Public Housing Authorities in Iowa

A Public Housing Authority (PHA) is the local agency that runs the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and public housing in its jurisdiction. The 63 PHAS listed below serve Iowa — use the table to find each agency's city, the number of units it manages, whether it administers vouchers, and whether its waitlist is currently open. Select a PHA for full contact details.

PHA Name City Units Vouchers Waitlist
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Des Moines 4,112 Yes Closed
Iowa City Housing Authority Iowa City 1,517 Yes Closed
Cedar Rapids Housing Services Cedar Rapids 1,315 Yes Closed
Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority Creston 1,257 Yes Closed
Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority Dubuque 1,241 Yes Closed
City of Sioux City Housing Authority Sioux City 1,221 Yes Closed
Fort Dodge Municipal Housing Agency Fort Dodge 1,207 Yes Closed
Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority Grimes 1,169 Yes Closed
Waterloo Housing Authority Waterloo 1,132 Yes Closed
City of Dubuque Dubuque 1,125 Yes Closed
Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority Spencer 1,086 Yes Closed
Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs Council Bluffs 1,071 Yes Closed
Region Xii Regional Housing Authority Carroll 952 Yes Closed
Davenport Housing Commission Davenport 842 Yes Closed
Ottumwa Housing Authority Ottumwa 600 Yes Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Burlington Burlington 541 Yes Closed
Muscatine Municipal Housing Agency Muscatine 535 Yes Closed
Mason City Housing Authority Mason City 533 Yes Closed
North Iowa Regional Housing Authority Mason City 524 Yes Closed
Area Xv Multi-County Housing Agency Agency 511 Yes Closed
Upper Explorerland Regional Housing Authority Decorah 498 Yes Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Clinton Clinton 478 Yes Closed
City of Marshalltown Rent Assistance Program Marshalltown 469 Yes Closed
Cedar Falls Housing Commission Cedar Falls 406 Yes Closed
Charles City Hsg and Redev Authority Charles City 357 Yes Closed
Keokuk Housing Authority Keokuk 356 Yes Closed
Iowa Northland Regional Housing Authority Waverly 317 Yes Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Knoxville Knoxville 310 Yes Closed
Southeast Iowa Regional Housing Authority Burlington 271 Yes Closed
Oskaloosa Municipal Housing Agency Oskaloosa 234 Yes Closed
Fort Madison Housing Authority Fort Madison 207 Yes Closed
Centerville Municipal Housing Agency Centerville 201 Yes Closed
Warren County Housing Authority Indianola 175 Yes Closed
Grinnell Low Rent Housing Authority Grinnell 170 Yes Closed
Evansdale Municipal Housing Authority Evansdale 163 Yes Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Spirit Lake Spirit Lake 156 Yes Closed
Albia Housing Agency Albia 139 Yes Closed
Shenandoah Low Rent Housing Agency Shenandoah 78 No Closed
Clarinda Low Rent Housing Agency Clarinda 74 No Closed
Chariton Housing Agency Chariton 72 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Sioux Center Sioux Center 71 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Onawa Onawa 62 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Missouri Valley Missouri Valley 53 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Red Oak Red Oak 50 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Winterset Winterset 46 No Closed
Corning Housing Commission Corning 46 No Closed
Villisca Low Rent Housing Agency Villisca 44 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Leon Leon 42 No Closed
Rock Rapids Municipal Housing Agency Rock Rapids 36 No Closed
Lenox Low Rent Housing Agency Lenox 30 No Closed
Afton Housing Commission Afton 30 No Closed
Municipal Housing Agency of Manning Manning 29 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Mount Ayr Mount Ayr 26 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Bancroft Bancroft 22 No Closed
Lone Tree Housing Commission Lone Tree 20 No Closed
Malvern Low Rent Housing Agency Malvern 20 No Closed
Tabor Low Rent Housing Agency Tabor 20 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Farragut Farragut 20 No Closed
Stanton Housing Commission Stanton 20 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Sidney Sidney 20 No Closed
Essex Low Rent Housing Agency Essex 15 No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Waverly Waverly No Closed
Low Rent Housing Agency of Hamburg Hamburg No Closed

Section 8 in Iowa

Each PHA in Iowa operates independently and sets its own payment standards, preferences, and waitlist policies within HUD guidelines. Payment standards — the maximum rent subsidy amount — are typically set between 90% and 110% of the local Fair Market Rent. PHAs in high-cost areas may apply to HUD for exception payment standards above 110% FMR.

How to apply for a voucher in Iowa

Applications are submitted to an individual PHA, not to the state or to HUD directly. Because demand far exceeds the number of available vouchers, most Iowa PHAs maintain a waitlist and only accept new applications during open enrollment periods. The "Waitlist" column above shows which agencies are currently accepting applications. To improve your odds, you can apply to more than one PHA whose jurisdiction you live in or are willing to move to. Eligibility depends mainly on household income relative to the area's income limits — generally at or below 50% of Area Median Income.