Section 8 Apartments in Atlanta: How the Program Works and Where to Start

Finding affordable apartments in Atlanta can be challenging, especially with rising rents across the metro area. If you have a low or very low income, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program may help you afford a safe, decent apartment in Atlanta.

This guide walks you through how Section 8 works specifically in Atlanta, Georgia, how to apply, where to get help, and what to expect when looking for Section 8 apartments in Atlanta.

What Is Section 8 in Atlanta?

Section 8, officially called the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a federal program that helps eligible households pay part of their rent. In Atlanta, the program is administered mainly by:

• Atlanta Housing (AH)
• Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) – for certain areas and special programs

With Section 8:

• You rent from a private landlord in the Atlanta area.
• You typically pay about 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent.
• The program pays the rest directly to the landlord, up to a set payment standard (maximum allowed rent).

You can use a voucher for:

• Apartments
• Townhomes
• Single-family houses …as long as the unit passes inspection and the landlord accepts vouchers.

Who Manages Section 8 in Atlanta?

Atlanta Housing (AH)

Atlanta Housing is the primary agency for Section 8 vouchers within the City of Atlanta.

Main office:

• Atlanta Housing
  230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: 404-892-4700

AH manages:

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program
• Project-based vouchers tied to specific apartment communities
• Some special programs for seniors, persons with disabilities, and formerly homeless residents

Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA)

DCA administers Housing Choice Vouchers across much of Georgia, including some metro Atlanta areas outside the City of Atlanta’s direct jurisdiction.

Main office (administrative):

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs
  60 Executive Park South NE
  Atlanta, GA 30329
  Phone: 404-679-4940

If you live in Clayton, DeKalb, Cobb, or Gwinnett Counties, or outside the city limits, you may need to look at both Atlanta Housing and DCA, plus any county housing authorities (like DeKalb Housing Authority, Cobb Housing Authority, etc.).

Basic Eligibility for Section 8 in Atlanta

Eligibility rules are set by federal guidelines but applied locally. In Atlanta, you generally must:

• Have low or very low income
  • Your household income must be below certain limits based on household size and Atlanta area median income.
• Have eligible immigration status
  • At least one household member must have eligible U.S. citizenship or immigration status.
• Pass background checks
  • Certain criminal convictions, especially related to drugs or violence, may disqualify you.
• Not be evicted from federally assisted housing for serious violations within a defined recent period.

Because income limits and details can change, it’s safest to check current income limits directly with Atlanta Housing or DCA when you apply.

How to Apply for Section 8 in Atlanta

1. Understand Waiting Lists

For most people, the biggest barrier is the waiting list, not eligibility.

• Atlanta Housing’s HCV waitlist often opens only occasionally, sometimes for a limited window and sometimes by lottery.
• When lists are open, there can be far more applicants than available vouchers.
• DCA also opens and closes its waiting list at different times.

Important: You cannot usually walk into an office and apply on the spot. You must apply when the online application portal is open.

2. Watch for Waitlist Openings

Ways to stay informed:

• Call Atlanta Housing automated info line: 404-892-4700
• Visit or call DCA to ask about its voucher waiting list
• Contact local housing counseling agencies or non-profits in Atlanta that may share updates

Many Atlanta residents sign up for email lists or call periodically to find out if the waitlist is open.

3. Prepare Before the List Opens

If you’re waiting for the list to open, use that time to prepare:

You may need:

• Names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers (if available) for all household members
• Proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters, etc.)
• Current address and reliable phone number/email
• Identification documents (driver’s license, state ID, or other valid ID)

📝 Tip: If you don’t have regular internet access, identify a local library, community center, or nonprofit in Atlanta where you can use a computer when applications open.

4. Submit the Application Online

When the list does open:

• Go to the official Atlanta Housing or DCA website during the enrollment window.
• Fill out the pre-application carefully.
• Submit it and save or print your confirmation number.

Applications are usually free. If anyone tries to charge you to “guarantee” a voucher, treat that as a red flag.

From Application to Voucher: What to Expect

Once you’re on the waiting list, the process can be slow. In Atlanta, it’s common to wait months or even years, depending on funding and demand.

Typical steps after your name comes up:

1. Eligibility Interview

   • You’ll be contacted to complete full paperwork, provide documentation, and verify income and household composition.

2. Briefing Session

   • If approved, you’ll attend a voucher briefing (sometimes virtual).
   • You’ll learn the rules, how to find units, and how your portion of rent is calculated.

3. Voucher Issuance

   • You receive a voucher with:
     • Bedroom size authorized
     • Timeframe to find a unit (commonly around 60 days, with possible extensions)

Finding Section 8 Apartments in Atlanta

Once you have a voucher, you need to find a landlord in the Atlanta area willing to accept it and a unit that passes inspection.

Where to Look

You can search broadly across metro Atlanta, subject to voucher rules and payment standards.

Common strategies:

• Ask property managers: “Do you accept Housing Choice Vouchers?”
• Look at:
  • Apartment complexes in neighborhoods like Southwest Atlanta, Westside, East Atlanta, Cascade, College Park, East Point, Decatur, and other nearby areas
  • Smaller landlords who own duplexes, triplexes, or single-family rentals
• Check rental listings that explicitly mention "Section 8 accepted" or “HCV welcome”
• Talk to local housing counseling or social service organizations that maintain informal lists of voucher-friendly landlords

Working Within Payment Standards

Each housing authority sets payment standards – the maximum amount they will generally use for your share of rent plus utilities.

Key points:

• Even if a unit is nice, if the rent is too high above the payment standard, the housing authority may not approve it.
• Extremely high-rent neighborhoods in Atlanta (for example, parts of Midtown, Buckhead, or the BeltLine corridor) may be harder to access with a voucher, depending on your voucher size and income.
• Some programs encourage moves to “opportunity areas” – neighborhoods with strong schools and services – and may offer extra support for that.

Inspections and Approval

Before you can move in, the unit must pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection.

What the Inspection Checks

Inspectors look at:

• Working heat, electricity, and plumbing
• Secure doors and windows
• No serious leaks, mold, or structural hazards
• Working smoke detectors
• Proper handrails, safe stairs, and safe exits

If the unit fails, the landlord can fix problems and request a re-inspection. Once the unit passes and the lease is approved, the housing authority signs a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the landlord.

You typically:

• Sign a lease with the landlord
• Pay your portion of rent directly to the landlord each month
• The housing authority pays the rest

Rights and Responsibilities for Tenants in Atlanta

When you rent with a Section 8 voucher, you still have many of the same rights as other renters in Georgia, plus some additional obligations.

Your Responsibilities

• Pay your portion of rent on time
• Follow the lease rules (no unauthorized occupants, no serious lease violations)
• Notify the housing authority of income or household changes
• Maintain the unit in reasonable condition (no deliberate damage)
• Allow inspections by the housing authority with proper notice

Serious or repeated violations can lead to termination of your voucher, so it’s important to communicate with both the landlord and housing authority if problems arise.

Your Rights

• To live in housing that is safe and sanitary
• To be free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status
• To request reasonable accommodations if you have a disability
• To receive proper notice if the landlord decides not to renew, or if the housing authority plans to end your assistance (with a chance to appeal in many cases)

If you believe you’ve been treated unfairly or discriminated against, you can contact agencies such as:

• Atlanta Housing’s Fair Housing Office (via AH main line: 404-892-4700)
• City of Atlanta Office of Civil Rights
• Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity
• Federal agencies that handle housing discrimination complaints

Section 8 vs. Public Housing and Project-Based Units in Atlanta

In Atlanta, you might also hear about public housing or project-based Section 8.

Key Differences

In practice:

• If you want flexibility to move, a voucher is more portable.
• If you get a project-based unit, you usually must stay in that unit to keep the assistance (at least for a certain period).

Many affordable communities in Atlanta now operate as mixed-income or tax credit properties that may or may not accept vouchers. When you call, ask directly if they accept Housing Choice Vouchers or have project-based Section 8 units.

Special Considerations in Atlanta

For Seniors and People With Disabilities

Atlanta has some senior-designated and disability-focused housing options that:

• Accept Housing Choice Vouchers, or
• Have their own form of project-based rental assistance

You can ask Atlanta Housing or DCA about:

• Elderly/disabled preference on some waiting lists
• Properties with on-site services or accessibility features (elevators, ramps, adapted bathrooms)

For Homeless or At-Risk Households

Some programs in the Atlanta area coordinate with:

• Shelters
• Transitional housing programs
• Supportive housing providers

These may connect eligible participants with vouchers or project-based units as part of a broader support plan. If you are currently homeless or in crisis, you can:

• Call United Way of Greater Atlanta’s 2-1-1 service (dial 2-1-1 from most local phones) for referrals
• Talk to case managers at Atlanta shelters about housing program connections

Practical Tips for Finding Section 8 Apartments in Atlanta

• Start early: Once you get a voucher, your search time is limited. Begin calling landlords immediately.
• Search broadly: Consider multiple neighborhoods across Atlanta and nearby cities like College Park, East Point, Decatur, Forest Park, depending on your voucher’s jurisdiction.
• Keep records: Write down every apartment you contact, who you spoke with, and what they said.
• Be honest and organized: Landlords often appreciate tenants who have clear paperwork and reliable contact information.
• Use local resources:
  • Housing counseling agencies
  • Tenant advocacy groups
  • Community centers and churches that know about voucher-friendly properties

Key Contacts for Section 8 and Affordable Housing in Atlanta

Here is a quick reference you can use:

• Atlanta Housing (HCV / Section 8 within City of Atlanta)
  230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: 404-892-4700

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs (Statewide HCV Program)
  60 Executive Park South NE
  Atlanta, GA 30329
  Phone: 404-679-4940

• United Way of Greater Atlanta – 2-1-1
  Dial: 2-1-1 (from most Atlanta-area phones)
  Provides referrals for housing, shelters, and support services.

When you contact these offices, you can ask:

• Whether the Section 8 waiting list is open
• How to apply or update your information
• Where to get help completing applications if you’re having trouble

If you live in or are moving to Atlanta and need help paying rent, understanding how Section 8 apartments in Atlanta work – and how to connect with Atlanta Housing, DCA, and local resources – can give you a clearer path forward toward stable, affordable housing.