Housing Authority Reopens Voucher Waitlist
Fayetteville residents can now apply for housing choice vouchers after a years-long program shutdown.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Aid
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The Fayetteville Housing Authority is reopening its housing choice voucher waitlist, which has been closed since early 2021 amid noncompliance issues with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Applications may be picked up beginning 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Hillcrest Towers, 1 N. School Ave., with no fee to apply.
Why it matters
The program shut down after the authority accrued more than $200,000 in debt and used public dollars to pay employees to maintain privately owned properties, which violated federal regulations. The reopening comes after the city donated $200,000 to the Housing Authority to address that debt.
The Housing Authority hopes to issue about 100 new vouchers, in addition to 30 or 40 previous applicants already on the list, after more than five years without new vouchers. Income limits are $37,450 for an individual and $53,450 for a family of four, and the authority's share of adjusted gross income households pay toward rent is 30%.
The players
Fayetteville Housing Authority
The local public housing agency that administers the housing choice voucher program for Fayetteville and Washington County, excluding Springdale, which has its own housing authority.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The federal agency that oversees public housing authorities and whose compliance requirements led to the program's shutdown.
The details
Applications can be picked up at Hillcrest Towers or downloaded from fayettevilleha.org and printed, then mailed, delivered to the authority's office, or emailed. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility, and qualified applicants will be placed on the waitlist, but vouchers are valid only for properties whose owners have agreed to accept them.
Timeline
Early 2021: Voucher program shut down amid HUD noncompliance
Last year: City donated $200,000 to the Housing Authority
Monday, Nov. 9: Applications available for pickup beginning 8 a.m. at Hillcrest Towers
Economic Context
The reopening follows a shutdown triggered by violations of federal HUD regulations on the use of public dollars, which HUD enforces against local housing authorities across the country. Vouchers are awarded only where property owners agree to accept them, so availability depends on both program funding and local landlord participation.
Pick up an application at Hillcrest Towers, 1 N. School Ave., beginning 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, or download it from the Housing Authority website and submit it by mail, in person or by email. Applicants must meet the income limits of $37,450 for an individual or $53,450 for a family of four to qualify.
The takeaway
Residents who qualify under the income limits should apply promptly, since the waitlist is expected to be open only briefly and vouchers can be used only with participating landlords.
Further reading
Explore more financial aid resources for Fayetteville residents seeking housing assistance.
More information
Download the voucher application from the Fayetteville Housing Authority website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fayetteville Flyer.
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