How does Paterson pick applicants?

Preference goes to households that live or work in Paterson; after that, by the date and time of application or a controlled lottery. At least 75% of new vouchers go to households under 30% of area median income.

What are the 2026 income limits for Section 8 in Paterson?

HUD's FY2026 very-low-income (50%) limits for Passaic County are $48,700 for one person, $55,650 for two, $62,600 for three and $69,550 for four. Extremely-low (30%) limits are $29,250, $33,400, $37,600 and $41,750.

How much rent does a Paterson voucher cover?

HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Bergen-Passaic area are $1,772 for a studio, $1,987 for a one-bedroom, $2,282 for a two-bedroom and $2,771 for a three-bedroom; the housing authority sets its standard within 90% to 110% of these.

Who do I call about the Paterson waiting list?

The waiting-list line is 973-345-5995 or waitlist@patersonha.org; the main office is 973-345-5080.

Paterson NJ Section 8 Waitlist: Is It Open? How to Apply (2026)

Q: Is the Paterson Section 8 waiting list open?

The general Housing Choice Voucher list is not accepting applications as of November 2026; the last general lottery was August 10 to 16, 2020. A 2026 Non-Elderly Disabled voucher list closed October 30, 2026.

How to apply for Section 8 in Paterson, NJ: Paterson Housing Authority waitlist status, the 2026 NED voucher lottery, site-based lists, 2026 income limits and FMRs.

Section 8 and public housing in Paterson are run by the Housing Authority of the City of Paterson (PHA). Paterson opens its lists in short, announced windows, applications are online only, and selection is by lottery or by the exact time you applied. The general voucher list has not opened since 2020, but a special disabled-applicant list just closed and several buildings run their own lists. This guide explains each route and what to have ready.

Housing Authority of the City of Paterson at a glance

Office: 60 Van Houten Street (P.O. Box H), Paterson, NJ 07505
Main phone: 973-345-5080
Waiting-list line: 973-345-5995 · waitlist@patersonha.org
Applicant / resident / landlord portal: portal.patersonha.org
Programs: Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based vouchers (for example Riverside Terrace and Mill Street Square), public housing developments, and RAD conversions
Leadership: Kate Gazunis, Interim Executive Director

Is the Paterson Section 8 waiting list open?

The general list is not taking applications. PHA only accepts voucher applications during announced openings. The last general opening ran August 10 to 16, 2020: online pre-applications only, no paper, an email address required, and a computer lottery on August 19 that selected 1,000 households.

A special 2026 list just closed. PHA opened a Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Housing Choice Voucher list in October 2026 for households where the head, co-head or spouse has a disability and is 18 to 61 years old. Pre-applications closed October 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM; 300 applicants were selected by lottery, ordered by preference and then by date and time applied. PHA set up public computers at 60 Van Houten Street for people without internet access.

No next general opening has been announced. In late 2025 then-director Irma Gorham said PHA was losing about 300 vouchers because of a federal funding shortfall; in January 2026 she said new applications might reopen soon, but no general opening has followed. We check PHA's announcements page every week and email subscribers the day it changes.

How Paterson selects applicants

Preference: households that live or work in the City of Paterson.
Tie-breaker: the date and time PHA received your application, or a controlled lottery.
Income targeting: at least 75% of new vouchers go to households at or below 30% of area median income.
Search time: 60 days to find a unit, with extensions for a tight market, family illness or lead abatement.

2026 income limits (Passaic County / Bergen-Passaic metro)

Household size	30% AMI (extremely low)	50% AMI (very low)	80% AMI (low)
1	$29,250	$48,700	$75,900
2	$33,400	$55,650	$86,750
3	$37,600	$62,600	$97,600
4	$41,750	$69,550	$108,400
5	$45,100	$75,150	$117,100
6	$48,450	$80,700	$125,750

PHA used the 50% line for the 2026 NED opening, with priority under 30%.

How much rent a Paterson voucher covers

HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Bergen-Passaic area, effective October 1, 2026, are studio $1,772 · 1BR $1,987 · 2BR $2,282 · 3BR $2,771 · 4BR $3,497. PHA's payment standard is set between 90% and 110% of these figures; call 973-345-5080 for the current number for your bedroom size. You pay about 30% of adjusted income toward rent; if you pick a unit above the standard, your share at move-in cannot exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income.

Other ways to get subsidized housing in Paterson

Site-based lists. PHA's project-based voucher buildings open their own lists from time to time: the Riverside Terrace two-bedroom list was open April 21 to 28, 2024, and Mill Street Square, a building for grandparents raising grandchildren, opened its list in February 2023. Openings appear on patersonhousingauthority.org under News, Public Announcements.

HUD-assisted private buildings. Paterson has more than 20 project-based Section 8 and other HUD-assisted buildings that take applications directly from the management office, no voucher needed. See the list with contacts on our Paterson city page.

NJ DCA statewide voucher list. Open to Passaic County residents whenever it reopens; closed since its January–February 2023 opening. Details in our New Jersey Section 8 guide.

Emergency help. Call or text 211 for rental assistance and shelter referrals in Passaic County.

Your rights as a voucher holder in Paterson

New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(g)) makes it illegal for most landlords to refuse you, or advertise "no Section 8," because you pay with a voucher or any other lawful source of income; a few small owner-occupied rentals are exempt. Complaints go to the NJ Division on Civil Rights (NJCivilRights.gov, 1-833-NJDCR4U) within 180 days. Only a judge can order you to leave, and in most buildings the Anti-Eviction Act requires good cause.

Get an email when Paterson reopens

Sign up below. We check PHA's announcements page and the DCA statewide page every week and email you when either changes. We are an independent informational service, not a government agency, housing authority or landlord.

Paterson Section 8 Waitlist: Is It Open? How to Apply in 2026

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