West Virginia faces a housing crisis unlike most states — not primarily defined by runaway rents or tech-sector displacement, but by a deep and structural mismatch between poverty-level incomes and the cost of maintaining habitable housing in an aging, rural state where quality rental stock is scarce at any price.
West Virginia is the third-poorest state in the United States by median household income, and its housing stock is among the oldest and most deteriorated in the nation. The collapse of the coal economy has left communities across the southern coalfields — McDowell, Mingo, Logan, Wyoming, and Boone counties — with catastrophic unemployment, population loss, and a rental market defined by substandard housing rather than unaffordable rents.
Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, and Parkersburg are West Virginia’s largest urban centers, each facing different housing dynamics. Morgantown — home to West Virginia University — faces student-driven rent inflation that has made it unaffordable for the low-income families and service workers who sustain the university economy.
Charleston and Huntington face concentrated poverty, a severe opioid crisis, and housing instability driven by unemployment and family disruption. For low-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and the hundreds of thousands of West Virginians living at or below the poverty line, Section 8 housing vouchers in West Virginia provide essential monthly rent relief.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about Section 8 housing in West Virginia — including who qualifies, West Virginia income limits by region, Fair Market Rents, a full directory of West Virginia Public Housing Authorities, a step-by-step application guide, and answers to the most frequently asked questions.
What Is Section 8 Housing in West Virginia?
Section 8 — officially called the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program — is a federally funded rental assistance program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In West Virginia, the program is managed by local and regional Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) across the state’s counties and cities. The primary statewide housing resource is the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF) at (304) 345-6475 — wvhdf.com — which administers LIHTC, HOME, and state-funded rental assistance programs and serves as the key statewide housing referral hub.
The program pays a portion of your monthly rent directly to your landlord. You contribute approximately 30% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent, and your West Virginia PHA covers the remainder — up to the local payment standard — each month.
West Virginia Context: West Virginia has no statewide source-of-income (SOI) protection law. Individual landlords statewide can legally decline Section 8 vouchers unless a local ordinance applies — and no West Virginia city or county has enacted a local SOI ordinance as of [Current_year]. This makes finding a participating landlord one of the most significant practical challenges for West Virginia voucher holders. Contact your PHA for its current list of landlords accepting vouchers in your area.
West Virginia Source-of-Income Law: What Voucher Holders Need to Know
West Virginia has no statewide source-of-income (SOI) protection law and no known local SOI ordinances in any city or county as of [Current_year]. This means West Virginia landlords may legally decline to participate in the Section 8 program.
However, federal and state fair housing laws still protect you from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. For fair housing complaints on protected characteristics, contact the West Virginia Human Rights Commission at (304) 558-2616 — hrc.wv.gov. Free housing legal assistance is available through Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370 — lawv.net — statewide.
Who Qualifies for Section 8 Housing Vouchers in West Virginia?
1. Income Limits
West Virginia is a small and predominantly rural state, with relatively low AMIs even in its largest metro areas. Below are the approximate [Current_year] income limits for a family of four in major West Virginia areas:
| West Virginia Area | Extremely Low (30% AMI) | Very Low (50% AMI) | Low Income (80% AMI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston / Kanawha County | ~$24,250 | ~$40,450 | ~$64,700 |
| Huntington / Cabell / Wayne Counties | ~$20,450 | ~$34,100 | ~$54,550 |
| Morgantown / Monongalia County | ~$29,500 | ~$49,200 | ~$78,700 |
| Parkersburg / Wood / Wirt Counties | ~$22,100 | ~$36,800 | ~$58,900 |
| Wheeling / Ohio / Marshall Counties | ~$22,450 | ~$37,400 | ~$59,850 |
| Weirton / Brooke / Hancock Counties | ~$22,950 | ~$38,250 | ~$61,200 |
| Martinsburg / Berkeley County | ~$34,200 | ~$57,000 | ~$91,200 |
| Lewisburg / Greenbrier County | ~$21,500 | ~$35,850 | ~$57,350 |
| Beckley / Raleigh County | ~$19,650 | ~$32,750 | ~$52,400 |
| Southern Coalfields (McDowell / Mingo / Logan / Wyoming) | ~$15,900 | ~$26,500 | ~$42,400 |
Note: Morgantown/Monongalia County has West Virginia’s highest income limits ($49,200 Very Low for a family of four), reflecting WVU’s economic impact. The southern coalfield counties — McDowell, Mingo, Logan, and Wyoming — have some of the lowest income limits in the entire eastern United States ($26,500 Very Low for a family of four), reflecting catastrophic post-coal economic collapse and incomes that remain at subsistence levels for much of the population. Martinsburg/Berkeley County’s $57,000 Very Low reflects its commuter relationship with the DC/Northern Virginia metro. Always verify at huduser.gov or with WVHDF at (304) 345-6475.
2. Citizenship or Eligible Immigration Status
At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Mixed-status households qualify for prorated assistance. West Virginia has small but established Latino communities in Martinsburg and the Eastern Panhandle, as well as small refugee communities in Charleston and Morgantown.
3. Family Composition
Section 8 is open to single individuals, couples, families with children, elderly persons (age 62+), and persons with disabilities.
4. Criminal Background
Federal mandatory bars apply: lifetime sex offender registration and methamphetamine manufacturing in federally assisted housing. Individual West Virginia PHAs set their own additional screening criteria.
5. No Outstanding PHA Debt
Any unpaid debt owed to any PHA — in West Virginia or another state — must be resolved before approval.
How Much Rent Assistance Will You Receive in West Virginia?
| West Virginia Area | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | 4 Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston / Kanawha County | ~$850 | ~$1,050 | ~$1,350 | ~$1,650 |
| Huntington / Cabell County | ~$750 | ~$950 | ~$1,200 | ~$1,500 |
| Morgantown / Monongalia County | ~$1,050 | ~$1,300 | ~$1,700 | ~$2,100 |
| Parkersburg / Wood County | ~$750 | ~$900 | ~$1,200 | ~$1,450 |
| Wheeling / Ohio County | ~$800 | ~$1,000 | ~$1,300 | ~$1,600 |
| Martinsburg / Berkeley County | ~$1,200 | ~$1,450 | ~$1,900 | ~$2,350 |
| Beckley / Raleigh County | ~$700 | ~$850 | ~$1,100 | ~$1,350 |
| Southern Coalfields | ~$600 | ~$750 | ~$950 | ~$1,200 |
Note: Morgantown FMRs are the highest in West Virginia, driven by WVU student housing demand. Martinsburg FMRs are elevated by Northern Virginia commuter demand — the Eastern Panhandle is effectively a distant suburb of the DC metro, accessible via I-81 and MARC train. Southern coalfield FMRs are among the lowest in the eastern United States. Confirm current payment standards with your local West Virginia PHA.
West Virginia Housing Authorities: Complete Directory
Statewide Resource
| Organization | Phone | Website | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF) | (304) 345-6475 | wvhdf.com | Statewide LIHTC, HOME, and rental assistance coordination; key referral hub for all West Virginia counties |
Regional PHAs
| PHA Name | City | Phone | Service Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority (CKHA) | Charleston | (304) 348-6451 | Kanawha County (Charleston / South Charleston / St. Albans) |
| Huntington Housing Authority (HHA) | Huntington | (304) 528-5400 | Cabell County (Huntington / Barboursville) |
| Morgantown Housing Authority | Morgantown | (304) 292-0283 | Monongalia County (Morgantown / Westover) |
| Parkersburg Housing Authority | Parkersburg | (304) 485-5581 | Wood County (Parkersburg / Vienna / Williamstown) |
| Wheeling Housing Authority | Wheeling | (304) 232-5301 | Ohio County (Wheeling) |
| Weirton Housing Authority | Weirton | (304) 748-0600 | Brooke / Hancock Counties (Weirton / Follansbee / Chester) |
| Martinsburg Housing Authority | Martinsburg | (304) 263-1871 | Berkeley County (Martinsburg / Eastern Panhandle) |
| Beckley Housing Authority | Beckley | (304) 255-1121 | Raleigh County (Beckley / Beaver / Oak Hill) |
| Clarksburg Housing Authority | Clarksburg | (304) 622-6438 | Harrison County (Clarksburg / Bridgeport) |
| Fairmont Housing Authority | Fairmont | (304) 366-1703 | Marion County (Fairmont / Mannington) |
| Logan Housing Authority | Logan | (304) 752-4007 | Logan County |
| McDowell County Housing Authority | Welch | (304) 436-3131 | McDowell County (Welch / Northfork / War) |
| Mingo County Housing Authority | Williamson | (304) 235-3100 | Mingo County (Williamson) |
| Lewisburg / Greenbrier Housing Authority | Lewisburg | (304) 647-5518 | Greenbrier County (Lewisburg / White Sulphur Springs) |
Tip: West Virginia has no statewide SOI law, making landlord participation the most critical practical challenge for voucher holders. Ask your PHA for its current list of willing landlords before or immediately after receiving your voucher. Contact WVHDF at (304) 345-6475 for statewide program information, and Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370 for free housing legal assistance anywhere in the state.
How to Apply for Section 8 Housing Vouchers in West Virginia
Step 1: Contact Your Local West Virginia PHA and WVHDF
Your first calls should be to the PHA covering your county (see directory above) and to WVHDF at (304) 345-6475 for statewide program information. In Charleston, contact CKHA at (304) 348-6451. In Huntington, contact HHA at (304) 528-5400. In Morgantown, contact the Morgantown Housing Authority at (304) 292-0283.
Step 2: Check for Open Waitlists
- Contact each PHA directly — West Virginia PHAs vary significantly in waitlist status
- Visit wvhdf.com for statewide affordable housing program updates
- Contact Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370 for housing program guidance
- Dial 211 for local housing referrals statewide, 24/7
Step 3: Apply and Maintain Your Position
West Virginia PHA waits vary widely — Charleston-Kanawha and Huntington typically run 2 to 5 years. Morgantown runs 3 to 6 years (WVU demand). Smaller rural PHAs may run 1 to 3 years. Document priority preferences: homeless status, DV survivor, veteran, elderly (62+), and disability. Update contact information after every move.
Step 4: Complete the Full Application
Gather photo IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, proof of income (including West Virginia TANF — WVWORKS — award letters), bank statements, rental history, and West Virginia Medicaid award letters. If approved, you have 60 to 120 days to find housing. Because West Virginia has no SOI law, ask your PHA immediately for its current landlord list.
Finding Section 8 Housing in West Virginia
- WVHDF: wvhdf.com — statewide affordable housing referrals; (304) 345-6475
- HUD Housing Locator: hudhousinglocator.com — search by West Virginia city or ZIP code
- Legal Aid of West Virginia: lawv.net — free housing legal assistance statewide; 1-866-255-4370
- West Virginia Human Rights Commission: hrc.wv.gov — fair housing complaints on protected characteristics; (304) 558-2616
- USDA Rural Development West Virginia: rd.usda.gov — rural housing programs for WV; (304) 291-4764
West Virginia Section 8 Housing: Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Section 8 waitlist in West Virginia?
Charleston-Kanawha and Huntington typically run 2 to 5 years. Morgantown runs 3 to 6 years. Smaller rural PHAs — Beckley, Logan, McDowell, Mingo — often run 1 to 3 years when open, though limited landlord participation makes using a voucher in rural counties especially challenging.
Are there housing resources for West Virginia’s southern coalfield communities?
Yes. McDowell, Mingo, Logan, Wyoming, and Boone counties have experienced some of the most severe economic collapse of any region in the United States following the decline of the coal industry. These counties have very low incomes and PHAs with some of the smallest voucher allocations in the state.
Key resources include local PHAs (McDowell County at 304-436-3131; Mingo County at 304-235-3100; Logan County at 304-752-4007); Coalfield Community Action Partnership at (304) 369-6300 for emergency housing and utility assistance; Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370 for free housing legal assistance; and USDA Rural Development at (304) 291-4764 for rural housing repair and rental programs. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) coordinates broader economic and housing investment for the region — arc.gov.
Are there housing resources for Morgantown amid WVU-driven rent inflation?
Yes. Morgantown has West Virginia’s highest rents — driven by WVU’s 29,000+ students competing for rental housing with the low-income families, service workers, and university staff who sustain the local economy. The Morgantown Housing Authority waitlist is one of WV’s longest at 3–6 years.
Key resources include Morgantown Housing Authority at (304) 292-0283; WVU Student Legal Services at (304) 293-7249 for student tenant rights; Monongalia County Emergency Services at (304) 291-7211 for emergency rental assistance; and Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370. WVHDF’s LIHTC portfolio includes several affordable housing properties in Morgantown — contact WVHDF at (304) 345-6475 for referrals.
Are there housing resources for West Virginia’s opioid crisis-affected households?
Yes. West Virginia has the highest drug overdose death rate in the United States and a housing instability crisis deeply intertwined with the opioid epidemic — particularly in Cabell County (Huntington), Kanawha County (Charleston), and the southern coalfields. Housing instability and opioid use disorder reinforce each other in a cycle that Housing Choice Vouchers and supportive housing programs are specifically designed to interrupt.
Key resources include Huntington Housing Authority at (304) 528-5400; PROACT at (304) 525-7851 for addiction recovery and housing coordination in the Tri-State area; Prestera Center at (304) 525-7851 for behavioral health and housing services in the Cabell/Wayne area; Cabin Creek Health Systems at (304) 595-1447 for behavioral health-linked housing in Kanawha County; and Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370 for housing legal assistance for persons in recovery.
Are there housing resources for veterans in West Virginia?
Yes. HUD-VASH is administered through the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center (Clarksburg) at (304) 623-3461, the Huntington VA Medical Center at (304) 429-6741, and the Beckley VA Medical Center at (304) 255-2121, with community-based outpatient clinics statewide. The West Virginia Division of Veterans Assistance at (304) 558-3661 provides veteran housing referrals statewide.
Can I use my West Virginia Section 8 voucher in another state?
Yes. After living in your initial West Virginia-assisted unit for at least 12 months, you can port your voucher to another state. Martinsburg-area voucher holders occasionally port to Maryland or Virginia. Contact your West Virginia PHA to initiate portability well in advance.
What other programs help with housing in West Virginia?
West Virginia’s WVWORKS (TANF) program can provide emergency housing assistance through DHHR offices. West Virginia Medicaid documents income eligibility. WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence at (304) 965-3552 coordinates emergency housing for DV survivors statewide. USDA Rural Development at (304) 291-4764 administers rural housing repair and rental programs. Dial 211 for immediate local referrals anywhere in West Virginia.
Additional Housing Resources in West Virginia
- West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF): wvhdf.com — statewide LIHTC, HOME, and rental assistance; (304) 345-6475
- 2-1-1 West Virginia: Dial 211 — emergency housing, shelter, utility assistance statewide, 24/7
- Legal Aid of West Virginia: lawv.net — free housing legal assistance statewide; 1-866-255-4370
- West Virginia Human Rights Commission: hrc.wv.gov — fair housing complaints on protected characteristics; (304) 558-2616
- Coalfield Community Action Partnership: (304) 369-6300 — housing and emergency assistance in southern coalfield counties
- WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence: wvcadv.org — emergency housing for DV survivors statewide; (304) 965-3552
- HUD-VASH for Veterans: Louis A. Johnson VA (Clarksburg) at (304) 623-3461; Huntington VA at (304) 429-6741; Beckley VA at (304) 255-2121
- West Virginia Division of Veterans Assistance: (304) 558-3661 — veteran housing referrals statewide
- USDA Rural Development West Virginia: rd.usda.gov — rural housing programs statewide; (304) 291-4764
- HUD-Approved Housing Counselors: hud.gov/housingcounseling
Final Thoughts: Getting Section 8 Housing in West Virginia
Securing a Section 8 housing voucher in West Virginia requires patience with waitlists, proactive landlord outreach given the state’s lack of SOI protections, and using WVHDF and Legal Aid of West Virginia as key navigational resources throughout the process.
- Contact your local West Virginia PHA immediately — see directory above; apply to every PHA in your region simultaneously
- Contact WVHDF at (304) 345-6475 — statewide housing referral hub for all West Virginia programs
- West Virginia has no SOI law — ask your PHA for its current landlord participation list immediately upon receiving your voucher; proactive outreach to landlords is essential
- Southern coalfield communities: contact Coalfield Community Action Partnership at (304) 369-6300 and Legal Aid of West Virginia at 1-866-255-4370 for region-specific program guidance
- Veterans: contact your nearest WV VA facility for HUD-VASH — Clarksburg at (304) 623-3461, Huntington at (304) 429-6741, or Beckley at (304) 255-2121
- Dial 211 for immediate help with housing, emergency rental assistance, and other urgent needs while you wait
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Income limits, Fair Market Rents, payment standards, and program rules are updated annually by HUD. West Virginia state and local housing laws are also subject to change. Always verify current information with your local West Virginia PHA or WVHDF before applying.