MIAMI.— The Hialeah Housing Authority will open on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 the application period to enter the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, known as Section 8, intended to help eligible families pay rent.
According to the statement reached our editorial office, the call will remain open from 12:01 am on Wednesday, July 22, until 4:59 pm on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
During this period, interested parties must complete an online pre-application through the official portal of the Hialeah Housing Authority, available at https://waitlistcheck.com/FL1880.
The process is completely free. The Hialeah Housing Authority warned that no person, company or intermediary is authorized to charge for completing or submitting the application.
How the Section 8 lottery will work in Hialeah
Due to the expected high number of applications, families’ inclusion on the waiting list will not be determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once the registration period closes, the Housing Authority will conduct a computerized random drawing among pre-applications that meet the established criteria.
This means that applying within the first few minutes or the first day does not increase your chances of being selected.
All eligible participants will have the same opportunity to be placed on the waitlist, including those who complete the pre-application during the last day of the deadline, as long as they do so by 4:59 pm on July 28.
Selection in the lottery does not represent automatic approval of aid. The chosen families must subsequently present the necessary documentation to demonstrate that they meet the established income, family composition, background and immigration status requirements.
What does rental assistance consist of?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal initiative administered locally by public housing authorities and funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, known as HUD.
The program provides rental assistance to low-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and other households that meet eligibility criteria.
Through the voucher, a family can search for suitable housing in the private market, as long as the owner agrees to participate in the program and the property meets established quality, price and safety standards.
Generally, the beneficiary household pays a portion of the rent based on their income and the housing authority gives the rest directly to the landlord. The amount of assistance depends on factors such as family income, household size, rental value, and current payment standards.
Income limits to apply for Section 8 in Hialeah
To be considered, applicants must meet income limits and other conditions established by HUD and the Hialeah Housing Authority Administrative Plan.
Maximum income depends on the number of household members:
- One person: up to $47,700.
- Two people: up to $54,500.
- Three people: up to $61,300.
- Four people: up to $68,100.
- Five people: up to $73,550.
- Six people: up to $79,000.
- Seven people: up to $84,450.
- Eight people: up to $89,900.
Meeting the income limit allows you to participate in the process, but does not guarantee selection through the lottery or the final award of the voucher.
The Housing Authority will later verify the information provided by the selected families.
Who can receive preference points
Although the drawing will be random, certain selected families may receive additional preference points that will improve their position or qualification on the waiting list.
Categories considered include seniors with disabilities, people with disabilities, and non-senior applicants with disabilities who are transitioning from an institution or at risk of becoming homeless.
Preference may also be given to homeless individuals, families displaced by a federally recognized natural disaster, residents of the Hialeah Housing Authority’s jurisdiction, and households that meet criteria related to economic advancement or self-sufficiency.
Applicants who claim any of these preferences must present documents proving their situation when required by the authority.
Immigration requirements and causes of exclusion
It is not necessary for all family members to be US citizens to submit a pre-application.
However, the household must have at least one member who is a United States citizen or has an immigration status eligible for housing assistance under HUD regulations.
In households with mixed immigration status, assistance can be calculated proportionally based on the number of eligible members.
The Housing Authority will also take into account the applicant’s background and history with other public housing programs.
An outstanding debt with the Hialeah Housing Authority or any other public housing authority may prevent the family from being declared eligible.
The application may also be denied when a person has been excluded or expelled from a Section 8 program within the last five years.
Providing false information, hiding relevant information or submitting an incomplete pre-application will be grounds for disqualification. For that reason, participants should carefully review names, income, household members, and other information before submitting the form.
Assistance for people with disabilities
Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability may contact the Hialeah Housing Authority for assistance during the enrollment process.
Accommodation may include assistance in completing the pre-application or other measures necessary to ensure equal access to the program.
The authority recommends not waiting until the last minute to request this type of support, although all applications submitted within the deadline will participate in the same random selection process. All information about the program can be seen at: www.hialeahhousing.org.
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