To apply for Section 8 in Chicago, sign up for the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list through the Chicago Housing Authority’s online portal at applyonline.thecha.org.1Chicago Housing Authority. Chicago Housing Authority Waitlist Application Submitting the application puts you in the pool. From there, CHA screens for income, assets, citizenship, and background before offering a voucher, and the wait between applying and receiving assistance can run from months to years depending on funding and demand.
Check Whether You Qualify First
CHA screens for several requirements, and falling short on any one can delay or disqualify you. Reviewing these before you apply saves time.
Income Limits
Your household’s total gross annual income must fall below 50% of the Area Median Income for the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metropolitan area, which HUD classifies as “very low income.” For FY 2026, that ceiling is $42,550 for a single person and $60,750 for a family of four, with higher limits for larger households.2HUD User. FY 2026 Income Limits Summary – Chicago-Joliet-Naperville HUD updates these figures each year, so check the current numbers before applying.
Income means everything your household brings in before taxes or deductions: wages, Social Security, pensions, disability payments, and public assistance like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.3U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 24 CFR 5.609 – Annual Income Not every dollar counts equally. Earned income from children under 18, and from full-time students over 18 who are dependents, is excluded.
Asset Limits
Under the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, your household’s net assets cannot exceed $105,574 in 2026.4HUD User. CY 2026 Revised Amounts and Passbook Rate That number adjusts for inflation each year. Retirement accounts, ABLE accounts, and education savings accounts do not count toward this cap. If your estimated net assets fall at or below $52,787, you can self-certify their value rather than providing bank statements and other documentation.
Citizenship or Immigration Status
At least one person in your household must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status, and you will need documents proving that status.5Chicago Housing Authority. Do I Qualify for Housing? If some household members lack eligible status while others qualify, you may still receive assistance, but the subsidy will be prorated to reflect only the eligible members.6U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. PHA Letter on Citizenship and Immigration Status Verification
Criminal Background
CHA runs background checks on everyone in the household. Federal rules create two absolute bars that no housing authority can waive: anyone subject to a lifetime sex offender registration requirement, and anyone ever convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing.7eCFR. 24 CFR 982.553 – Denial of Admission and Termination of Assistance for Criminals and Alcohol Abusers Beyond those two, CHA has discretion. It can deny admission for drug-related activity, violent crimes, or other conduct that could threaten neighbors, but these denials are not automatic.
CHA also follows the Cook County Just Housing Amendment when reviewing criminal history. That ordinance limits screening to convictions within the past three years, prohibits blanket policies like “no felons,” and requires an individualized assessment before denial. Arrests without convictions cannot be held against you. A conviction from five years ago, standing alone, should not block your application.
Rent History and Outstanding Debts
CHA looks at whether you have a track record of paying rent on time. If your history is spotty, you may need to show improvement. You also cannot owe money to CHA or another housing program. Any outstanding balance must be repaid before you qualify for a new program.5Chicago Housing Authority. Do I Qualify for Housing?
Gather Your Documents
Having your information organized before you sit down at the portal saves time and prevents errors that could stall the application. You’ll need the following for every person who will live in the household:
- Full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each household member.
- Income documentation: pay stubs, Social Security award letters, pension statements, or other proof of gross income from all sources.
- Asset information: bank account balances, real estate holdings, and the value of any investments. Retirement accounts and ABLE accounts are excluded from the HOTMA asset cap.
- Citizenship or immigration documents: U.S. passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card, or other proof of eligible status for at least one household member.
- A reliable mailing address and working email address. CHA uses both to reach you, and a missed notice can knock you off the list.
The application also asks whether anyone in your household qualifies for a preference category, such as veteran status or current homelessness. These preferences can move you up the waiting list, so don’t skip them if they apply.
Submit the Application Online
CHA accepts applications through its online waitlist portal at applyonline.thecha.org.1Chicago Housing Authority. Chicago Housing Authority Waitlist Application The portal handles signups for multiple CHA programs, so make sure you’re selecting the correct waitlist. CHA maintains a central Housing Choice Voucher waiting list plus separate site-based lists for public housing, Project-Based Voucher properties, and Project-Based Rental Assistance properties. You can be on up to four waitlists at once, one of each type.8Chicago Housing Authority. I Have a Question
CHA’s waitlists are currently open for applications.9City of Chicago. Chicago Housing Authority CHA has periodically closed and reopened its HCV waitlist depending on funding levels and backlog, so check the portal and CHA’s website for current availability before assuming you can apply at any time.
Once you complete the form, the system generates an electronic confirmation. Save it. The confirmation contains the reference number you’ll use to track your status. Submitting the application puts you in the pool, but it doesn’t guarantee you will receive a voucher or any specific timeline for assistance.
What Happens After You Apply
Your application sits on the waitlist. CHA contacts applicants as spots become available, using the mailing address and email you provided. The wait can stretch from several months to several years depending on federal funding, the number of vouchers CHA receives, and how many people are ahead of you.
During that wait, keep your contact information current in the CHA portal. If you move, change your phone number, or get a new email address, update the system right away. Failing to respond when CHA reaches out can result in removal from the list, and you would need to start over by reapplying.
When your name reaches the top of the list, CHA schedules an eligibility interview. This is where the real document review happens. Expect to bring:
- Birth certificates for every household member
- Social Security cards
- Government-issued photo identification
- Recent tax returns or proof of income
- Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
CHA staff verify that your household still meets federal and local requirements. If everything checks out, you attend a voucher briefing where CHA explains program rules, your responsibilities as a participant, and how to search for housing.
If you or a household member has a disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation at any point in the process, including during the initial application. Put the request in writing and be prepared to provide verification from a medical professional confirming the disability and the need. CHA cannot charge you for the accommodation or penalize you for asking.
Finding and Leasing a Unit
Once you receive your voucher, the clock starts. CHA gives you a set number of days to find a qualifying unit and may grant extensions if you need more time. Begin your search right away. Landlords familiar with the program tend to move quickly.
You can rent a single-family home, townhouse, or apartment, as long as the landlord agrees to participate and the unit meets HUD requirements. Before CHA will approve any lease and start paying the landlord, the unit must pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection.10U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing Quality Standards Initial Inspection Flowchart Inspectors check for basic health and safety conditions: working plumbing, safe electrical systems, adequate heating, no lead paint hazards in units where children under six will live, and similar standards. If the unit fails, the landlord gets a chance to make repairs and schedule a re-inspection.
You are responsible for the security deposit. CHA does not cover it. The landlord cannot charge you a larger deposit than a non-voucher tenant would pay for the same unit. Budget for this expense before you start shopping, because it’s due before you move in.
Landlords Cannot Refuse Your Voucher
Since January 2023, the Illinois Human Rights Act has prohibited housing providers from discriminating against tenants based on their source of income, and Housing Choice Vouchers are explicitly covered.11Illinois Department of Human Rights. Source of Income Discrimination
In practice, a landlord cannot advertise “No Section 8,” refuse to process your application because you use a voucher, or require pay stubs and W-2 forms as the only acceptable proof of income. If an existing tenant obtains a voucher, the landlord must accept it and cooperate with the required inspections. Violations can be reported to the Illinois Department of Human Rights. You are not asking for a favor when you present a voucher.