What Louisiana's Housing Voucher Program Covers

Louisiana's housing voucher program is run by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in each parish. The largest is the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), but every parish has its own authority that administers vouchers. When you hold a voucher, the PHA pays your landlord a portion of your rent directly — you pay the difference, called your "tenant contribution," from your own income.

The voucher amount depends on the size of your household and the rental market in your parish. A two-bedroom apartment in New Orleans may have a different voucher limit than a two-bedroom in Shreveport, because the program ties voucher amounts to local fair market rents. Your tenant contribution is calculated as 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, though some PHAs use different percentages in certain situations.

You can use a voucher with any landlord willing to accept it, as long as the unit passes a housing quality inspection and the rent does not exceed the voucher program's payment standard for that bedroom size. You are not limited to public housing — the program is designed to let you rent in the private market.

Key Takeaways

  • Each parish in Louisiana has its own Public Housing Authority that administers vouchers; you must contact the PHA in your parish, not a state office.
  • Your tenant contribution is typically 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, and the PHA pays the landlord the difference up to the voucher payment standard.
  • Voucher waiting lists in Louisiana are long and often closed; you can ask your local PHA when the list will reopen or whether you meet priority categories like homelessness or domestic violence.
  • Once you receive a voucher, you have a limited time (usually 60 to 120 days) to find a landlord and move into a unit that passes inspection.
  • Your income must stay below 50 percent of the area median income to keep your voucher, though the PHA will re-examine your income annually.

Income Limits and Household Composition Rules

To be considered for a voucher in Louisiana, your household's gross income must not exceed 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) for your parish. The AMI varies by parish and by household size. For example, a family of four in Orleans Parish has a different income limit than a family of four in Caddo Parish. Your local PHA publishes these limits each year, and you can request them by phone or in person.

The PHA counts all household members' income, including children's earnings and benefits like Social Security, unemployment, or child support. Some income is excluded — for example, the first $480 per year of a child's earnings, or income from a person who is temporarily absent from the household (such as a family member in the military). The PHA will ask you to document all sources of income when you explore.

Household composition matters for the size of voucher you receive. A family of five may be issued a three-bedroom voucher, depending on the PHA's bedroom-size rules. If your household changes — someone moves in or out, or a child is born — you must report it to the PHA. Adding a household member may increase your voucher size; losing a member may decrease it.

What Documents You Need to Provide

When you contact your local PHA to ask about the waiting list or to explore if the list is open, have these documents ready: a photo ID for each household member, proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, benefits statements, or a letter from your employer), and proof of residency in the parish (a utility bill or lease in your name). If you are unemployed, bring a letter from your last employer or a statement from your job search activities.

If you have a disability, bring medical documentation or a letter from a healthcare provider. If you are experiencing homelessness, bring a letter from a shelter, outreach worker, or social service agency confirming your status. If you are fleeing domestic violence, you may be able to provide documentation through a domestic violence agency instead of a traditional address.

The PHA will also conduct a background check, which includes a criminal history search and a check of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) database to see if you have been evicted from a federally assisted program. Certain convictions — drug manufacturing, violent felonies, or sex offenses — can disqualify you permanently. Other criminal history may disqualify you for a set period, usually three to five years.

How Long the Waiting List Is and What Priority Categories Exist

Most Louisiana PHAs have closed waiting lists because demand far exceeds available vouchers. The Housing Authority of New Orleans, for example, has not opened its list in several years. However, some smaller parish PHAs may have open lists or may open them periodically. Call your local PHA directly to ask whether the list is open and, if it is closed, when it is expected to reopen.

Even when a list is closed, some PHAs maintain a "priority" or "preference" category for people in urgent situations. These may include people who are homeless, people fleeing domestic violence, people with disabilities, or people living in substandard housing. If you fall into one of these categories, ask the PHA whether you can be added to a priority list or whether you will be contacted when the main list reopens.

Wait times vary widely. In parishes with active lists, you may wait anywhere from six months to several years. The PHA processes applicants in the order they applied, though priority applicants may move ahead. Once your name reaches the top of the list, the PHA will contact you to complete your process and begin the income verification process.

What Happens After You Receive a Voucher

Once the PHA approves you and issues a voucher, you have a limited time to find a rental unit and move in — typically 60 to 120 days, depending on your PHA's rules. During this time, you search for a landlord willing to accept the voucher. Not all landlords participate in the program; some refuse vouchers or have their own income requirements for tenants.

When you find a unit, the landlord must agree to accept the voucher payment. You and the landlord sign a lease, and the PHA conducts a housing quality inspection to may support the unit meets federal standards for safety, sanitation, and maintenance. The inspection covers things like working plumbing, adequate heat, no lead paint hazards, and functioning smoke detectors. If the unit fails, the landlord must make repairs before you can move in.

Once the inspection passes and the lease is signed, the PHA and landlord sign a Housing information Payments (HAP) contract. From that point forward, the PHA sends the voucher payment to the landlord each month, and you pay your tenant contribution directly to the landlord. You must report any changes in income or household composition to the PHA within 30 days.

Income Recertification and When Your Voucher Can End

The PHA recertifies your income once per year. During recertification, you provide updated pay stubs, benefit statements, or other proof of current income. If your income has increased, your tenant contribution may go up. If your income has decreased, your contribution may go down. The PHA will notify you of any change in writing.

Your voucher can end if your income rises above 80 percent of the area median income for your parish. When this happens, the PHA typically gives you a grace period — usually one year — during which you can stay in your unit but your rent contribution increases. After the grace period, if your income is still above 80 percent AMI, you must leave the program.

Your voucher can also end if you violate the lease, if the landlord terminates the lease, if you move out without notifying the PHA, or if you fail to recertify your income when asked. If the PHA terminates your voucher, you have the right to request a hearing to contest the decision.

How to Contact Your Local Public Housing Authority

Each parish in Louisiana has a Public Housing Authority. The largest is the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), which serves Orleans Parish. Other major authorities include the Shreveport Housing Authority (Caddo Parish), the Baton Rouge Housing Authority (East Baton Rouge Parish), and the Lafayette Housing Authority (Lafayette Parish). Smaller parishes have their own authorities as well.

To find your local PHA, search online for "[your parish name] Public Housing Authority" or call your parish government office and ask for the housing authority's contact information. You can also visit HUD's website, which lists all PHAs by state and parish. When you call, ask specifically about the status of the voucher waiting list and what documents you need to bring if you want to explore.

Some PHAs accept applications only in person during business hours. Others may accept phone inquiries or have online waiting list information. Be prepared to provide your name, address, and household size when you call, and ask whether the list is open before you make a trip to the office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Louisiana housing voucher to rent in another state?

Yes, but you must request a "portability" transfer from your PHA before you move. The PHA in your new state will take over administering your voucher. Some states and PHAs are more willing to accept portable vouchers than others, so contact the PHA in the state where you plan to move before you relocate to confirm they will accept you.

What if my landlord wants to raise the rent above the voucher payment standard?

The PHA will not pay more than the payment standard for your bedroom size in your parish, even if the landlord asks for more. You would have to pay the difference out of pocket, or you would need to find a different unit. The payment standard is set by the PHA and reviewed annually.

Can I be denied a voucher because of my criminal history?

Yes. Convictions for manufacturing drugs, violent felonies, or sex offenses can result in permanent disqualification. Other criminal history may disqualify you for three to five years. The PHA will explain the specific reason if you are denied and will tell you whether you can reapply in the future.

What if I lose my job while I have a voucher?

Your tenant contribution is based on your income, so if you lose your job, your contribution may decrease. You must report the job loss to the PHA within 30 days. The PHA will recalculate your contribution based on your new income (which may be zero if you have no income). You can keep your voucher as long as your household income stays below 80 percent of the area median income.

How do I know if my unit will pass the housing quality inspection?

The PHA will provide you with a list of inspection standards before you find a unit. Common issues that cause units to fail include broken windows, non-functioning heat, mold, pest infestations, and lead paint hazards. If you are unsure whether a unit will pass, ask the PHA inspector to do a pre-inspection before you sign a lease.