| WAITING LIST | STATUS | PREFERENCES FOR | ONLINE APPLICATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno Cunty Housing Authority | Open until further notice | No Preferences Confirmed | Apply now |
| Los Angeles Cunty Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Displaced, Homeless, Local | Visit website |
| Sacramento Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Displaced, Homeless, Veterans | Visit website |
| Oakland Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Homeless, Senior, Veterans, Local | Apply now |
| Merced County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | No Preferences Confirmed | Visit website |
| Chico Housing Authority | Open until further notice | No Preferences Confirmed | Apply now |
| San Joaquin County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Local | Visit website |
| Richmond Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Senior, Veterans, Local | Visit website |
| Kern County Housing Authority | Open until further notice | Senior, Veterans, Local | Apply Now |
FAQ
How long were Public Housing waiting lists kept open in California in the last few years?
Public Housing waiting lists in California were kept open an average of 387 days over the last three years.
Many waiting lists were kept open only a short time. In the last three years, 5.6% were open seven days or less and 0.9% 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 hard is it to get a Public Housing unit if I don’t currently live in the area the housing authority serves?
Some housing authorities have a preference for local residents in their waiting list placement. If you live outside the area you can get on the waiting list, but you will likely wait a long time before a unit becomes available, if at all.
Over the last three years, 31.5% of Public Housing waiting lists in California that opened had a preference for local residents.
To 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 83.6% 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 17.7% 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.
How long do households spend on a Public Housing waiting list in California before being offered a unit?
Households spend an average of 60 months on a waiting list before a unit becomes available for them in California.
Public Housing Waiting Lists 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 | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia |
| Michigan | Hawaii | Idaho | Montana |
| Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas |
| Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |