Renters can apply to most open low-income apartment waiting lists in the country. You do not have to live in the area to apply to most waiting lists, but there are some with restrictions. There are also some apartments with a housing program that is restricted for certain populations. If the apartment or waiting list is restricted, it means that the housing agency is targeting a specific demographic (such as elderly applicants), and documentation or a reference may be required to apply.
However, even if a waiting list is available to the general public, applicants who do not live in the area should check if there are preferences. Preferences give qualified applicants priority placement on the waiting list. And one of the most common preferences is for local residents. This means that non-local applicants may have a very long wait for a voucher, or may not get a voucher at all because of the local demand.
