Can you have a criminal conviction and qualify for section 8 housing?

A criminal conviction does not necessarily disqualify you from a voucher, except two types for federal regulations: any violent or drug offenses within the past five years; any offense for which one must register as a sex offender in his state; and the manufacturing of methamphetamine in a public housing unit or assisted under the program. However, every Housing Authority has its own rules on what criminal convictions can disqualify you from the program, including the types of offenses and the age of the conviction.