Housing Authority

The Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC) provides affordable housing and rental assistance programs for eligible households in Maricopa County, Arizona. This article explains the Housing Authority’s main programs, how rental assistance and affordable properties differ, how waiting lists work, how applicants and current participants use HAMC portals, what happens when a voucher is moved into HAMC jurisdiction, and which Housing Authority office handles property-related services. It also covers practical steps that can help applicants, participants, residents, and landlords avoid delays or missed notices.

Housing Authority Services

The Housing Authority of Maricopa County develops and maintains affordable housing programs intended to increase housing options and promote self-sufficiency. HAMC serves low-income, vulnerable, and underserved populations through rental assistance and affordable housing that it owns or manages.

HAMC organizes its housing services around two primary housing options: Rental Assistance and Property Management. These programs serve different purposes, so residents should determine which type of housing assistance they are dealing with before trying to check a waiting list, update an application, report a change, or contact an office.

Rental Assistance

Rental Assistance includes housing vouchers and special programs that help eligible households obtain permanent housing. Under these programs, HAMC may make Housing Assistance Payments, commonly called HAP, to participating landlords. Some programs allow participants to rent privately owned housing, while others are tied to designated properties.

HAMC administers several rental assistance programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher program, Project Based Vouchers, the Family Unification Program, HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, and Mainstream Vouchers. Eligibility and access are not identical across these programs.

Property Management

Property Management covers affordable housing communities owned and managed by HAMC. Applicants seeking an apartment in a HAMC property should not assume that applying for a property waiting list is the same as applying for a Housing Choice Voucher. Property waiting lists can open and close independently, and availability can vary by development and unit type.

The HAMC Programs and Services page provides information for both rental assistance applicants and people interested in Housing Authority properties. It also provides access to waiting-list information and customer portals used by applicants and current participants.

Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher program, often associated with Section 8 rental assistance, is a tenant-based program for very low-income families. Instead of limiting the household to a particular subsidized development, an eligible participant may choose privately owned rental housing that meets program requirements.

Public housing agencies such as HAMC administer vouchers using federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A voucher identifies the household’s eligibility to receive rental assistance. HAMC pays the approved subsidy portion to the landlord, while the tenant is responsible for the remaining tenant portion of rent.

A voucher does not mean that HAMC selects a particular private rental unit for the household. The participant generally locates housing, and the proposed unit must go through the applicable approval and inspection process before assistance can begin.

Housing Search Responsibilities

After a household receives a voucher, the family is responsible for locating an acceptable rental unit within the period established for the voucher. HAMC states that families generally have between 120 and 240 days after receiving a voucher to find housing. The exact circumstances of an individual voucher should be handled according to the information issued by HAMC.

The property owner remains responsible for screening prospective tenants for rental suitability. HAMC screens voucher holders for program eligibility and determines the amount of assistance and the household’s rent responsibility; it does not replace the landlord’s normal tenant-selection process.

Project Based Vouchers

Project Based Voucher assistance works differently from tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers. PBV assistance is attached to a particular site. According to HAMC, a participating family generally pays no more than 30 percent of family income toward rent, while the public housing authority subsidizes the remaining eligible amount.

The location restriction is one of the most important differences for applicants to understand. A household receiving project-based assistance generally does not have the same ability to move to another location while keeping the same assistance. Moving from the assisted property can mean giving up the site-based assistance.

HAMC operates separate PBV waiting lists for specific properties or programs. These lists can open and close at different times, so a person should not treat the status of one property waiting list as the status of all HAMC housing programs.

Referral-Based Housing Programs

Several HAMC rental assistance programs use referrals rather than a general public application process. The April 2026 HAMC wait-list schedule identifies the Family Unification Program, Mainstream Program, and Veterans Affairs housing program as open by referral only as of that published schedule.

Family Unification Program

The Family Unification Program provides Housing Choice Vouchers to qualifying families and certain qualifying young adults. For families, the program addresses situations in which inadequate housing is a primary factor in the imminent placement of children in out-of-home care or delays the return of children from out-of-home care.

The program also covers otherwise eligible young people who are at least 18 and not more than 24 years old and who have left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days under an applicable transition plan, and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. HAMC identifies FUP as a referral-based rental assistance program.

Mainstream Vouchers

Mainstream Vouchers assist households that include a non-elderly person with a disability. HAMC describes the applicable age range as at least 18 years old and not yet 62 years old at the effective date of the initial Housing Assistance Payment contract. This program is also referral based.

HUD-VASH Assistance

HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing combines Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. HAMC identifies HUD-VASH as another referral-based program rather than a standard open public waiting-list application.

Housing Waiting Lists

Waiting-list status is one of the most important issues for prospective applicants because HAMC does not continuously accept applications for every program or property. A list may be open, closed, limited to particular unit sizes, open until a specified number of applications are received, or available only through referral.

The April 1, 2026 schedule, for example, showed the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list as closed. It also listed several Project Based Voucher programs as closed while identifying certain referral-based programs and affordable properties as open. Because HAMC specifically states that wait-list openings are subject to change according to public notice and availability, applicants should rely on current Housing Authority information rather than assuming an earlier opening remains active.

The Housing Authority posts program openings, closures, administrative changes, office notices, and other announcements through its official public notice page. A public notice may identify exact opening and closing dates, eligible unit sizes, application limits, or other conditions for a particular housing opportunity.

Applying During an Opening

When a waiting list is closed, HAMC states that applicants must wait until the list opens and may apply only during the period when applications are being accepted. Applicants should therefore identify the exact program or property named in the notice before submitting information.

A Housing Choice Voucher waiting-list opening, a Project Based Voucher waiting list, and an affordable apartment property waiting list are separate opportunities. Applying to one does not mean an applicant has applied to all other HAMC programs.

Some property openings can also be restricted by bedroom size. For example, HAMC has issued notices for developments accepting applications only for specific bedroom configurations. Reading the entire opening notice before beginning an application can prevent an applicant from confusing a limited property opening with a countywide voucher opening.

Keeping Wait-List Status Active

Being placed on a waiting list does not end an applicant’s responsibilities. HAMC states that applicants may receive mail when their name reaches the top of the list or when the agency is updating its records. Failure to respond can result in removal from the waiting list.

HAMC identifies several situations that can cause a waiting-list problem:

Failing to respond to HAMC notifications.
Failing to provide requested information.
Allowing mailed correspondence to be returned by the U.S. Postal Service.
Moving without providing HAMC with an updated address.

If an applicant changes addresses, HAMC requires notification in writing. The agency also directs applicants to the appropriate customer portal for faster address updates. Maintaining a current mailing address is especially important because a household can remain on a waiting list for a period of time before being contacted for the next stage.

Applicant Portal Functions

HAMC directs applicants to its customer portal system to check waiting-list status. A user may need to register before logging in. For Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance, the applicable portal includes an “Applicant Portal” option.

Once logged in, an applicant may check waiting-list status and respond to future “Save My Spot” inquiries. When an applicant is selected from the waiting list, the portal can also be used to complete the formal application process identified by HAMC as “Certification for Intake.”

Applicants should distinguish between being on a waiting list and completing the formal intake application. Placement on a list does not itself mean that housing assistance has been issued or that a rental unit has been approved.

Housing Authority Properties

HAMC owns and manages affordable housing communities throughout Maricopa County. Its property portfolio includes locations in the Northwest Valley, Southwest Valley, Central Valley, and East Valley. Properties identified by HAMC include Heritage Senior Apartments, Casa Bonitas, Flora Statler, Paradise Homes, Villa Monte Rosa, Norton Circle, Rose Terrace, Watson Homes, Heritage at Surprise, John Hollar, John Hammond, Parkview, Varney Homes, Baden Homes, The River at Eastline Village, Clare Feldstadt, Father Fidelis, and MRP properties.

Applicants interested in these communities should pay attention to the name of the property listed in a waiting-list notice. A waiting list for one HAMC development does not establish availability at another development.

Property applicants should also distinguish an affordable-property application from a tenant-based voucher application. HAMC’s customer portals provide separate pathways for affordable properties and Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance, so selecting the appropriate portal is necessary when checking an application or updating information.

HAMC Service Area

Housing Authority jurisdiction can matter when a voucher holder is selecting a unit or considering portability. HAMC provides an official HAMC Boundary Tool that allows users to enter an address or place and determine whether the location is within the Housing Authority’s boundary.

The map also includes layers for HAMC offices and housing properties. Voucher holders should not assume that every address commonly described as being in Maricopa County automatically falls within the same housing authority jurisdiction or program process. The boundary tool is specifically designed to identify whether an address is within HAMC’s service boundary.

Moving a Voucher to HAMC

Portability allows an eligible Housing Choice Voucher participant to move from one public housing authority’s jurisdiction to another under applicable voucher procedures. HAMC has published specific requirements for families seeking to move into its jurisdiction.

According to the HAMC portability instructions, a participant must first provide adequate notice to vacate to the current landlord and be issued a voucher by the current housing authority. The participant must receive approval to move under portability before HAMC can process the incoming case.

Initial Housing Authority Documents

The participant’s current housing authority, referred to as the initial PHA, must contact HAMC and send the required portability documentation. The documents identified by HAMC include:

Form HUD-52665.
Copies of income verification forms.
A copy of the voucher and notice to vacate.
Copies of family composition documents.
A copy of the most recent Form HUD-50058.
Voucher-holder contact information.

This transfer is therefore not completed simply by a participant sending HAMC a personal request. The initial PHA has a direct role in transmitting the portability file.

Review and Briefing Process

HAMC states that incoming families are required to attend a portability briefing. The briefing covers HAMC administrative policies and provides paperwork needed to locate a unit and arrange an inspection.

HAMC holds portability briefings biweekly and contacts the participant after receiving the required paperwork from the initial PHA. The Housing Authority instructs participants to allow 10 days for its review after the documentation has been received.

An incoming voucher must have at least 30 days remaining before expiration. Any voucher extension must be approved by the initial PHA rather than HAMC. This distinction can prevent delays because a participant who needs additional voucher time should address that request with the housing authority that issued the voucher.

Landlords and Voucher Rentals

Private landlords may rent units to families participating in the HAMC Housing Choice Voucher program. The HAMC landlord participation information explains the steps from locating a voucher holder through inspection, lease execution, the Housing Assistance Payment contract, and monthly subsidy payments.

Request for Tenancy Approval

When a landlord chooses to rent to a voucher household, the landlord and prospective tenant complete a Request for Tenancy Approval packet. HAMC reviews the packet to verify that required documentation has been received and that the household’s income qualifies for the unit.

HAMC then schedules an inspection using the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate, or NSPIRE, protocol. The family should not treat selection of a unit as final program approval before the required HAMC process is completed.

Lease and HAP Contract

After the unit passes inspection and HAMC approves the tenant to move in, the landlord and family arrange the move-in date and sign the lease. HAMC states that the landlord must provide a copy of the executed lease to the Housing Authority within five days after lease signing.

The lease is the agreement between the landlord and the family. The Housing Assistance Payments contract is a separate agreement between HAMC and the landlord. After HAMC receives the executed lease, it executes the HAP contract with the landlord. Once the signed HAP contract is returned, the landlord receives the monthly housing assistance payment on behalf of the participating family, while the tenant remains responsible for any applicable tenant portion.

Annual Program Review

HAMC reviews continued household eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher program and continued unit compliance with NSPIRE. Changes in household size or income can change the tenant’s share of rent and the amount of the Housing Assistance Payment.

If a unit no longer complies with NSPIRE requirements, HAMC provides written notice and time for repairs. A landlord may request a rent increase annually in accordance with the lease, but HAMC must determine that the requested rent is reasonable compared with other market-rate units.

Public Notices and Program Changes

HAMC uses public notices to communicate changes that may affect applicants, participants, landlords, and residents. Notices can cover waiting-list openings, office closures, Housing Assistance Payment issues, administrative-plan revisions, board meetings, property application periods, and changes affecting rental assistance administration.

Because these notices can contain specific effective dates and temporary conditions, residents should distinguish an older notice from current program rules. A previous waiting-list opening, for example, should not be treated as evidence that applications remain open after the stated closing date.

HAMC has also posted updates to its Rental Assistance Administrative Plan. These notices can reflect changes involving program administration, subsidy standards, preferences, documentation, payment standards, moves, repayment agreements, and other Housing Choice Voucher policies. Applicants and participants dealing with a specific current program requirement should use the current HAMC information applicable to their case.

Choosing the Correct Office

HAMC maintains a main administrative office as well as property management offices serving different areas and developments. The Housing Authority contact page separates inquiries by functions including Executive, Rental Assistance, Property Management, General Inquiry, and Report Fraud. It also provides Housing Authority staff, rental assistance, and administrative office directories.

Residents of a HAMC-managed property may need the property management office associated with their development rather than the main administrative office. HAMC identifies separate East Valley, Northwest Valley, Southwest Valley, and Central property management offices.

Applicants working with rental assistance should avoid assuming that the leasing or property management office for a particular apartment development handles every Housing Choice Voucher application. Rental Assistance and Property Management are separate core service areas within HAMC.

Common Application Mistakes

Several avoidable mistakes can interfere with a housing application or rental assistance process. The most significant is confusing different waiting lists. A person who sees that a particular apartment property is accepting applications should not assume that the general Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is open.

Applicants should also avoid relying on an old public notice after its stated application period has ended. Waiting-list openings are subject to change, and some lists close after a specific deadline or after a specified number of applications is received.

Failure to maintain current contact information can also have serious consequences. HAMC states that an applicant may be removed from a waiting list when required notices or requests go unanswered or when correspondence is returned by the Postal Service. Address changes therefore should be reported as required rather than waiting until an applicant expects selection.

Voucher participants moving into HAMC jurisdiction should not bypass their initial housing authority. The initial PHA must provide the portability documentation to HAMC, and extensions remain the responsibility of the initial PHA.

Landlords should distinguish the tenant lease from the HAP contract. Passing an inspection and signing a lease are important steps, but the subsidy payment relationship is established through the separate HAP contract with HAMC.

Housing Authority Offices

Housing Authority of Maricopa County
8910 N. 78th Avenue, Building D, Peoria, AZ 85345
602-744-4500

East Valley Property Management Office — The River at Eastline Village
2106 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, AZ 85281
602-744-4560

Northwest Valley Property Management Office — Heritage Senior
15639 N. Nash Street, Surprise, AZ 85378
602-744-4580

Southwest Valley Office — Rose Terrace Apartments
525 E. Harrison, Avondale, AZ 85323
602-744-4570

Southwest Valley Office — Norton Circle Apartments
551 W. Norton Street, Avondale, AZ 85323
602-744-4570

Central Property Management Office — Heritage at Surprise
12669 W. Rimrock St., Surprise, AZ 85378
602-744-4552

Housing Authority FAQs

Who makes policy decisions for the Housing Authority?

The Housing Authority of Maricopa County is governed by a Board of Commissioners. Each elected Maricopa County Board of Supervisors member appoints one commissioner, while the Housing Authority board appoints at least one and no more than two eligible resident commissioners. Resident commissioners must be in good standing and must either live in Housing Authority housing or receive Housing Authority rental assistance. The board provides policy oversight and administrative direction, while ongoing management is handled through the Executive Director. More details about the board structure are available on the Housing Authority governance and mission page.

Can residents see upcoming Board of Commissioners meetings?

Yes. The Board of Commissioners typically meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Meeting notices identify the date, time, location or meeting method, and information about the agenda. HAMC states that agendas are available at least 24 hours before a meeting. Because meetings can be cancelled or rescheduled, residents interested in attending or reviewing board business should check the official HAMC public notices for the latest announcement rather than relying on an older meeting calendar.

Can the public review Housing Authority planning documents?

HAMC periodically makes Public Housing Authority annual and five-year plan drafts available for public review and comment. These planning documents address agency priorities and housing program administration over designated periods. Notices announcing draft plans, comment opportunities, and related board actions are published through HAMC's official notice system. Residents interested in proposed policy direction should review the applicable notice and plan for the specific year rather than assuming an earlier plan remains current.

Can a landlord terminate a lease with a voucher tenant?

A Housing Choice Voucher does not prevent a landlord from enforcing the lease. HAMC states that the eviction process for a voucher household is the same as for an unassisted household, and the lease should specify the required notice for termination. A landlord must provide HAMC with copies of an eviction notice but does not need HAMC's permission to evict a tenant who violates the lease. The official landlord participation guidance explains these responsibilities.