Public housing in Maine
Data from November 2026
Public housing agencies in Maine
24 public housing agencies administer 15,870 Section 8 vouchers and 2,551 public housing units in Maine. Each one takes applications and runs its own waiting list.
Key numbers in Maine
- Agencies
- 24
- take applications and keep their own waiting lists
- Section 8 vouchers
- 15,870
- total they manage, not openings
- Public housing units
- 2,551
- total they manage, not openings
How it works
How they work
There are two main kinds of help: the voucher to rent in the private market and public housing. You apply for both at the agency for your area in Maine.
- Step 1
Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers)
The family finds a home on the private market. The agency pays part of the rent directly to the landlord and the family pays the difference.
- Step 2
Public housing
Homes the agency itself manages. Rent is set from the family’s income.
- Step 3
How to apply
Apply at the agency for your area. They check income and family size, and may close their waiting list when it is full: ask whether it is open and how long it takes.
According to HUD: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)· HUD: public housing program
Mixed-status families Section 8 and mixed-status families: how it works How the Section 8 voucher works, how aid is prorated in a mixed-status family, how to apply through your housing agency and what HUD proposed. Read the guideHUD’s list
Every agency in Maine
Largest first. Search by name or county.
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Portland Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Cumberland County
2,709 vouchers · 328 public housing units
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Lewiston Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Androscoggin County
1,592 vouchers · 437 public housing units
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Housing Authority City of Bangor
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Penobscot County
459 vouchers · 563 public housing units
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Auburn Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Androscoggin County
595 vouchers · 177 public housing units
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South Portland Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Cumberland County
740 vouchers
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Waterville Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Kennebec County
394 vouchers · 194 public housing units
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Ellsworth Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Hancock County
382 vouchers · 50 public housing units
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Presque Isle Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Aroostook County
159 vouchers · 185 public housing units
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Old Town Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Penobscot County
213 vouchers · 87 public housing units
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Brewer Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Penobscot County
136 vouchers · 154 public housing units
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Fort Fairfield Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Aroostook County
152 vouchers · 81 public housing units
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Van Buren Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Aroostook County
104 vouchers · 90 public housing units
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None match your search.
HUD’s official list exactly as published, retrieved November 6, 2026. Vouchers and units are totals each agency administers, not vacancies. Source: Public Housing Agencies (HUD) Retrieved November 6, 2026 Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (external site)
Frequently asked questions
What is a Section 8 voucher?
A Housing Choice Voucher from HUD’s federal program: the family rents on the private market and the housing agency pays part of the rent to the landlord. The family pays the difference.
How do I apply for a voucher or public housing in Maine?
At the housing agency for your area; Maine has 24. Each one has its own application and waiting list, and may close it when it is full. Call or check its site to see whether it is open.
How many Section 8 vouchers are there in Maine?
The agencies in Maine administer 15,870 Section 8 vouchers and 2,551 public housing units, according to HUD’s list retrieved November 6, 2026. They are program totals, not available vacancies.