Average waiting period for public housing in the U.S. 2023, by state

In 2023, the District of Columbia had the longest waiting period among other states to obtain public housing accommodation in the United States. The average waiting period in the District of Columbia was 191 months, much higher than the national average of 20 months. California followed, with a waiting period of 60 months. Hawaii and New Jersey were some other states with protracted waiting periods, all exceeding 40 months. Nebraska, Puerto Rico, and Iowa, also reported shorter waiting times, ranging from eight to nine months. Public housing in the U.S. is owned by local agencies, which receive allocations by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to build, operate, and improve the housing conditions.