Section 8 in South Bend, IN: FMR & Landlord Guide
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area (CBSA 43780). 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) | $775 | $698 – $853 |
| 1-bedroom | $906 | $815 – $997 |
| 2-bedroom | $993 | $894 – $1,092 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,272 | $1,145 – $1,399 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,666 | $1,499 – $1,833 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in South Bend, IN covers up to $993 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $894–$1,092.
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 South Bend, IN
3 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of South Bend
South Bend, IN · IN015 · 2,468 HCV units
- Status unknown
St. Joseph County Housing Authority
North Liberty, IN · IN100 · 243 HCV units
- Status unknown
Dowagiac Housing Commission
Dowagiac, MI · MI120 · 132 HCV units
Source-of-income law in IN
IN state law explicitly preempts local ordinances requiring voucher acceptance. Landlords may legally decline Section 8 tenants.
IC 36-1-24 · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific South Bend, IN 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.