I was receiving Section 8 housing and was then incarcerated. Do I need to reapply?

Yes. If you were the sole recipient of Section 8 vouchers and are absent for a prolonged period of time due to incarceration, you may be in violation of your local Public Housing Authority’s local policies and/or the terms of your housing contract.[1209] If that is the case, your public housing assistance benefits are likely to be terminated.[1210] Federal law allows individuals to be absent from Section 8 housing for a maximum of 180 consecutive days, but the maximum set by your city or county’s Public Housing Authority may be shorter.[1211] To see contact information for local Public Housing Authority branches, go to Appendix A on PG. 403 or call HUD Customer’s Service at 1-202-708-1112. Note that you may have to wait six months after your Section 8 benefits were terminated before reapplying.

  1. 1209

    24 C.F.R. 982.312.

  2. 1210

    24 C.F.R. 982.312(b).

  3. 1211

    24 C.F.R. 982.312(a).