Section 8 in Lake Charles, LA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Lake Charles, LA metro area (CBSA 29340). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $601 | $541 – $661 |
| 1-bedroom | $664 | $598 – $730 |
| 2-bedroom | $871 | $784 – $958 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,201 | $1,081 – $1,321 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,461 | $1,315 – $1,607 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Lake Charles, LA covers up to $871 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $784–$958.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Lake Charles, LA
11 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF LAKE CHARLES
Lake Charles, LA · LA004 · 2,443 HCV units
- Status unknown
Calcasieu Parish Human Services Department
Lake Charles, LA · LA172 · 576 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Sulphur
Sulphur, LA · LA063 · 190 HCV units
- Status unknown
Jefferson Davis Parish Section 8
Jennings, LA · LA188 · 132 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Vinton
Vinton, LA · LA046 · 50 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Jennings
Jennings, LA · LA118 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Lake Arthur
Lake Arthur, LA · LA041 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of DeQuincy
Dequincy, LA · LA106 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Welsh
Welsh, LA · LA039 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Iowa
Iowa, LA · LA231 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Village of Fenton Housing Authority
Fenton, LA · LA261 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in LA
A local ordinance in this jurisdiction protects voucher holders from source-of-income discrimination, even though LA has no statewide protection.
New Orleans City Code · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Lake Charles, LA property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.