Section 8 Housing North Dakota: 2025 Shortcuts & Priority Access

Disclaimer: This guide is not government-affiliated. Information provided as-is without warranty of accuracy. Contact your local housing authority to verify current information. | Last Updated: September 25, 2025

You already know North Dakota’s Section 8 system is a mess—lists close without warning, sites are outdated, and nobody’s out here calling you back. But after months of banging my head against this broken machine, I’ve figured out the backdoors: how to catch open lists before they vanish, push for emergency preference, and get your name in all the right places—moves you won’t find on any official site. If you’re serious about beating this rigged game, read on now before another month slips by.

You’re Here Because You Need Affordable Housing in North Dakota

Look, I’m not here to sugarcoat it. If you’re reading this, you’re probably in that do-or-die place—maybe your landlord finally slapped you with an eviction notice, or a hospital bill cleaned out what little savings you had. Or maybe you’re just straight-up tired of choosing between rent and ramen again. Welcome to the club nobody wants to join: North Dakotans who need real housing help right now.

Here’s what actually happens: you start panic-Googling at 2 AM, trying to figure out where the hell you’re supposed to go next. You stare at those official-looking websites, but half of them are outdated, and the other half just send you in circles. Meanwhile, your stress is through the roof because you legitimately have no clue where your kids will sleep next month. The truth nobody tells you? The system is set up so you get tired and give up before you even get to the top of any list. That frustration you feel? 100% real. You are not the problem—the process is.

This isn’t one of those useless copy-paste guides that tells you to “explore your options” and then leaves you hanging. I’m giving you the actual playbook: which waiting lists you need to stalk (and yeah, you need to stalk them), how to squeeze every drop out of emergency preferences, and the stuff the housing office won’t mention unless you ask the right way. If you want to know what works in North Dakota, in 2025, keep reading. I’m about to show you how to hustle this broken system before it breaks you.

Section 8 Is Available in Every North Dakota County

Let’s kill the myth right now: Section 8 runs in every single North Dakota county—no gaps, no excuses. Doesn’t matter if you’re stuck in the smallest town or the middle of Fargo, you have a shot. Here’s the full list, and yes, it’s all 53:

Cass • Burleigh • Grand Forks • Ward • Williams • Stark • Morton • Stutsman • Richland • McKenzie • Rolette • Ramsey • Walsh • Mountrail • Barnes • McLean • Mercer • Traill • Benson • Pembina • Bottineau • McHenry • Ransom • Dickey • Dunn

Divide • Sargent • Nelson • LaMoure • Cavalier • Bowman • Hettinger • Eddy • Logan • Wells • Sioux • Golden Valley • Adams • Foster • Oliver • Towner • Sheridan • Grant • Emmons • Kidder • McIntosh • Steele • Billings • Pierce • Griggs • Burke

Here’s what actually happens: the housing authority you call might cover a whole chunk of counties, not just the one you live in. So if you’re in, say, Richland, but the list is closed, check who runs the neighboring counties. You can apply to lists outside your home county. Don’t get hung up on loyalty to your local office—this is about survival, not pride.

The truth nobody tells you? If you’re not applying to every open waiting list within 100 miles, you’re making it harder on yourself. One list closes, another opens. Keep searching, keep applying. Use phrases like “open Section 8 waitlist North Dakota” and be ready to call and ask: “What counties do you cover? Is your list open right now?” And brace yourself—websites are often ancient and wrong. Always double-check by phone. If something looks off, it probably is.

Here’s the ugly side: wait times are all over the place. Some counties? Years. Others, you might get lucky in months. Some pick names by lottery—straight up, you could get skipped just because your number wasn’t picked. And any of these lists can slam shut overnight, no warning, no heads-up.

Yeah, it’s messed up, but here’s how to deal: Don’t just look in North Dakota. Sometimes a border county in Minnesota or South Dakota is desperate for people and can move you faster. If you can get there, go where the line is shortest.

Don’t play fair—play to win. Apply everywhere you realistically could get to, and keep checking back, because today’s open list is tomorrow’s locked door. No one’s going to call you when a list opens—you have to be on it.

What You Need to Know About Section 8 in North Dakota

What Section 8 Actually Is in North Dakota

Let me be real with you: Section 8 is NOT some magic golden ticket where you show up, say you’re broke, and suddenly the government pays your rent. Here’s what actually happens: Section 8 is a voucher program run by local housing authorities—funded by HUD, but every county does it their own way. If you get a voucher, it covers part of your rent. You still have to pay the rest, every damn month. If you miss a payment, you can get kicked out, voucher or not.

Here’s the kicker nobody tells you: you have to find a landlord who takes Section 8. In North Dakota, most apartments don’t even list this online. Yeah, it’s messed up, but here’s how to deal: every single place you check out, ASK if they take Section 8, even if it’s not advertised. A lot of landlords don’t bother to say yes or no on listings, but some will if you push.

Eligibility? It’s all about income, and they are strict—no “close enough” here. In 2025, for a single person, it’s $28,300 at 50% of area median income (AMI), or $16,980 if you’re at the 30% level. You can’t just guess your numbers—they want pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, the whole stack. If you can’t prove it on paper, you’re not getting in. Period.

What North Dakota Applicants Are Facing in 2025

Here’s the truth nobody tells you: the wait isn’t as bad as, say, California, but it’s still a grind. The average wait in North Dakota right now? About 10 months. That’s if you keep on top of paperwork and don’t miss any updates. Could be less, could be way longer if you’re in a smaller county or there’s a flood of new applications this year.

There are over 14,000 subsidized units in the state—sounds like a lot, right? But 25% are empty at last count. Don’t get too excited. The best units, the safe ones, the ones near any kind of job or bus stop? They go fast. A lot of vacant units are in places nobody wants to live, or they’re just not advertised anywhere you’d actually look. You have to call, ask, and sometimes show up in person to find out what’s really available.

Cass County is the heavyweight—they manage 500+ vouchers. Most other counties? They’ve got a handful, maybe a few dozen. If you’re not on multiple waiting lists at once, you’re just waiting longer, straight up. So here’s what actually works: get on every list you can. Ask specifically: “How do I get on the waiting list for Section 8 in this county?” If you sit on one list, you’re at the back of every line.

Section 8 Myths That Waste Your Time in North Dakota

• Myth: There are application fees. The truth: No housing authority in North Dakota charges you to get on a waitlist. Anyone asking for cash is running a scam—hang up immediately.
• Myth: You have to be homeless to qualify. Nope. You just need to meet the income rules and prove it. You don’t need to be on the street to get help, so don’t let anyone tell you you’re not poor enough.
• Myth: It’s first-come, first-served everywhere. Wrong. Some counties run a straight waitlist, but a lot use a lottery or bump people up if they’re disabled, elderly, or have kids. You need to know which group you fit in—ask them straight up what their preferences are.

Bottom line: Section 8 in North Dakota is a hustle, not a handout. If you’re not aggressive and strategic, you get left behind. Don’t play by the rules they post on the walls—play by what actually happens.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Section 8 in North Dakota

Look, the Section 8 system in North Dakota is brutal—especially in 2025 when waitlists are packed and nobody has time for mistakes. If you want a shot, you can’t sit around hoping someone will call you. You’ve got to move like your rent’s due tomorrow, because honestly, it probably is.

First things first:

Google “[your county] housing authority” and “[neighboring county] housing authority” right now. (Example: if you’re in Cass, also check Traill, Barnes, Clay—anything within 50 miles.) Don’t trust one office to save you. Map out every housing authority you can possibly apply to TODAY—not tomorrow, not next week. Some counties barely keep their sites updated, so double-check addresses and names. If you’re not sure, call and ask, “Do you run Section 8 for [your town]?” Don’t waste time on the wrong office.

Documents to gather—do this NOW:

• Birth certificates (everyone in your household)
• Social Security cards (same)
• Last 3 pay stubs (or proof of income, even if it’s cash)
• Bank statements (yes, even if you only have $12 in there)
• Your current lease (or proof you’re getting evicted)
• Any medical paperwork (disability? chronic illness? anything that could help priority)

Don’t wait for the housing authority to beg for these. If you show up missing even one thing, you get bumped to the bottom of the pile or told to come back in months.

Set up a tracking spreadsheet. This is your lifeline. Make columns for:

• Authority Name
• List Status (Open/Closed/Waitlist)
• Date Applied
• Login Info (username/password for each portal—they WILL lock you out)
• Next Check Date

If you don’t keep track, you will absolutely lose your spot, miss deadlines, or forget which login goes where. The truth nobody tells you: the system is designed for you to drop off.

When calling housing authorities:

Here’s the script: “Hi, I need to know if your Section 8 list is open and when the next opening might be.” That’s it. Don’t start explaining your life story. Don’t give them extra reasons to write you off. Get the facts, hang up, and move to the next one. If you start oversharing, they’ll talk you in circles until you give up.

When lists open online:

Here’s what actually happens—everyone and their cousin is trying to apply. Portals crash. The site will time out. If you’re not ready, you WILL miss your window. Set alarms on your phone for every opening (down to the minute). Have PDFs of every document ready to upload. If you’re hunting for a file or trying to scan something when the portal opens, you’re already behind.

Every 30 days, follow up.

Mark your calendar for every authority you applied to. On the date, call or email and say, “Just checking my status.” Not on day 29 (they’ll roll their eyes), not day 31 (they’ll forget you). This is the only way to stay on their radar and not get lost in the system.

Yeah, it’s messed up, but this is how you keep from getting dropped. The people who get housing aren’t the ones who wait quietly—they’re the ones who make noise and don’t miss a single step.

How to Find Real Housing Help in North Dakota

Here’s what actually happens when you start the hunt: you’re gonna hit a wall of trash info, outdated websites, and a parade of nonprofits that do nothing but hand you a flyer and wish you luck. So here’s how to cut through the noise and actually find places that move the needle.

First, Google matters, but only if you use the EXACT right phrases. Don’t get creative—this system doesn’t reward creativity, it punishes it. Type in (literally):

• “[county] housing authority waiting list”
• “North Dakota Section 8 application”
• “affordable housing [your zip code]”

Don’t bother with anything else, or you’ll get sucked into random advice blogs and fake application sites. If you don’t see a waiting list link or an actual application, move on. Don’t fill out any weird Google forms from third-party sites.

Next move: Facebook groups are gold, but only if you use them right. Search for groups like “[City] Housing Authority Updates”, “Section 8 North Dakota”, and “[County] Affordable Housing”. Join up, and turn on notifications so you actually see posts when waiting lists open (they close FAST, sometimes in hours). The real trick? Drop a post or DM asking, “Who actually got housed this year, and through what org?” Ignore the nonprofits everyone says just hand you a brochure—you want the names of places that cut checks or hand out keys.

Here’s the truth nobody tells you: Housing authority websites are designed to make you give up. Skip everything except the “News” or “Announcements” tab—that’s where they’ll post if a waiting list is open. Ignore the About page, mission statements, or anything that looks like a newsletter. If it’s not about openings, it’s a waste of your time.

Now for the insider hack: If you’re at risk of homelessness, disabled, running from domestic violence, or have a family reunification case—don’t just apply, PUSH for emergency or preference status. Use those exact words when you call or email: “I’m requesting priority/emergency/preference status under HUD guidelines.” This isn’t a magic key, but it does move you up on the list, sometimes by years. If anyone acts confused, ask to speak to the supervisor or the person in charge of waitlist management—don’t let them pass you off to the front desk with ‘call back later’ energy.

Yeah, it’s messed up, but this is how you find the tiny cracks in the wall. Don’t waste time on dead ends—keep it moving and keep receipts of every call, email, and application. That’s your ammo when someone tries to say you never applied.

What to Expect from Section 8 in North Dakota

Let’s cut the crap. Section 8 in North Dakota isn’t a fairy tale, but it’s not hopeless either. Here’s what actually goes down—no sugarcoating, just the playbook you need.

The Good

First off, believe it or not, North Dakota’s waitlist game is less brutal than most places. The average wait is about 10 months. Yeah, that’s still a long damn time, but it’s not the years you’ll hear about in bigger states. Here’s the truth nobody tells you: some counties have units sitting empty because people don’t know when lists open, or they miss the tiny window. So, if you get your docs together—ID, proof of income, anything they might throw at you—and you’re ready to pounce the second the list opens, you’ve got a real shot to move faster.

Pro tip: don’t just fill out the app and pray. Call the housing authority. Use phrases like, “I want to make sure my application is complete and active—can you confirm it’s in the system?” If you’re persistent (and, yeah, a little polite), some staff will actually walk you through the paperwork minefield. But don’t wait for them to call you. They won’t. You have to keep poking them.

And if you do score a voucher? Your rent isn’t gonna swallow your entire paycheck anymore. That’s not just a little relief—that’s food-in-the-fridge, lights-stay-on real-life relief. That’s why it’s worth the grind.

The Bad

Now for the not-so-pretty side. Even though 25% of subsidized units are sitting empty (yep, that’s real—look it up), the best spots vanish in a heartbeat. The people who get them? The ones who move fast when their name comes up. Most folks still end up waiting months, sometimes a full year, just to get the call. So don’t bank on the stats—be ready to hustle.

Landlords aren’t required to accept Section 8. In rural counties, you might have three places to choose from (and one’s got a leaky roof). In cities, every voucher-holder is fighting over the same half-decent apartments.

And here’s a big one: Paperwork gets lost. Portals crash. If you don’t check up on your case, nobody’s doing it for you. Screenshot every upload. Write down who you talked to and when. If you don’t double-check, you will get burned. Nobody cares as much as you do—act like it.

The Ugly

Scammers are everywhere, and they know you’re desperate. If anyone asks for money to “get on the list” or “speed things up,” bail immediately. It’s a scam. If a deal sounds too sweet, it’s a setup, period.

Here’s what actually happens: you’ll leave voicemails that never get returned. Your emails will go into the void. You’ll feel like nobody sees you. But the only way through is to be relentless—call again, email again, show up if you can. The system will let you fall through the cracks if you give it half a chance.

Bottom line: the system isn’t built for people in crisis. It’s slow, clunky, and honestly, it’s not fair. But it’s not impossible either. If you play it smart, stay on their radar, and don’t give up, you can beat the mess and get a place. That’s the truth nobody else will tell you.

Take Action Today to Get Section 8 in North Dakota

Next Steps You Can Take Right Now in North Dakota

Here’s what actually happens—if you wait to start, you’re just falling further behind. No one is going to call you when the list opens. That’s on you. First thing: get a notebook (or your phone notes) and start your own personal “housing authority map.” Write down every housing authority in North Dakota—even the tiny ones. Don’t trust that the info you find online is up-to-date; old phone numbers and broken websites are everywhere. When you call, literally say: “I’m trying to get on the Section 8 waitlist for 2025—when can I apply?” If they say it’s closed, ask: “When do you expect to open? How do I get notified?”

Gather your paperwork like you’re prepping for court. Social security cards, ID for everyone, proof of income, anything they might ask for—have it all scanned or snapped as photos. If you don’t have something, get started on replacing it now because missing docs stall people for months.

Set a phone reminder: every 30 days, check those lists again. This is your job now. The truth nobody tells you: even when you’re exhausted, the person who checks more often gets on the list first. That’s just how it is.

And here’s the move nobody talks about: join every Facebook group and local chat you can find—search for “[your city] Section 8,” “North Dakota housing help,” and any local tenant groups. People in those groups find out about openings before the official sites update. Word of mouth is faster than any government notice. Sometimes the only way you’ll know a list is open is because someone posts, “Hey, just got through in Grand Forks!”

Don’t Wait for a Perfect Moment to Apply in North Dakota

If you’re sitting around waiting for the right time or the most convenient list to open, you’ll be sitting forever. This system is designed to make you wait. Momentum beats perfection every time. The sooner you get your name on a list—any list—the sooner you’re in line. It’s a pure numbers game. The more lists you’re on, the better your odds. Don’t get cute trying to “time” the market, just get in the damn line.

You’re Not Alone in the North Dakota Housing Struggle

Look, there are thousands of people in North Dakota hustling for the same spot. You’re not the only one fighting this broken system. So don’t let it grind you down—get louder. Stay organized. Keep your notes, your reminders, and your docs tight. You’re going to get frustrated, but don’t let that slow you down. The best shot you have is the one you take today. This is a game of persistence, not luck. Start moving—no one else is going to do it for you.