Wyoming is the least populous state in the United States — just over 580,000 people spread across a landscape of mountain ranges, high plains, energy industry boomtowns, and vast rural counties where the nearest neighbor may be thirty miles away.
Wyoming’s housing affordability challenges are defined not by the urban density and tech-sector displacement that afflicts Seattle or Denver, but by the extreme boom-bust cycles of the energy industry — particularly oil, gas, and coal — that create sudden severe housing shortages during energy booms, followed by vacancy crises and economic collapse when energy prices fall.
Jackson Hole — one of the most expensive housing markets in the entire United States — sits in Wyoming’s Teton County, where proximity to Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, and world-class ski resorts has created a second-home and vacation rental market so extreme that the median home price exceeds $3 million and the workers who staff the restaurants, hotels, and services of the resort economy commute hours from more affordable communities or live in increasingly scarce employer-subsidized housing.
Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Rock Springs, and Laramie each face their own housing dynamics — and each has a housing authority administering the federal Section 8 program for Wyoming’s low-income residents.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about Section 8 housing in Wyoming — including who qualifies, Wyoming income limits by region, Fair Market Rents, a full directory of Wyoming Public Housing Authorities, a step-by-step application guide, and answers to the most frequently asked questions.
What Is Section 8 Housing in Wyoming?
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 Wyoming, the program is managed by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) across the state’s counties and cities. Wyoming is a small state with a modest PHA network — the primary housing authorities are the Cheyenne Housing Authority (CHA), the Casper Housing Authority, and a handful of county and city housing authorities serving Wyoming’s other communities.
The Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) at (307) 265-0603 — wyomingcda.com — serves as the statewide housing finance agency, administering LIHTC, HOME, and the Wyoming Mortgage and Housing Assistance programs.
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 Wyoming PHA covers the remainder — up to the local payment standard — each month.
Wyoming Context: Wyoming has no statewide source-of-income (SOI) protection law and no known local SOI ordinances in any Wyoming city or county as of [Current_year]. Wyoming landlords can legally decline Section 8 participation. Wyoming’s PHA network is small — Cheyenne and Casper are the two largest PHAs, and most rural Wyoming counties have either no housing authority or a very small one. Contact WCDA at (307) 265-0603 as your statewide housing resource hub.
Wyoming Source-of-Income Law: What Voucher Holders Need to Know
Wyoming has no statewide source-of-income (SOI) protection law and no known local SOI ordinances as of [Current_year]. Wyoming landlords may legally decline to participate in the Section 8 program statewide. This makes finding a willing landlord one of the most significant practical challenges for Wyoming voucher holders — particularly in Jackson Hole, where the extreme rental market and high landlord selectivity compound the difficulty.
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 Wyoming Fair Employment Program / Department of Workforce Services at (307) 777-6381 or HUD at 1-800-669-9777. Free housing legal assistance is available through Wyoming Legal Services at (307) 634-1566 — wylegal.org — statewide.
Who Qualifies for Section 8 Housing Vouchers in Wyoming?
1. Income Limits
Wyoming’s income limits vary significantly — Teton County (Jackson Hole) has the highest AMI of any county in the United States. Energy-producing counties like Campbell (Gillette) and Sublette also run higher than Wyoming’s least affluent counties.
Below are the approximate [Current_year] income limits for a family of four in major Wyoming areas:
| Wyoming Area | Extremely Low (30% AMI) | Very Low (50% AMI) | Low Income (80% AMI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teton County (Jackson Hole / Jackson) | ~$64,200 | ~$107,000 | ~$171,200 |
| Cheyenne / Laramie County | ~$29,900 | ~$49,850 | ~$79,750 |
| Casper / Natrona County | ~$30,500 | ~$50,800 | ~$81,300 |
| Gillette / Campbell County | ~$34,150 | ~$56,950 | ~$91,100 |
| Rock Springs / Sweetwater County | ~$32,700 | ~$54,500 | ~$87,200 |
| Laramie / Albany County | ~$26,900 | ~$44,800 | ~$71,700 |
| Sheridan / Sheridan County | ~$26,900 | ~$44,800 | ~$71,700 |
| Riverton / Fremont County | ~$23,850 | ~$39,750 | ~$63,600 |
| Cody / Park County | ~$27,300 | ~$45,500 | ~$72,800 |
| Evanston / Uinta County | ~$28,350 | ~$47,250 | ~$75,600 |
| Rural / Remote WY (Niobrara / Weston / Crook) | ~$21,600 | ~$36,050 | ~$57,650 |
Note: Teton County (Jackson Hole) has the highest AMI of any county in the United States — a family of four qualifies at the Very Low Income level with income up to $107,000, reflecting a housing market so extreme that a household earning $100,000 per year is still considered housing-cost burdened. This is entirely driven by billionaire second-home demand and the resort economy. Fremont County — home to the Wind River Indian Reservation — has one of the lowest income limits in Wyoming, reflecting persistent reservation poverty. Campbell County’s (Gillette) relatively high limit reflects energy industry wages during boom cycles. Always verify at huduser.gov or with WCDA at (307) 265-0603.
2. Citizenship or Eligible Immigration Status
At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Wyoming has a small but established Latino community in Cheyenne, Rock Springs, and Riverton, as well as the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fremont County — the only Indian reservation in Wyoming.
3–5. Family Composition, Criminal Background, No Outstanding PHA Debt
Standard federal requirements apply. Individual Wyoming PHAs set their own additional screening criteria. Contact your PHA directly for their specific policies.
How Much Rent Assistance Will You Receive in Wyoming?
| Wyoming Area | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | 4 Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teton County (Jackson Hole) | ~$2,300 | ~$2,900 | ~$3,850 | ~$4,750 |
| Cheyenne / Laramie County | ~$1,000 | ~$1,250 | ~$1,600 | ~$2,000 |
| Casper / Natrona County | ~$1,000 | ~$1,250 | ~$1,600 | ~$2,000 |
| Gillette / Campbell County | ~$1,050 | ~$1,300 | ~$1,700 | ~$2,100 |
| Rock Springs / Sweetwater County | ~$1,050 | ~$1,300 | ~$1,700 | ~$2,100 |
| Laramie / Albany County | ~$900 | ~$1,100 | ~$1,450 | ~$1,800 |
| Sheridan / Sheridan County | ~$900 | ~$1,100 | ~$1,450 | ~$1,800 |
| Riverton / Fremont County | ~$800 | ~$950 | ~$1,250 | ~$1,550 |
| Rural / Remote Wyoming | ~$700 | ~$850 | ~$1,100 | ~$1,350 |
Note: Teton County FMRs — approximately $2,900 for a two-bedroom — are among the highest of any rural county in the United States, driven entirely by Jackson Hole’s billionaire resort economy. Even with a full HCV subsidy, finding an available unit in Teton County within FMR is extremely difficult due to near-zero vacancy and intense landlord selectivity. Confirm current payment standards directly with your local Wyoming PHA or WCDA at (307) 265-0603.
Wyoming Housing Authorities: Complete Directory
| PHA Name | City/County | Phone | Service Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) | Casper (statewide) | (307) 265-0603 | Statewide LIHTC, HOME, and rental assistance coordination — key first contact for all Wyoming residents |
| Cheyenne Housing Authority (CHA) | Cheyenne | (307) 634-6639 | Laramie County (Cheyenne / Pine Bluffs / Burns) — largest PHA in Wyoming |
| Casper Housing Authority | Casper | (307) 235-8013 | Natrona County (Casper / Mills / Evansville) |
| Sheridan County Housing Authority | Sheridan | (307) 674-6483 | Sheridan County (Sheridan / Ranchester / Dayton) |
| Laramie Housing Authority | Laramie | (307) 745-3340 | Albany County (Laramie / UW campus area) |
| Rock Springs Housing Authority | Rock Springs | (307) 362-6622 | Sweetwater County (Rock Springs / Green River) |
| Gillette Housing Authority | Gillette | (307) 686-1610 | Campbell County (Gillette / Wright) — energy boom/bust community |
| Riverton Housing Authority | Riverton | (307) 856-3304 | Fremont County (Riverton / Lander / Wind River Indian Reservation area) |
| Cody Housing Authority | Cody | (307) 587-3248 | Park County (Cody / Powell) |
| Jackson / Teton County Housing Department | Jackson | (307) 733-3048 | Teton County (Jackson / Wilson / Alta) — most expensive housing market in the US |
| Evanston Housing Authority | Evanston | (307) 789-2533 | Uinta County (Evanston / Lyman) |
Tip: Wyoming has no SOI law — landlord willingness to participate is the most critical practical challenge. Ask your PHA for its current landlord participation list immediately upon receiving your voucher. Contact WCDA at (307) 265-0603 as your statewide starting point. The Teton County / Jackson housing market is uniquely extreme — even with a full voucher, finding available housing within FMR is extremely difficult; the Jackson Teton County Housing Department at (307) 733-3048 has dedicated workforce housing programs specific to the resort economy that may offer alternatives.
How to Apply for Section 8 Housing Vouchers in Wyoming
Step 1: Contact WCDA and Your Local Wyoming PHA
Your first call should be to WCDA at (307) 265-0603 for statewide program information, then to the PHA covering your county. In Cheyenne, contact CHA at (307) 634-6639. In Casper, contact Casper Housing Authority at (307) 235-8013. In Jackson, contact Teton County Housing at (307) 733-3048.
Step 2: Check Waitlists and Apply
- Contact each Wyoming PHA directly — waitlist status varies
- Visit wyomingcda.com for statewide program updates
- Contact Wyoming Legal Services at (307) 634-1566 for housing program guidance
- Dial 211 for local housing referrals statewide, 24/7
Step 3: Maintain Position and Complete the Application
Cheyenne (CHA) waits typically run 2 to 4 years. Casper runs approximately 2 to 4 years. Jackson / Teton County runs approximately 3 to 7 years. Smaller Wyoming PHAs — Sheridan, Laramie, Rock Springs, Riverton — often run 1 to 3 years when open.
Gather photo IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, proof of income (including Wyoming TANF — Wyoming Financial Assistance (WFA) — award letters), bank statements, and rental history. Wyoming does not have a state Medicaid expansion under the ACA — note that Wyoming is one of the few remaining non-expansion states, which affects income documentation for some households. If approved, you have 60 to 120 days to find housing. Ask your PHA for its current landlord participation list immediately.
Wyoming Section 8 Housing: Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Section 8 waitlist in Wyoming?
Cheyenne (CHA) and Casper typically run 2 to 4 years. Jackson / Teton County runs approximately 3 to 7 years. Smaller Wyoming PHAs — Sheridan, Laramie, Rock Springs — often run 1 to 3 years when open. Wyoming is a small state and its PHA network is modest — applying to multiple PHAs simultaneously is essential.
Are there housing resources for Jackson Hole resort workers?
Yes. Teton County’s housing crisis is among the most extreme of any county in the United States — with a median home price exceeding $3 million and a rental market where even six-figure earners are housing-cost burdened. The workers who staff the restaurants, hotels, ski resorts, medical facilities, and services of Jackson Hole live in conditions of severe housing stress: commuting from Driggs, Idaho (45+ minutes), living in employer-subsidized dorms, or spending catastrophic percentages of income on rent.
Key resources include the Teton County / Town of Jackson Housing Department at (307) 733-3048 — which administers both federal HCV and locally funded workforce housing programs specifically designed for resort economy workers; Teton Habitat for Humanity at (307) 733-8022 for affordable homeownership and housing advocacy; the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole at (307) 739-1026 which funds local housing initiatives; and AWARE (Advocates Working Against Regional Extremism) at (307) 733-7466 for housing assistance for DV survivors and vulnerable populations in Teton County. Wyoming Legal Services at (307) 634-1566 provides free housing legal assistance statewide including Teton County.
Are there housing resources for Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation?
Yes. The Wind River Indian Reservation in Fremont County is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes — and is the only Indian reservation in Wyoming. Fremont County has one of Wyoming’s lowest income limits and faces severe housing challenges driven by reservation poverty, unemployment, and aging and inadequate housing stock.
Key resources include the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority at (307) 332-4400 and the Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing at (307) 332-0800 for tribal members living on the reservation; the Riverton Housing Authority at (307) 856-3304 for off-reservation HCV assistance in Fremont County; Wyoming Indian Schools / Wind River Tribal Assistance for wraparound services; and Legal Aid for Wyoming at (307) 635-0212 for free legal services including housing assistance for reservation and off-reservation tribal members.
Are there housing resources for Wyoming’s energy boom-bust communities?
Yes. Wyoming’s energy industry communities — particularly Gillette (Campbell County, coal), Rock Springs (Sweetwater County, gas), and Evanston (Uinta County, oil/gas) — experience dramatic housing boom-bust cycles that create periods of near-zero vacancy and sky-high rents during energy price highs, followed by collapse, foreclosure, and housing instability when energy prices fall. Long-term low-income residents are particularly vulnerable to both phases of this cycle.
Key resources include Gillette Housing Authority at (307) 686-1610, Rock Springs Housing Authority at (307) 362-6622, and Evanston Housing Authority at (307) 789-2533; Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) at (307) 265-0603 for statewide rental assistance programs; and USDA Rural Development Wyoming at (307) 233-6700 for rural housing repair programs in energy-impacted communities.
Are there housing resources for veterans in Wyoming?
Yes. HUD-VASH is administered through the Cheyenne VA Medical Center at (307) 778-7550 — the primary VA facility in Wyoming — with community-based outpatient clinics in Casper, Gillette, Riverton, Sheridan, and other communities. The Wyoming Veterans Commission at (307) 777-7380 provides housing referrals and benefit navigation for veterans statewide.
Can I use my Wyoming Section 8 voucher in another state?
Yes. After living in your initial Wyoming-assisted unit for at least 12 months, you can port your voucher to another state. Cheyenne voucher holders occasionally port to Colorado (Fort Collins, Loveland, or Denver area). Contact your Wyoming PHA to initiate portability well in advance.
What other programs help with housing in Wyoming besides Section 8?
Wyoming’s Wyoming Financial Assistance (WFA) program (TANF) can provide emergency housing assistance through DFS offices. Note that Wyoming is one of the few states that has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA — low-income adults without dependent children may not qualify for Wyoming Medicaid, which can affect benefit documentation for housing applications. The Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (WCADVSA) at (307) 235-2814 coordinates emergency housing for DV survivors statewide. Dial 211 for immediate local referrals anywhere in Wyoming.
Additional Housing Resources in Wyoming
- Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA): wyomingcda.com — statewide LIHTC, HOME, and program referrals; (307) 265-0603
- 2-1-1 Wyoming: Dial 211 — emergency housing, shelter, utility assistance statewide, 24/7
- Wyoming Legal Services: wylegal.org — free housing legal assistance statewide; (307) 634-1566
- Legal Aid for Wyoming: (307) 635-0212 — free legal services statewide including housing
- Wyoming Department of Workforce Services / Fair Employment: (307) 777-6381 — fair housing complaints on protected characteristics
- Teton County / Town of Jackson Housing Department: (307) 733-3048 — workforce and affordable housing programs for Jackson Hole
- Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority: (307) 332-4400 — tribal housing for Wind River Reservation
- Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing: (307) 332-0800 — tribal housing for Wind River Reservation
- Wyoming Coalition Against DV and Sexual Assault (WCADVSA): wcadvsa.org — emergency housing for DV survivors statewide; (307) 235-2814
- HUD-VASH for Veterans: Cheyenne VA Medical Center at (307) 778-7550
- Wyoming Veterans Commission: (307) 777-7380 — veteran housing referrals statewide
- USDA Rural Development Wyoming: rd.usda.gov — rural housing programs statewide; (307) 233-6700
- HUD-Approved Housing Counselors: hud.gov/housingcounseling
Final Thoughts: Getting Section 8 Housing in Wyoming
Securing a Section 8 housing voucher in Wyoming requires applying to every relevant Wyoming PHA simultaneously, understanding that Wyoming has no SOI law and landlord outreach is essential, and using WCDA and Wyoming Legal Services as your key navigational resources.
- Contact WCDA at (307) 265-0603 first — statewide housing referral hub for all Wyoming programs and LIHTC property listings
- Apply to every Wyoming PHA in your region simultaneously — Wyoming is a small state; CHA (Cheyenne), Casper, Sheridan, and other PHAs all have independent waitlists
- Wyoming has no SOI law — ask your PHA for its current landlord participation list immediately upon receiving your voucher; proactive landlord outreach is essential statewide
- Jackson Hole resort workers: contact Teton County Housing at (307) 733-3048 immediately — dedicated workforce housing programs exist specifically for Teton County’s extreme housing market
- Wind River Reservation residents: contact Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority at (307) 332-4400 or Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing at (307) 332-0800 — and the Riverton Housing Authority at (307) 856-3304 for off-reservation HCV assistance
- 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. Wyoming state and local housing laws are also subject to change. Always verify current information with your local Wyoming PHA or WCDA before applying. Note: Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, which may affect benefit documentation for some households.