Understanding Housing Choice Voucher Acceptance in North Texas

Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) are one of the most effective tools available to help families with low incomes find and afford stable housing on the open market. Research from the Moving to Opportunity study found that when a young child uses a voucher to move to a low-poverty neighborhood, their lifetime earnings rise by ~$302K.

But a voucher only works if a landlord will accept it. In Texas, landlords are not required to accept vouchers. They can turn away an applicant for using one, even if that applicant meets every other screening requirement. This limits where voucher holders can live, and it means many families may never get the full benefit of their voucher.

To better understand voucher acceptance across North Texas, we surveyed 340 apartment complexes across seven counties in summer 2026. Only 16.5% (56) reported accepting vouchers, or about 1 in 6. When we measure by rental units instead of complexes, the acceptance rate drops to 13.4%, or ~11,500 of ~86,100 surveyed units.

We hope these findings help landlords, housing authorities, policymakers, and advocates work together to expand voucher acceptance, so more North Texas families can choose where they live.