Affordable Housing in Fort Worth, TX

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Fort Worth and Tarrant County — not generic Section 8 advice. If you need shelter tonight, want to know whether FWHS's voucher list is open, or are looking for an organization that can help with this month's rent, the named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Fort Worth

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Presbyterian Night Shelter — Fort Worth's largest shelter system. Operates separate facilities for men, women, and families. Phone: (817) 632-7700. journeyhome.org
• Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County — emergency shelter for men, including addiction recovery programs
• SafeHaven of Tarrant County — 24-hour domestic violence shelter and crisis line: (877) 701-7233. Bilingual advocates available
• Arlington Life Shelter — emergency shelter for individuals and families in eastern Tarrant County
• Salvation Army of Greater Fort Worth — Mabee Center — emergency shelter, meals, and case management
• ACH Child and Family Services — emergency shelter and services for youth and families
• Partnership Home (Tarrant County Continuum of Care) — central housing crisis screening for Fort Worth/Arlington/Tarrant County. ahomewithhope.org
• 211 Texas — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Fort Worth: FWHS Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Fort Worth are administered by Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS), the rebranded Fort Worth Housing Authority, serving roughly 7,200 low- and moderate-income households. Current status (May 2026):

• The HCV and PBV waitlists are closed as of May 2026. The most recent opening ran July 7–10, 2025, accepting pre-applications for both Housing Choice Voucher and Project-Based Voucher lists. The next opening date has not been announced — watch fwhs.org
• Average wait once on the list: about 35 months in Fort Worth. Plan for the long haul
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) lists at specific properties may still accept applications even when the general HCV list is closed. Check fwhs.org for current PBV property openings
• Public Housing through FWHS — a separate program with its own application process
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Arlington Housing Authority, Grand Prairie Housing & Neighborhood Services, Tarrant County Housing Assistance Office, and the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (statewide) run separate lists
• Status check: call FWHS at (817) 333-3400 if you've already applied and need to verify your position on the list

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Fort Worth (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local programs currently operating in Fort Worth. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• City of Fort Worth Emergency Household Assistance Program — city-administered help with rent, utilities, and other essential bills for Fort Worth residents. fortworthtexas.gov
• Tarrant County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — short-term homeless prevention for income-qualified people at imminent risk of eviction. Important: Tarrant County ESG serves residents outside Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie. If you live in those three cities, apply through your city's own program. tarrantcountytx.gov
• Center for Transforming Lives — Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) services, financial counseling, rental assistance, and women's housing in Tarrant County
• Catholic Charities Fort Worth — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services, and case management. Spanish-language services available
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Worth — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Salvation Army of Greater Fort Worth — eviction prevention assistance and utility help in addition to the Mabee Center shelter
• United Way of Tarrant County 211 — connects callers to current rental and utility programs across the county
• Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) — statewide emergency solutions funding flows through local Community Action Agencies. tdhca.texas.gov

The Texas Rent Relief Program has ended

The Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR) and the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP), which distributed federal rental funds during the pandemic, both closed in summer 2023. All funds are gone. The current paths in Fort Worth are the City Emergency Household Assistance Program, Tarrant County ESG (if you qualify by location), and the named nonprofits above.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP and CEAP

In Texas, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is administered as the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) through local Community Action Agencies. In Tarrant County, you apply through the Tarrant County Department of Human Services. Lowering your utility bill frees up cash for rent.

Tenant Rights in Texas

Texas has one of the more landlord-friendly legal frameworks in the country. Knowing the specific rules in Fort Worth can save your tenancy:

• No source-of-income protection — and cities are preempted: Texas does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. In 2015, Texas SB 267 prohibited cities from passing local source-of-income ordinances, so Fort Worth cannot adopt one either. Finding a landlord who already accepts vouchers is part of the work — FWHS maintains a list of participating landlords
• 3-day notice to vacate for nonpayment (Texas Property Code §24.005) — among the shortest in the country. Once you get one, act immediately. See how to avoid eviction
• Security deposit return: the landlord must return your deposit (or written itemized deductions) within 30 days of move-out (TX Prop Code §92.103). Texas does not cap the deposit amount
• Warranty of habitability and right to repair: Texas Property Code Chapter 92 requires landlords to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect health or safety, after written notice and a reasonable time. Don't withhold rent without legal advice
• Notice to end month-to-month: one full rental period (typically 30 days), from either side
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal: Texas Property Code §92.331 prohibits eviction or rent increases in retaliation for repair requests or tenant organizing within the prior 6 months
• Self-help eviction is illegal: Your landlord cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or remove belongings to force you out. They must go through Justice of the Peace court (TX Prop Code §92.0081)
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under the federal Fair Housing Act and Texas Property Code Chapter 301. The City of Fort Worth Diversity & Inclusion Department handles local fair-housing intakes

For free help: Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas — Fort Worth office offers free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction; the Tarrant County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can also connect tenants to sliding-scale attorneys. For state-level details, see our Texas housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Fort Worth

• Public housing: FWHS owns public-housing units across Fort Worth, including Cavile Place redevelopment communities. Application is separate from Section 8 — ask when you call (817) 333-3400
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): privately owned income-restricted apartments. Fort Worth has substantial LIHTC inventory. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Tarrant County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Fort Worth-area veterans are referred through the VA North Texas Health Care System (which also covers Dallas). See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through Partnership Home, the Tarrant County CoC lead. Access via 211
• Refugee Services of Texas — Fort Worth — initial housing, case management, and employment support for refugees and asylees
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Housing Channel and Credit Coalition cover the Fort Worth area

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

If you're already on the FWHS waitlist and just need to verify your position, the fastest path is calling (817) 333-3400. If you got a 3-day notice to vacate, contact Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas's Fort Worth office immediately — every day counts.