Section 8 in Mississippi
Section 8 Housing: Mississippi Housing Choice Voucher Program
Section 8 in Mississippi refers to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which provides housing assistance to low-income individuals and families, including disabled and elderly persons, and enables them to rent housing in the private market rather than applying for public housing. A portion of their rent is covered and paid directly to their landlord by the Public Housing Authority/Agency (PHA), and the participant pays the rest, which can be between 30 and 40% of their monthly income.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operates the Housing Choice Voucher program under federal rules, with daily administration run by local PHAs.
Quick note about Navigate: This page covers Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers/HCV) in Mississippi. Navigate supports Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) properties and owners through compliance oversight and program integrity—not voucher issuance. Not sure which one you have? Read Vouchers vs Project-Based Rental Assistance.
Quick Answers: Getting Started with Section 8 in Mississippi
Most Section 8 program participants can expect to take the following general steps to apply:
- Determine which PHA serves your address or where you want to live
- Find out if your PHA waiting list is open.
- Check to see if you/your family meet basic eligibility requirements
- Keep your contact information and documentation current and apply when a list opens.
- Complete the evaluation process and begin searching for housing once you receive your voucher.
If you need to move while participating in the voucher program, contact your PHA to learn about their portability rules to ensure you remain compliant and don’t lose your eligibility.
Who Runs Section 8 in Mississippi
There is no statewide office that runs Section 8 in Mississippi. Instead, HUD authorizes local Public Housing Agencies to administer vouchers and housing assistance. Your PHA may be a city housing authority, county authority, or a regional housing authority serving multiple counties, which is distinct from some other states. Mississippi’s rental assistance program relies heavily on regional housing authorities created by state legislation to administer housing programs across groups of counties, in addition to its traditional city and county PHAs.
Mississippi Regional Housing Authorities: MRHA I–VIII
Mississippi’s eight regional housing authorities are designated/known as MRHA I–MRHA VIII, and each serves several counties rather than just one city. Finding out which MRHA serves your county can be a little confusing, as they don’t all list the counties they serve on their websites. Additionally, some MRHAs use a regional name, such as South Mississippi Housing Authority.
The easiest way to determine which MRHA waitlist(s) you need to apply for is by using HUD’s PHA Contact Information page to look up a comprehensive list of PHAs and MRHAs and their contact information, or search your county/region + MRHA on your internet browser and contact them to verify the counties they cover.
Furthermore, the counties an MRHA covers can change, so if you ever need to reapply for rental assistance through Section 8, you should verify again which MRHA you need to apply with, even if your county hasn’t changed.
Generally speaking, these are the MRHAs and the areas they cover, with each covering a varying number of counties:
- MRHA I: Serves the Mississippi Delta region
- MRHA II: Serves North Central counties
- MRHA III: Serves the West Central region
- MRHA IV: Serves Northeast/Central counties
- MRHA V: Serves East Central counties
- MRHA VI: Serves Central counties
- MRHA VII: Serves Southwest counties
- MRHA VIII: Serves Southern counties
The Fastest Way to Find the Right PHA for Your Address
Again, the most reliable and quickest way to determine the right PHA or MRHA for the area you want to live in is by using HUD’s official PHA Contact Information Directory, which lists each agency/authority along with its phone, fax, email, and address.
- Go to HUD’s PHA Directory.
- Select Mississippi.
- Search by your city or MRHA number.
If you’re still not sure which PHA is correct, you can always call or email the listed contacts to get an answer straight from the source.
Due to the prolonged nature and infrequent openings of Section 8 waiting lists, you are usually able (and sometimes recommended) to apply to more than one waiting list if you’re open to living in several different areas or if there’s overlap between PHAs and MRHAs and the cities and counties they serve.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that some PHAs/MRHAs require you to live in their area for at least 12 months before you can move to a new region if you did not live in that agency’s jurisdiction when you applied.
Mississippi Section 8 Waiting Lists
Most PHAs don’t accept applications year-round. In fact, most waiting lists are usually closed and remain open for only a short window (which is why we don’t publish current open lists on this page). That’s why time is of the essence when you receive a notification that a waiting list is open: they will fill up with applications fast and then close again.
Whether or not you’re selected to receive a voucher once you do apply to a waiting list generally depends on how many vouchers are available, the date you submit your application, and any local PHA preferences.
How to Stay Informed without Constantly Refreshing Websites
Now that you’re familiar with the nature of waiting lists for Section 8 in Mississippi, you may be wondering what’s the best way to stay in the know on when a waiting list opens. Here’s a practical routine that works for most applicants:
- Regularly check the PHA and MRHA waiting list pages.
- If offered, sign up for email and text alerts for waitlist openings.
- Ensure all your contact information (phone, mailing address, and email) is up to date.
HUD warns: if you don’t respond to notices or keep your contact information updated, your local PHA may remove you from a waiting list, and you’ll have to start all over.
Section 8 Mississippi Eligibility Basics
Each PHA determines the eligibility requirements for applicants; however, there isn’t much variation in the core requirements across the state.
In general, eligibility requirements to receive a Housing Choice Voucher in Mississippi include:
- Household income and family size
- U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
- A valid Social Security number for each household member (with limited exceptions under federal rules)
- Background screening (certain criminal history may make someone ineligible)
- Use your local PHA’s guidance or HUD’s official income limits for updated yearly income thresholds.
Check current income limits
One of the main determinants for Section 8 eligibility is a family’s income. Applicants can use HUD’s Official Income Limits Data Set or our Household Income Limits for Mississippi page.
How to Apply for Section 8 in Mississippi
The section below explains the process applicants usually go through from start to finish when applying for affordable housing through Section 8 in Mississippi.
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Determine the area or address where you want to live and use the U.S. HUD’s official PHA Contact Information Directory to find out which city, county, or regional housing authority you need to apply to.
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When a waiting list opens, you will be able to apply to the waiting list of your agency, but the application process can vary between agencies. Some PHAs use:
- Online portals
- Paper applications
- Lottery-style pre-applications
Carefully follow the instructions on each agency’s or authority’s website when applying to ensure you don’t miss any steps.
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If your PHA accepts your application for the next phase of the process, they will request documentation to verify the information you submitted, which can include:
- Proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters, etc.)
- Bank account or asset information (statements, receipts, etc.)
- Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status for all family members (government-issued ID or birth certificate)
- Social Security cards
- Documentation for other benefits, when applicable (SNAP/EBT, social security income, etc.)
Your PHA will specify which documents it needs and accepts, and when you need to submit them.
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Eligible applicants go on a waiting list. When selected, their local agency verifies information, conducts a briefing or orientation, and issues a voucher. The U.S. HUD notes that voucher search time is often 60 to 120 days, depending on the PHA.
What Happens After Selection: Leasing Up with a Voucher
If all of your documentation is accepted and you’re offered a voucher, the process becomes more involved on your part.
Voucher Briefing and Housing Search
Your PHA will provide instruction on how to:
- Find an eligible unit (apartment, townhome, or single-family home)
- Submit a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA)
- Have the landlord complete the necessary paperwork
- Schedule an inspection
- Complete a rent reasonableness review
- Sign the lease and housing assistance payment contract
Rent, Payment Standards, and What You’ll Pay
According to HUD rules, low-income families spend 30–40% of their adjusted monthly income (or the minimum rent) to pay their portion of rent directly to the private landlord. The PHA uses a local rent market standard to determine the maximum monthly housing assistance a family qualifies for, and then pays the remaining balance to the landlord.
Inspections
Voucher holders have a right to reasonable accommodations and safe, sanitary housing. So before moving in, rental units must pass inspections and meet basic health and safety standards. After move-in and for as long as the tenant holds a voucher, their PHA will conduct these inspections annually.
Portability: Moving with a Mississippi Voucher
Section 8 vouchers are portable, meaning you may be able to move to another city or state with the approval of your housing agency.
Two key points to know:
- Portability allows voucher holders to relocate to areas served by another housing authority
- The 12-month jurisdiction rule may apply if you did not live in the issuing PHA’s area upon applying for your HCV.
Always talk to your current housing authority before making plans to move, since each agency has its own procedures.
Mississippi Landlords: What Accepting Section 8 Involves
For private landlords in Mississippi, accepting a Section 8 voucher generally involves:
- The housing authority pays the subsidy directly to the landlord
- The tenant pays their share directly to the landlord
- Ensuring the rental unit passes inspection
- Rent must meet program reasonableness standards
Common Delays (and How to Avoid Them)
There are various reasons, some of which are out of an applicant’s control, that a lease-up may be delayed, such as:
- Missing or incomplete RFTA or landlord paperwork
- Units failing inspection and needing repairs
- Rent is too high to pass the reasonableness review
- Voucher search time expires before a unit is approved
- Failing to update contact information while on a waiting list
According to HUD, applicants who miss a notice or who have outdated contact information may be removed from the HCV program.
FAQ: Section 8 in Mississippi
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Residents can use HUD’s PHA Contact Information page to determine whether a city, county, or regional housing authority serves their area.
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A Mississippi Regional Housing Authority (MRHA) serves multiple counties under a single agency.
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Yes, many applicants apply to multiple PHAs if it’s allowed, given the short windows for openings on waiting lists.
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If you need to check the status of your application or report an income or contact information change, contact the PHA you applied with directly and follow its procedures.
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It depends on the PHA, but voucher holders usually have 60–120 days to find acceptable housing after they receive the voucher.
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Portability is up to the discretion of the PHA you hold the voucher with. Some jurisdictions require 12 months of residency if the recipient lived outside of the region in which they applied. Participants should consult with each PHA to coordinate portability while maintaining their voucher.
Apply for Section 8 in Mississippi
Applying for Section 8 in Mississippi can feel intimidating at first. However, the main steps remain the same for most applicants: determine your PHA or MRHA, keep your contact information and documentation current while you’re waiting for the waitlist to open, and apply when it opens. If you have questions about eligibility or how to apply to your PHA, feel free to contact our agents here at Navigate Affordable Housing! We’re here to ensure all Mississippians have the correct information they need to obtain affordable housing.
