Prince George's County opens Section 8 waiting list, lottery to select 5,000

The Housing Authority of Prince George's County announced on November 28 that the preliminary application period for the Housing Choice Voucher Program will open at 12 01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on Monday December 1, 2025, and close at 11 59 P.M. EST on Friday December 5, 2025. Preliminary applications will be accepted only online at mypgc.us/hcv. This is the first time the authority has opened the waiting list since 2015.

The HCVP, widely known as Section 8, is a tenant based voucher program that allows eligible individuals and families to choose where to live while the Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent. Submission of a preliminary application does not guarantee placement on the waitlist. A lottery system will be used to randomly select 5,000 applicants. Current Emergency Housing Voucher program participants will be automatically selected and added to the waiting list.

The Housing Authority emphasized accessibility and language access in its announcement. Preliminary applications will be available in up to 103 languages. Applicants who need assistance with the online form are encouraged to visit designated in person assistance locations during posted times at the Oxon Hill library branch, the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, and the Laurel library branch. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations are instructed to call the Housing Authority of Prince George's County.

Local significance is immediate. For many Prince George's County residents facing rising rents and housing instability, the reopening of the HCVP waiting list represents a rare opportunity to seek long term rental assistance. Landlords and housing providers may see increased interest from voucher holders if selected, and community organizations that assist renters will need to prepare for a surge in requests for application help and follow up guidance.

Applicants are also warned to beware of scams. The Housing Authority will never charge a fee to submit a preliminary application or to be placed on the waitlist. Residents should use the official web address mypgc.us/hcv and the announced in person assistance locations to ensure they apply safely during the December 1 to December 5 window.