| WAITING LIST | STATUS | PREFERENCES FOR | ONLINE APPLICATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Displaced, Homeless, Veterans | Visit website |
| Sonoma County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | No Preferences Confirmed | Apply now |
| Orange County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Employed, Displaced, Homeless, Veterans | Visit website |
| Riverside County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Senior, Veterans | Apply now |
| Redding Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Senior, Desplaced, Local | Apply now |
| Benicia Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Employed,Displaced, Disabled, Veterans, Local | Visit website |
| Kings County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Disabled, Senior, Veterans | Apply now |
| Encinitas Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Employed, Disabled, Senior, Veterans, Local | Apply now |
| San Diego County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Employed, Disabled, Homeless, Senior, Families with Children, Local | Apply Now |
FAQ
How long were HCV waiting lists kept open in California in the last few years?
Section 8 HCV waiting lists in California were kept open an average of 465 days over the last three years.
Many waiting lists were kept open only a short time. In the last three years, 9.2% were open seven days or less and 3.1% were open for only one day (or a few hours) . This means that it is important for low-income renters to apply right away when they find an open waiting list.How many HCV waiting lists were open in California in the last few years?
During the last three years, there were 65 HCV waiting lists open for at least a day in California.
What extent do housing authorities in California increase access with online applications?
Online applications make it easier for low-income renters to apply for open waiting lists, especially when applying to different communities or when waiting lists are only kept open a short time.
Online applications were used for 69.2% of waiting list applications in in California over the last three years.
How fair is waiting list placement in California?
Random lotteries were used by 44.6% of housing authorities in California to place applicants on their waiting lists over the last three years.
Applicants placed at the bottom of a waiting list may wait up to two or three years before being offered a voucher. Placing applicants on a waiting list using a random lottery gives everyone a fair chance to be near the top of the list.
Many housing authorities place applicants according to the date and time of their submission. Applicants who apply later will have a long wait for assistance, which is especially unfair in cases where waiting lists are kept open just few days or less.
Is there an application fee for Section 8 waiting lists?
It is against HUD policy for an agency to charge for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher application. If anyone is charging a fee for an application, they are either violating federal law, or a scammer with an empty promise. Do not pay for an application.Why are there Section 8 waiting lists?
Like most low income housing programs, renters are placed on a waiting list to get a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher because there is a very high demand for vouchers, and a limited supply. Waiting lists for a Section 8 voucher also tend to be longer than those for other housing programs because renters can live in an apartment or house of their choice. Most of the other rental housing programs require the household to live in a pre-determined apartment.Section 8 Waiting List Openings By State
Aside from planned openings, numerous waiting lists are active nationwide indefinitely. Explore the availability of waiting list openings in each state below.| Alabama | Arizona | California | Florida |
| Illinois | Louisiana | Maryland | Michigan |
| New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Pennsylvania |
| Texas | Virginia |