHousing.org waitlist alerts and check our Ohio page.

Avoid Section 8 scams

Applying to CMHA is done through its own portal. CMHA says its staff use official @cmhanet.com email addresses and "will never request payment through Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, or wire transfer." If you are not sure a message is real, call 614-421-6000 before you answer. Never pay anyone who promises a spot on a list. VoucherHousing.org is an independent guide, not a government agency, and we never charge for help.

Related guides

• Section 8 in Ohio
• How to Apply for Section 8 in Akron, Ohio
• How to Apply for Section 8 in Cleveland
• Cleveland CMHA payment standards (Cuyahoga County, a different agency)
• Open Section 8 Waiting Lists
• Section 8 Eligibility: Who Qualifies
• What Is Section 8 Housing?
• Section 8 Rent Calculator