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Voucher Programs
Subsidized rental programs that help lower-income Delaware households pay rent in privately owned or public housing.
Housing Delaware runs several rental assistance programs that help lower-income households afford a safe place to live. Some let you rent from a private landlord with a voucher; others tie the subsidy to a specific property. Most are offered in Kent and Sussex Counties.
How to apply — start with the waitlist
DSHA has partnered with AffordableHousing.com to make it easier to find affordable rental properties and apply for the waitlist. To be considered for a Housing Choice Voucher or Moving to Work, you must apply to the Housing Delaware Public Housing and Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher waitlist.
You can also find a list of units and landlord contact information at delawarehousingsearch.org or by calling 1-877-428-8844. Section 811 and SRAP are accepted by referral only — see those programs below.
Who qualifies
General tenant qualifications for Housing Delaware's voucher programs:
- Participants must enroll (or be enrolled) in the Moving to Work (MTW) program.
- Participants pay 30–35% of their income for rent and utilities.
- Households whose gross incomes do not exceed 80% of the area median income may qualify.
- Working families, the elderly (62 or over), and people with disabilities receive preference.
- Applicants who reside in Kent or Sussex County have priority on the waiting list.
A map of Housing Delaware public housing sites is available, and eligibility varies by program — check each program below for its specific rules.
Rental assistance programs
Housing Delaware administers four subsidized rental programs. Jump to one or read them in order.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
Housing Delaware offers a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program for Housing Delaware-approved private rental residency. Offered in Kent and Sussex Counties, it provides housing subsidies to eligible low-income individuals and families so they can rent existing, privately owned units from participating landlords. Housing Delaware administers 902 vouchers.
To apply for the Housing Delaware waitlist, visit the AffordableHousing.com application page.
Moving to Work (MTW)
To be eligible for Moving to Work, applicants must apply to the Housing Delaware Public Housing and Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher waitlist through the AffordableHousing.com application page.
Applicants for the Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs are placed on a combined waiting list. Applicants are offered the first available subsidy, which may be a public housing unit or a Housing Choice Voucher for use in the private market. Most residents — except the elderly and people with disabilities — receive subsidies for a maximum of seven years while they take part in a mandatory self-sufficiency program. MTW has two levels: Tier I (the first five years) and Tier II (the final two years).
Program details for participants:
- Eligible participants are low-income Delawareans who agree to take steps (education, employment, income, etc.) toward becoming independent of government-assisted housing within seven years.
- Preference is given to applicants who are employed and live or work in Kent and Sussex Counties.
- Participants sign a Contract of Mutual Participation with Housing Delaware and complete a Resident Action Plan outlining their self-sufficiency goals.
The Contract of Mutual Participation limits housing assistance to seven years, with the potential for a short-term extension for participants who have complied with the contract but need more time. To provide a real work incentive, rent is capped at 35% of a client's monthly adjusted income or $120, whichever is greater; clients whose rent exceeds $350 at move-in are capped at $350. As income increases, the share that would otherwise have gone to rent is placed in a savings account.
During the contract term, Housing Delaware provides case management, referrals, and access to appropriate services. If a client does not comply with the contract, a "strike" is issued; after the third strike, financial assistance is terminated and the client must move from their unit (public housing) or pay full rent with no subsidy (housing choice voucher).
At the end of Tier I (year five), a client whose income has risen so that 40% of their monthly income equals or exceeds the fair market rent for their unit — and who moves into unsubsidized housing or homeownership — is eligible to receive the balance of their savings account. Residents who do not reach that threshold and remain in compliance continue as Tier II participants for the final two years, receiving a prorated portion of their savings if they later move to unsubsidized housing or homeownership.
At the end of the seven-year period, the family is no longer eligible for housing assistance and must either move from their public housing unit or assume the full rent on their voucher unit. Participants in their final year (Tier II) who need more time may request a short-term, temporary extension through a Hardship Panel.
Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Accepting applications by referral only
The Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Program is a project-based rental assistance program for individuals with extremely low incomes (less than 30% of Area Median Income) and disabilities for which they require long-term services. It is operated as a partnership between Housing Delaware and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). "Project-based" means the rental subsidy is paid directly to a designated participating property; because the property receives this subsidy from Housing Delaware, it can charge lower rents to Section 811 participants.
Assistance is available only in designated Section 811 properties — those that have signed a Rental Assistance Contract with Housing Delaware and set aside a number of units for Section 811 residents. Only residents of those set-aside units in designated properties receive Section 811 assistance.
Eligible applicants:
- U.S. citizens or eligible immigrants;
- Have a household income of 30% Area Median Income (AMI) or less;
- Are not older than 62 years old;
- Have a disability which qualifies them to receive long-term services from DHSS or a DHSS-contracted provider.
All referrals are submitted by a DHSS representative on your behalf — please contact your case manager. For additional information about eligibility and other affordable housing programs, call (302) 739-4263 or toll-free (888) 363-8808.
State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) Accepting applications by referral only
The State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) helps low-income individuals who need affordable housing and supportive services to live safely and independently in the community. SRAP is made possible by annual funding from the Delaware General Assembly. It uses SRAP vouchers administered by Housing Delaware for households referred by the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). This population includes: individuals exiting long-term care facilities and nursing homes; individuals at risk of being admitted to, or requiring services from, a state-supported institution; young people exiting foster care; and families for whom the lack of affordable housing is a barrier to reunification.
Program participants contribute 28% of their monthly income for rent, and SRAP subsidizes the remaining portion. All units subsidized by SRAP funds are inspected by DSHA to ensure they meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Quality Standards.
Eligible applicants:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant, and a resident of the State of Delaware.
- Be 18 years of age (or within 60 days of your 18th birthday) or older.
- Have a household income of 50% State Median Income or less.
- Be eligible for and receive supportive services as a client of DHSS or DSCYF.
To find out whether you may qualify for SRAP assistance as a client of DHSS, contact your case manager directly, or call the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-223-9074 for an assessment. To find out whether you may qualify as a client of DSCYF, contact your case manager directly. Applications must be referred to DSHA by DHSS or DSCYF.
For more information about the partnering agencies involved in SRAP, visit:
Waitlist & contact
Questions about the waitlist or these programs? Contact DSHA's Housing Admissions Office.
Housing Admissions Office (Waitlist)
Questions about this program?
Have questions about these programs, or a suggestion for this page? Contact a Housing Delaware representative.
- (302) 739-4263
- Toll-free (888) 363-8808
- Send an email
Other Delaware housing authorities
DSHA is one of five housing authorities in the state. Each operates independently — if you live in one of these areas, contact that authority directly.