Free Guide to Kentucky Section 8 Housing Office Locations

Overview of Kentucky Section 8 Housing Program

Section 8 housing is a federal program that helps people pay rent. The program works by giving vouchers to renters. A voucher covers part of the monthly rent, and the renter pays the rest. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manages Section 8 at the national level, but each state and county runs its own program.

In Kentucky, the program serves thousands of households. According to HUD data, Kentucky has approximately 23,000 active Section 8 vouchers being used in homes across the state. These vouchers go to families, elderly people, and people with disabilities. The amount of money each voucher covers depends on the area where someone lives. Urban areas like Louisville and Lexington typically have higher payment standards than rural counties.

The program requires that renters live in safe, sanitary housing. The landlord's property must pass an inspection by HUD. Once a property passes, the landlord receives payment directly from the housing agency. The renter pays their share of the rent, and Section 8 pays the difference. This arrangement protects both the landlord and the renter.

Kentucky has multiple housing agencies that manage Section 8. Some counties have their own public housing authorities. Larger cities like Louisville and Lexington have their own housing authorities too. Smaller counties may be served by regional authorities. Understanding which agency serves your area is the first step in learning how the program works.

Practical Takeaway: Section 8 is a rent assistance program run by local housing agencies across Kentucky. Each area has its own agency that manages the program for that region. Learning which agency serves your county helps you understand where to find information about the program.

Major Kentucky Section 8 Office Locations and Contact Information

Louisville is home to the largest housing authority in Kentucky. The Louisville Housing Authority (LHA) serves Jefferson County and surrounding areas. Their main office is located at 1075 Outerloop, Louisville, KY 40219. The phone number is (502) 625-5000. LHA manages over 3,000 Section 8 vouchers. They maintain waiting lists for people who want to join the program. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They also have a website where people can find current information about wait times and program details.

Lexington's housing authority serves Fayette County and parts of surrounding counties. The Lexington Housing Authority is located at 410 West Vine Street, Lexington, KY 40507. Their phone number is (859) 281-5400. Lexington Housing Authority manages approximately 2,000 Section 8 vouchers. Like Louisville, they maintain a waiting list. The office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents of Lexington and surrounding areas can contact them with questions about the program.

Covington and Northern Kentucky are served by the Covington Housing Authority. This office is located at 1605 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011. The phone number is (859) 491-3338. This agency serves several northern Kentucky counties including Kenton, Campbell, and Boone counties. They manage approximately 800 Section 8 vouchers. Their office hours are also Monday through Friday, generally from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky are served by the Bowling Green Housing Authority. Their main office is at 1051 Lovers Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42103. The phone number is (270) 843-4571. This authority serves Warren County and surrounding areas. They manage several hundred Section 8 vouchers for the region. Like other offices, they maintain regular business hours and can provide information about the program for their service area.

Paducah in Western Kentucky has the Paducah Housing Authority. The office is located at 500 South 7th Street, Paducah, KY 42001. The phone number is (270) 444-8076. This agency serves McCracken County and the western part of the state. Many western Kentucky counties that do not have their own housing authority are served by this office or by smaller regional authorities.

Practical Takeaway: Kentucky's five largest housing authorities are in Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Bowling Green, and Paducah. Each one manages Section 8 for their county or region. Contacting the authority that serves your area is the way to learn about program details for where you live.

Regional Housing Authorities and Smaller County Offices

Beyond the five major offices, Kentucky has many smaller housing authorities that serve individual counties and regions. These smaller authorities manage Section 8 programs for rural and mid-sized areas. The Kentucky Housing Corporation maintains a directory of all public housing authorities in the state. Counties that do not have their own authority are often served by a regional authority or by one of the larger nearby agencies.

Eastern Kentucky includes several regional authorities. The Ashland Housing Authority serves Boyd County and parts of the surrounding region. The office is located at 1600 Greenup Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101, with phone number (606) 329-0575. Pikeville Housing Authority serves Pike County in the far eastern part of the state. Their office is at 185 Eagle Drive, Pikeville, KY 41501, phone (606) 437-6464. These eastern authorities manage vouchers for their specific counties.

Central Kentucky has several regional authorities beyond Lexington. The Frankfort Housing Authority serves Franklin County. Their office is located at 510 Washington Street, Frankfort, KY 40601, phone (502) 696-0607. The Danville Housing Authority serves Boyle County and surrounding areas. Their office is at 515 Federal Hill Drive, Danville, KY 40422, phone (859) 238-1556. These central Kentucky authorities manage programs for their specific service areas.

Western Kentucky counties outside Paducah's service area are served by various smaller authorities. The Hopkinsville Housing Authority serves Christian County. The office is at 400 East 9th Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240, phone (270) 887-4291. The Owensboro Housing Authority serves Daviess County. Their office is at 401 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301, phone (270) 684-8000. These western authorities each manage Section 8 for their specific regions.

Many rural Kentucky counties share a single regional authority that manages multiple counties. These regional arrangements help make the program work efficiently in areas with smaller populations. A person living in a rural county should contact their county's housing authority directly or check with their local county government office to find out which authority serves them.

Practical Takeaway: Smaller Kentucky counties are served by local or regional housing authorities. Finding the specific authority for your county helps you connect with the right office for your area. County government offices can help you identify which authority serves your location.

How to Find Your Local Housing Authority

Finding the housing authority that serves your area requires knowing your county and having a few resources available. The simplest way is to search online for your county name plus "housing authority." For example, searching "Jefferson County housing authority" will lead to Louisville Housing Authority. County government websites also list which housing authority serves their area. Most county clerk offices and county extension offices can provide the phone number and address of the local housing authority.

The Kentucky Housing Corporation website contains a complete directory of public housing authorities across the state. This directory lists all authorities by county. The website is a helpful resource for people who want to find information before calling. The HUD website also maintains a national directory of housing authorities. People can use HUD's search tool to find the authority for their specific county or area. The search tool requires entering a city or ZIP code, and it shows which authority serves that location.

If you live on the border between two counties, you may need to check which authority serves your specific address. Housing authorities serve defined geographic areas that may not always follow county lines exactly. Calling the authority for your county is the most direct way to confirm. They can tell you right away if they serve your address or if you need to contact a different authority.

Some housing authorities have satellite offices or community centers in addition