Affordable Housing in Raleigh, NC

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Raleigh and Wake County — not generic Section 8 advice. The Raleigh Housing Authority Section 8 waitlist is closed with roughly 9,100 households already waiting and a 2-4 year historical wait time, so the realistic short-term path is one-time help through Wake Prevent! and the named shelters and nonprofits listed below.

Emergency Help Tonight in Raleigh

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

• South Wilmington Street Center — Wake County-operated emergency and transitional shelter for homeless men (some short-term emergency dorms with overnight shelter, longer-term dorms for men engaging in services). 1420 S. Wilmington Street. (919) 857-9428
• Healing Transitions — Men's Campus — emergency and recovery shelter for adult men struggling with addiction. 1251 Goode St. (919) 838-3800 · healing-transitions.org
• Healing Transitions — Women's Campus — emergency overnight shelter for women 18+ from Wake County, plus recovery programming. Women must arrive at the Women's Center of Wake County at 112 Cox Ave by 3:15 PM for van pickup; no walk-ups
• Raleigh Rescue Mission — emergency shelter, meals, and recovery services for men, women, and families with children. 314 E. Hargett St. (919) 828-2111
• The Salvation Army of Wake County — emergency family shelter and the Center of Hope shelter for women and children. (919) 834-7198
• InterAct of Wake County — domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis line. (919) 828-7740
• SafeChild — Family Resource Center — family support and abuse-prevention resources
• Family Promise of Wake County — rotating-shelter network for families with children
• Oak City Cares — coordinated-entry day center for adults experiencing homelessness, runs the Wake County Continuum of Care. 1430 S. Wilmington St. (984) 743-7940
• 211 NC — 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 Raleigh: RHA and Wake County HA Status

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in the Raleigh area are administered by two separate authorities. Current status (May 2026):

• Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) — covers the City of Raleigh itself. The Housing Choice Voucher waitlist last accepted applications from May 1, 2022 through October 31, 2023, and is currently closed with no announced reopening date. Roughly 9,100 households are currently on the RHA voucher waitlist. Historical wait time once on the list: 2 to 4 years. (919) 831-1100 · rhanc.gov/housing-choice-voucher
• Housing Authority of the County of Wake (HACW) — covers the unincorporated areas of Wake County and the smaller surrounding towns (Apex, Garner, Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon). HACW is not accepting applications for any waitlist as of January 2, 2026, with no reopening scheduled. wakecountyha.org/housing-choice-voucher-program
• Eligibility: 2026 Very Low Income (50% AMI) limit for Raleigh-Wake — 1-person $35,200, 4-person $50,300. Income limits update each spring
• Specialty referrals still accepted: HUD-VASH (veterans), Family Unification Program (FUP), Emergency Housing Vouchers (where capacity allows), Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities
• Cary and other towns: the Town of Cary contracts with HACW. Apex, Garner, and other towns have their own town-level emergency assistance but use HACW vouchers
• Status check: call RHA at (919) 831-1100 if you've already applied to verify your position. Sign up for email alerts on rhanc.gov to be notified when the waitlist reopens

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

Emergency Rental Assistance in Raleigh (Named Programs)

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

• Wake Prevent! (Wake County Eviction Prevention Program) — Wake County's primary emergency resource for residents in a housing crisis at risk of homelessness. Provides short-term rental help and housing support services. wake.gov/housing-affordability-community-revitalization
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh — emergency financial assistance, food, and case management. (919) 821-2050 · catholiccharitiesraleigh.org
• CASA (Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes) — long-term affordable housing for low-income individuals with disabilities and veterans. casanc.org
• The Salvation Army of Wake County — eviction prevention and utility assistance. (919) 834-7198
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Raleigh — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Urban Ministries of Wake County — Helen Wright Center for Women, food pantry, and emergency assistance. (919) 828-0803
• Wake Smart Start — child care subsidies that free up income for rent
• NC HAF (Homeowner Assistance Fund) — for homeowners only, but mentioned because many displaced renters search for it by mistake. Renters should use Wake Prevent! instead
• NC LIEAP / Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) — Low Income Energy Assistance and crisis utility help through the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Apply at the Wake County Health and Human Services Office

The NC HOPE Program (pandemic rent relief) has ended

The NC Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program, which distributed federal ERA1/ERA2 dollars in 2020-2022, has closed and is no longer accepting applications. Current paths are Wake Prevent! and the nonprofits listed above. Don't waste time on closed pandemic-era portals.

Tenant Rights in North Carolina (Applies in Raleigh)

North Carolina has one of the more landlord-friendly legal frameworks in the country. Raleigh tenants are covered by NC General Statutes Chapter 42 (Landlord and Tenant) and especially the Residential Rental Agreements Act (Article 5). The points that matter most for Raleigh renters facing trouble:

• 10-day notice to pay rent or vacate (NCGS § 42-3). Among the shortest in the country. The 10 days run from the date the rent was due (not the date the notice was given). Paying in full during those 10 days defeats the eviction
• Summary Ejectment (eviction) process: the landlord files in Wake County Magistrate's Court. Trial is held 7-10 days after the complaint is served. If the tenant loses, they have 10 days to appeal to District Court. Without an appeal bond, the writ of possession can issue 10 days after judgment
• Security deposit caps (NCGS § 42-51): 1.5 months' rent for month-to-month leases, 2 months' rent for leases of two months or longer, no cap for week-to-week leases. The deposit must be returned within 30 days of move-out with an itemized statement; if the landlord is still determining damage, they have 60 days
• No source-of-income protection: NC does not protect Section 8 voucher holders from refusal, and Raleigh has no local source-of-income ordinance. A landlord can lawfully decline to accept a voucher. Finding a landlord who already participates is part of the work
• No rent control: NCGS § 42-14.1 preempts cities from enacting rent control on private residential property
• Implied warranty of habitability (NCGS § 42-42) — landlords must provide fit and habitable premises and comply with the housing code. Tenants must give written notice and a reasonable time to repair before pursuing remedies
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal (NCGS § 42-37.1) — within 12 months of a tenant's good-faith complaint to authorities, a landlord cannot retaliate by raising rent, decreasing services, or filing eviction
• Self-help eviction is illegal (NCGS § 42-25.9) — landlords cannot lock you out, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings without a court order and a sheriff's writ
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal law and the NC State Fair Housing Act

For free legal help: Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) at 1-866-219-LANC (5262) — eviction defense, fair housing, and tenant rights. Legal Aid Fair Housing at (855) 797-3247. For state-level details, see our North Carolina housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Raleigh

• Public housing: RHA owns and manages 1,500+ public-housing units across Raleigh. Public Housing waitlist is closed
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): Raleigh has substantial LIHTC inventory. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Wake County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HUD-VASH (veterans): Raleigh veterans are referred through the Durham VA Medical Center. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through the Raleigh/Wake Continuum of Care via Oak City Cares
• City of Raleigh Housing & Neighborhoods — home repair loans, homebuyer assistance, and development of affordable units. raleighnc.gov/housing
• Habitat for Humanity of Wake County — homeownership for low-to-moderate income families. habitatwake.org
• NC Housing Finance Agency — statewide voucher administration in counties without a local PHA, plus first-time homebuyer programs. nchfa.com
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation and routes you to the right combination of programs.

The RHA Section 8 waitlist is closed — call (919) 831-1100 to verify your existing position or ask about specialty referrals (HUD-VASH, FUP, EHV). For rent help, contact Wake Prevent! through Wake County or call 211. If you got a 10-day notice, contact Legal Aid of North Carolina at 1-866-219-LANC the same day — NC eviction trials happen 7-10 days after filing.