Is the Providence Section 8 waiting list open?

Yes, as of November 2026. PHA's Section 8 page says to apply through RIHousing's Centralized Wait List and select Providence, and its public housing page says the voucher list remains open. Status can change, so check provhousing.org/hcv.aspx before you apply.

How do I apply for Section 8 in Providence, RI?

Go to waitlist-centralri.com, create an account with your email address, fill out the application and select Providence to be added to the Providence Housing Authority waitlist. You can save your application and finish it later. Applying should never cost money.

How do I stay on the Providence Section 8 waitlist?

Keep your contact information up to date. PHA says to update your contact information to stay active on the list. Log in at waitlist-centralri.com or call RIHousing at 844-459-3600 for help.

What is the Section 8 income limit in Providence?

PHA says income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income. HUD's FY2026 limit for the Providence-Fall River area (effective May 1, 2026) is $39,250 for 1 person and $56,050 for a family of 4.

How much rent will Section 8 pay in Providence?

It depends on PHA's payment standard, which is usually 90% to 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent. HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for the Providence area, effective Oct 1, 2026, is $1,509 for a 1-bedroom and $1,879 for a 2-bedroom. You usually pay about 30% of your adjusted income.

Is Providence public housing taking applications?

PHA's public housing page says online applications have been open since January 1, 2026 for studios (single adults 18+ with a disability, or age 50+), one-bedrooms for elderly or disabled households, and two- to seven-bedroom family units. Check provhousing.org/public.aspx for the current status.

Can a Rhode Island landlord refuse my Section 8 voucher?

In most cases, no. Since April 15, 2021, Rhode Island law (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-37-4.6) bans discrimination based on lawful source of income, including housing vouchers. Owner-occupied buildings with three units or fewer are exempt. Contact the RI Commission for Human Rights at 401-222-2661.

Providence RI Section 8: How to Apply (2026 Guide)

How to apply for Section 8 in Providence, RI through the RIHousing Centralized Wait List, plus income limits, FY2027 rents and your rights.

In Providence, Rhode Island, Section 8 vouchers and public housing are run by the Providence Housing Authority (PHA). To get on PHA's Section 8 list, you do not apply to PHA directly. You apply through Rhode Island's Centralized Wait List, run by RIHousing, and select Providence.

This guide explains where the lists stand, exactly how to apply, how to stay active on the list, who qualifies, how much rent a voucher can cover in Providence County, and your rights under Rhode Island law.

Providence Section 8 waitlist status (November 2026)

Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): Open. As of November 2026, PHA's Section 8 page says to apply through RIHousing's Centralized Wait List and select Providence. PHA's public housing page says the voucher list "remains open."
Public housing: Open for some unit types. PHA's public housing page says online applications have been open since January 1, 2026 for studios (single adults 18+ with a disability, or age 50+), one-bedrooms for elderly and/or disabled households, and two- to seven-bedroom family units.

Status can change. Check the official PHA page before you apply. Applying should never cost you money.

Who runs Section 8 in Providence

Agency: Providence Housing Authority (PHA)
Office: 100 Broad St., Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-751-6400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm (closed weekends and holidays)
Website: provhousing.org

RIHousing runs the Centralized Wait List, which it set up with the Public Housing Association of Rhode Island. RIHousing says one application lets you reach several voucher waiting lists. Not every housing authority in Rhode Island takes part.

How to apply for Section 8 in Providence, step by step

Get an email address. PHA's waitlist brochure says you need an email to use the Centralized Wait List.
Go to waitlist-centralri.com. This is the official Centralized Wait List site linked from PHA's and RIHousing's pages.
Create an account and fill out the application. PHA says you can save your application and finish it later.
Select Providence. PHA's Section 8 page says to "Select Providence to be added to the Providence Housing Authority (PHA) waitlist." You can also pick other participating housing authorities and some project-based properties.
Save your login details. If you already registered, you can log in to view or update your status on PHA's waitlist status portal.

Need help logging in? PHA lists RIHousing's help line at 844-459-3600. If you forgot your portal login, PHA lists 401-457-1288.

Project-based vouchers. Some vouchers are tied to specific buildings. PHA has a separate online application for project-based rental assistance on its Section 8 page. For project-based voucher list updates, email waitlist@provhousing.org.

Stay active: update your contact information

This step matters. PHA says to update your contact information to stay active on the list. RIHousing also says to keep your contact details current online so you get notices. HUD warns that if your address, phone or household size changes and you do not tell the agency, you can be removed from the list.

How the waitlist works

RIHousing says the Centralized Wait List lets you check your status on several waitlists in one place. RIHousing's page also says applications from residents of certain census tracts in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Newport and East Providence are prioritized, but it does not say which programs this applies to.

We could not find an official wait time for Providence vouchers. For public housing, PHA says you get a confirmation email with your application date, bedroom size and an estimated wait time.

Who qualifies: Providence income limits

PHA says household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income for a voucher. At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. PHA reviews criminal background and eviction history from subsidized housing, and certain offenses may lead to denial. Public housing uses the higher 80% (low income) limit.

HUD FY2026 income limits, Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area (effective May 1, 2026):

Household size	Very low income (50%)	Extremely low income	Low income (80%)
1	$39,250	$23,600	$62,800
2	$44,850	$26,950	$71,800
3	$50,450	$30,300	$80,750
4	$56,050	$33,650	$89,700
5	$60,550	$38,680	$96,900
6	$65,050	$44,360	$104,100
7	$69,550	$50,040	$111,250
8	$74,000	$55,720	$118,450

Read more in our Section 8 eligibility guide.

What rent a voucher can cover in Providence

HUD says your share of rent is usually 30% of your adjusted monthly income and can be as high as 40%. The voucher pays the rest to the landlord, up to the housing authority's limit.

Each housing authority sets its own payment standard, usually between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent.

HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027, effective Oct 1, 2026 — Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area (includes Providence County):

Unit size	Fair Market Rent
Studio	$1,423
1 bedroom	$1,509
2 bedrooms	$1,879
3 bedrooms	$2,302
4 bedrooms	$2,615

PHA's bedroom guide: 1 person, studio or 1 bedroom; 2 people, 1 bedroom; 3–4 people, 2 bedrooms; 5–6 people, 3 bedrooms; 7–8 people, 4 bedrooms. Ask PHA for its current payment standard. Try our Section 8 rent calculator to estimate your share.

Documents to get ready

PHA says you must provide all required documents but does not list them on its Section 8 page. HUD lists the common items:

Social Security cards for everyone in the household
Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
Proof of income, such as pay stubs or benefit letters
Bank information
Paperwork for other assistance you get, such as SSI or SNAP

Keep copies in one folder so you can respond fast when PHA contacts you.

What happens after you're selected

PHA contacts you and asks for documents to confirm your eligibility.
Screening. PHA checks income, household members and background.
Voucher and briefing. You learn the program rules.
Search for a unit. HUD says the search time is usually 60 to 120 days, set by the housing agency. PHA points renters to HousingSearchRI.org to look for apartments.
Inspection. RIHousing says the owner must agree to take part and the home must meet minimum safety standards.
Lease up. You sign the lease and the agency signs a payment contract with the landlord.

Your rights as a voucher holder in Rhode Island

Since April 15, 2021, Rhode Island's Fair Housing Practices Act has banned housing discrimination based on lawful source of income (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.6). RIHousing says this includes housing vouchers, Social Security, SSI, child support, alimony and other public assistance. In most cases, landlords cannot legally refuse you because you use a voucher.

There is an exemption: buildings with three units or fewer where the owner lives in one unit.

RIHousing's fact sheet says landlords may not post ads such as "No Section 8," charge voucher holders a bigger deposit or different fees, refuse required unit inspections, or run background checks only on voucher holders. Landlords can still use fair rules, such as rental history, if they apply them to everyone. Income tests for voucher holders should be based on your share of the rent, not the full rent.

Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights: 401-222-2661, 180 Westminster Street, 3rd Floor, Providence, RI 02903. Email RICHR.housing@richr.ri.gov.

Keep notes, texts and screenshots from your housing search.

What to do while you wait

Look at subsidized buildings. Some Providence buildings have their own project-based Section 8 or other HUD help, with rent based on income. See our list of Section 8 and subsidized housing in Providence, and call each building about its own waiting list.
Apply for public housing. Apply online through PHA's public housing page. Rent is 30% of income after deductions.
If you are homeless or may be within 14 days, PHA's brochure says to call the Coordinated Entry System at 401-277-4316.
Apply to other lists. See open Section 8 waiting lists, our Rhode Island Section 8 hub, and nearby Boston.
Get free alerts. Sign up for VoucherHousing.org waitlist alerts.

Avoid Section 8 scams

Apply only at waitlist-centralri.com or through links on provhousing.org or rihousing.com. Never pay anyone who promises a faster spot. The Centralized Wait List site warns: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do not pay a deposit or rent until you sign a valid lease with someone who has the right to rent the unit. Watch for requests for wire transfers or app payments. Report fraud to PHA at provhousing.org/fraud.aspx. VoucherHousing.org is an independent guide, not a government agency, and we never charge for help.

How to Apply for Section 8 in Providence, Rhode Island

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