PLEASE NOTE:
As of June 6, 2019, applications and wait list updates can be made online through the state-wide centralized portal. Paper, email, faxed, or in-person applications will no longer be accepted.
The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waiting list opened June 6, 2019. It will remain open until further notice.
Joining the Centralized Waiting List
You may apply to Rhode Island’s Section 8 Centralized Waiting List by visiting www.waitlist-centralri.com to submit an application for the PHA and all of the other Housing Authorities in Rhode Island that may have an open Section 8 waiting list. There are numerous benefits to registering for a free account with the Centralized Waiting List including:
- Access to Housing Choice Vouchers available throughout the State
- Ability to save your application at any time and complete at a later date
- Easily updating your information to receive notices (note: make sure to update both your email and mailing addresses to receive all updates to your account).
- Checking your wait list status for multiple cities and towns in one location.
Income Limits and Preferences
HUD sets the annual program income limits based on the area’s median income level. The 2024 limits are below.
Don’t have a computer or internet access and not sure where to go?
RI’s Centralized Wait List
Managed by RIHousing, the Central Wait List can be found at https://www.waitlist-centralri.com/. Check off Providence to be added to the PHA’s Section 8 Wait List.
| Program | Limit Level | Persons in Household | |||||||
| Median Income (AMI): $112,400 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| Section 8 & Project Based Limit | Very Low (50% AMI) | $39,350 | $45,00 | $50,600 | $56,200 | $60,700 | $65,200 | $69,700 | $74,200 |
Learn about our preferences.
Currently on the PHA Waiting List?
If you are already on the Section 8 Waiting List, it is important to update us with your current address and contact information as changes arise. If the PHA is unable to contact you to provide notices about the Waiting List, your name will be removed. All updates and changes to your information should be made online through the Central Wait List online portal, which Rhode Island Housing (RIHousing) administers. For assistance logging in to the site, please call RIHousing at (844) 459-3600.
If you need to update your information on the Public Housing list or with our project based assistance programs, please email waitlist@provhousing.org.
Special Programs
The PHA offers several special programs that fall under our Section 8 program in Leased Housing.
Emergency Housing Vouchers
The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) has been issued 42 emergency housing vouchers by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in July of 2021.
The PHA is accepting direct referrals from the Rhode Island Continuum of Care (CoC) for EHV eligible populations listed below. If an individual or family believed they may be eligible for EHV assistance they may contact the CoC using one of the two following webforms:
English Emergency Housing Voucher Webform
En Espanol Formulario del Programa de Vales de Elección de Vivienda
EHV Eligible Population
In order to be eligible for an EHV, an individual or family must meet one of four eligibility categories:
- Homeless
- At risk of homelessness
- Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
- Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability.
In accordance with HUD guidelines, the PHA is not accepting applications directly for the EHV program and will not be selecting participants off of its HCV waiting list.
Project-Based Rental Assistance – As of October 1, 2020 this Wait List is closed until further notice.
The PHA’s Leased Housing department contracts with private property owners to rent some or all of the units in their housing developments to eligible low-income families. In spring of 2020, the PHA transitioned to an online based application system for its public housing and project based rental assistance programs.
PHA has awarded project based rental contracts to property owners across the City of Providence. Each site is listed below. Please note that as of October 1, 2020 the online application for all project based units was closed. Applications made directly to any individual property will not be eligible for a project based unit.
| Development | # Units | Location | Neighborhood |
| Crossroads RI Family Housing | 21 | Cranston, Linwood, Lidia, Steuben, Webster & Updike St. | West End |
| Elmwood Commons | 30 | Ontario & Warrington St. | Elmwood |
| Elmwood Neighborhood Revitalization II | 9 | Congress, Elmwood, Mawney, Moore & Broad St. | Elmwood |
| Fairfield Sutterfield Apartments | 60 | Admiral, East, General, Middle, South & Phebe St. | Wanskuk |
| Maplewoods | 7 | Huber Ave. | Manton |
| Open Doors | 19 | Plainfield St. | Silver Lake |
| Smith Hill Visions | 6 | Bernon, Goddard, Mansfield & Wayne St. | Smith Hill |
| University Heights | 21 | Nicholas Brown Yard | College Hill |
Veteran’s Supportive Housing
The Veteran’s Supportive Housing (VASH) Program is a joint effort between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Veterans Administration (VA). VASH allocates vouchers to housing authorities, like the PHA, for veterans and their families to live in market rate rental units with the VA provides case management services. The PHA has received an allotment of VASH vouchers annually since 2008 and currently administers 209 throughout the State.
To learn more about the VASH program, visit the VA’s website.
To apply for a VASH unit, veterans must contact the VA at 401-265-4114 for eligibility criteria and application process. The VA determines eligibility for the program and the type of unit received.
The PHA also provides project-based assistance for veterans through the VASH program at the following locations:
- Veteran’s for Tomorrow (20 units) – 115 Douglas Ave. Providence, RI 02904
- Sgt. Belanger Housing (11 units) – 963 Chalkstone Ave. Providence, RI 02908
Sgt. Belanger Housing – 963 Chalkstone Avenue
Veterans for Tomorrow – 1115 Douglas Avenue
The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waiting list re-opened in June of 2019 through the state-wide online portal. It remains open to all applicants through the state-wide central wait list. To be placed on our Section 8 waiting list, go to www.waitlist-centralri.com.
The Centralized Waiting List
If you have already completed your registration with Rhode Island’s Section 8 Centralized Wait List, you can log into your account to check your wait list status for multiple cities and towns in one location. As mentioned above, you can also easily update your information to receive notices.
PHA’s Project Based Section 8 Units
In March of 2020, the PHA opened its online application portal for public housing and project based Section 8 units. To join the waiting list for a project-based unit through the PHA, visit www.waitlistcheck.com/RI1104.
Applicants on the Waiting List
If you are a currently on any of the PHA wait lists, it is important to provide updates to your contact information whenever they become available. If the PHA is unable to contact you with notices about the List, your name will be removed. Starting in June of 2019, you can go online to www.waitlist-centralri.com to update your contact information for Section 8 vouchers at any time. If you are on the Project Based rental assistance list, you can email changes to waitlist@ProvHousing.org.
NOTE: As of June 2019, all existing Section 8 applicants can maintain their status on the PHA list online through the centralized wait list. Please do not reapply or create a new account if you were already on the PHA list. If you have forgotten your email or password to the Portal, please call 401-457-1288 for assistance. Do not re-register.