What to Know About Applying for Section 8 Housing in California

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Applying for federally-assisted housing is easy with this guide

Co-authored by Lahaina Araneta, JD and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: December 20, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Qualifying
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• Applying to Section 8
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• Applying for Public Housing
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• FAQs
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• Video
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips

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Section 8 is a federal program that helps people pay their rent. If approved, you receive a voucher that the state’s housing authority pays directly to your landlord. But demand for vouchers is heavy in California, and wait times in higher population areas like Los Angeles can be up to 4 years. We're here with everything you need to know about applying, including how you might be able to move up the waiting list.

How do I get approved for Section 8 in California?

To be approved for Section 8 Housing in California, certify your income through the housing authority where you want to live. If you’re approved, you’ll be placed on a waiting list. When you reach the top of that list, you’ll be given a voucher that pays for some or all of your rent at approved locations.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Qualifying for Section 8

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1. 1
   Calculate your household’s income. Section 8 is an income-based program, but the income requirements vary based on where you live. To qualify, you need to have an income lower than your area’s median income for a family of your size. To find your total income, add up all of the money your family brings in, including:

   • Wages
   • Tips
   • Overtime
   • Commissions
   • Retirement income
   • Pension
   • Social Security benefits
   • Workers’ compensation benefits
   • Unemployment benefits
   • Child support
   • Alimony
   • Welfare assistance
2. 2
   Compare your income to your area’s median. The median is the midpoint—half of all people will have income above this point and half will have income below. You can find your median here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#year2024 If you make less than the median income, you’ll be placed into one of three categories:

   • Low Income: You earn 80% or less of your area’s median income.
   • Very Low Income: You earn 50% or less of the area’s median income.
   • Extremely Low Income: You earn 30% or less of the area’s median income.
   • By law, 75% of all vouchers are given to people in the Extremely Low Income category. The rest generally go to people in the Very Low category.
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3. 3
   Check for additional requirements with your local housing authority. The additional requirements to qualify for Section 8 can vary by location, so visit the website for your local housing authority to learn whether you qualify. These additional requirements may include:

   • Immigration status. The Section 8 program is limited to U.S. citizens and certain categories of non-citizens with eligible immigration status. If your family has ineligible immigrants, then your benefit amount will be reduced provided you qualify.
   • Disqualifying evictions. To qualify for a Section 8 voucher, you cannot have been evicted from any Section 8 program (or public housing) for drug-related criminal activity within the past three years. The clock starts from the date of the eviction.
   • Other requirements. Your housing authority may have other requirements.
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Section 2 of 4:

Applying to the Section 8 Program

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1. 1
   Apply with the housing authority where you plan to live. Check the California housing authority website for a list of local housing authority locations and choose the one for the place you want to find housing. For example, you might live in Alameda right now but want to move to San Diego. In that situation, you’ll apply to the San Diego housing authority.

   • There are also 106 housing authorities in California that offer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
2. 2
   Apply for housing during an open application period. Demand for Section 8 is high in many California cities and counties, and some local housing authorities only accept Section 8 applications during certain times of the year. Check the housing authority’s website to find out when applications are accepted.

   • You should also see instructions on how to apply—you may be able to apply online or you may need to send in a paper application.
   • The application is where you’ll provide information about your family and your income.
3. 3
   Be prepared to wait for a decision and housing. After receiving your application, the housing authority will verify the information with your employer, bank, and other local agencies. Based on these results, they will then determine your eligibility and how much assistance you qualify for. The approval process can take several months.

   • Keep in mind that if you are determined to be eligible, you probably won’t get housing right away—your name will likely go on a waiting list. Depending on where you live, it can take months or even years to move to the top of the waiting list.
   • Even if you meet the eligibility requirements, there’s no guarantee you’ll get on the waiting list—the housing authority can close the list if it gets too long.
   • If you do get on the waiting list, the housing authority will contact you once they reach your name. Because you might be waiting a long time, always keep your contact information updated with the housing authority.
   • Once a voucher is available, the housing authority must re-confirm that you qualify.
4. 4
   Contact the housing authority if you’re in urgent need of housing. Because waiting lists are so long, the housing authority sometimes moves people up the list due to a need for immediate housing. Contact the housing authority to see if you can be moved up the list if you’re in a situation like:

   • Your family is homeless or currently living in substandard housing
   • Your family pays more than 50% of its income in rent
   • Your family has been displaced involuntarily
5. 5
   Read the details of your voucher once you get it. Once you’ve moved up the waiting list, your housing authority will let you know how much your voucher is for and what sized unit you can rent. Generally, you’ll pay 30% of your monthly adjusted gross income for utilities and rent.

   • For example, if your monthly income is $1,000, you will need to pay $300 in rent and utilities. However, you might have to pay more, depending on your circumstances.
6. 6
   Find a landlord who will accept your voucher. As a recipient, you can rent any home on the market so long as it meets certain safety conditions. The landlord also must agree to rent to you—a landlord is not required to rent to someone with a Section 8 voucher.

   • Your housing authority might have a list of apartment buildings that regularly rent to section 8 recipients and which have passed the inspection. Ask if any list is available.
   • You can also use HUD’s affordable apartment search engine.
   • When you find a place, you must reach an agreement to rent with the landlord and then contact the local housing authority to inspect the home.
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Section 3 of 4:

Applying for Public Housing Instead

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1. 1
   Distinguish public housing from Section 8. HUD also runs some public housing. With a voucher, you rent from a private landlord who is paid by HUD, but with public housing, you rent directly from your local housing authority.

   • Public housing might be a good option for housing if your Section 8 waiting list is too long.
2. 2
   Check with the public housing department to see if you’re eligible. Your eligibility will be based on a variety of factors, such as income and family size. Factors such as any criminal history will also be considered. Talk to your housing authority about whether you qualify.

   • If you can’t reach the housing authority, contact your local HUD Field Office. They should be able to help.
3. 3
   Submit an application and documentation to the housing authority. Your housing authority representative will need to collect information from you during the application process. For example, you must provide the following:

   • Names of everyone who will live in the unit, including their date of birth, sex, and relationship to the head of household. You should have birth certificates.
   • Your current address and telephone number.
   • Names and addresses of your current and prior landlords.
   • Expected family income for the next 12 months. You may need to show a recent tax return.
   • Names of employers, banks, and others the housing authority can contact as references. #*Any circumstances that might qualify you to leapfrog others on the waiting list. For example, you might be a veteran, homeless, or living in substandard housing.
4. 4
   Check if you qualify for a preference. Because each housing authority has a limited budget, they can move people up the waiting list. You should ask the housing authority if they have preferences. For example, Los Angeles awards preference to families with a head of household who is:

   • Working at least 20 hours a week at the state minimum wage.
   • Attending an accredited college or trade/vocational school full-time, and is expected to find employment after graduation.
   • Working and attending school for at least 20 hours a week combined.
   • Otherwise economically self-sufficient.
   • Disabled or 62 years older.
5. 5
   Wait for your approval letter. It may take a few weeks, but once your application has been processed, you’ll receive written notification of the results. If you are denied, you can request an informal hearing as an appeal.

   • If you’re eligible, then your name will go on a waiting list unless the housing authority has a spot available for you.
6. 6
   Use the HUD’s website or your approval letter to determine your rent. HUD will calculate your rent by taking your gross annual income less certain deductions. Annual income is all income you and your family receive from all sources. If you have undocumented migrants in your household, you will pay more (since they are ineligible). You will need to pay the highest of any of the following amounts:

   • 30% of your adjusted monthly income (minus allowed deductions)
   • 10% of your monthly income
   • Minimum rent: $25–50
   • Welfare rent, if applicable
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Section 4 of 4:

FAQs

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1. 1
   How do you qualify for Section 8 in California? To qualify for Section 8 housing in California, you’ll need to show that your family’s income is significantly less than the median income for the area where you want to live.
2. 2
   How long does it take to get approved for Section 8 in California? It can take months to be approved for Section 8 housing. Then, once you’re approved, you’ll usually be placed on a waiting list. It can take months or even years to move up the waiting list for housing.
3. 3
   What’s the fastest way to get Section 8 housing in California? Wait lists in California can be really long. You may be able to move up the list faster if you can demonstrate an urgent need for housing. You might also get into housing faster if you apply in an area with lower demand.
4. 4
   Can anyone get Section 8? To get approved for Section 8, you need to meet certain income requirements. There may also be additional requirements, like not having been evicted from Section 8 housing for drug-related offenses.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Is the housing voucher program currently accepting application in California?

  

  Lahaina Araneta, JD
  Attorney at Law

  Lahaina Araneta, Esq. is an Immigration Attorney for Orange County, California with over 6 years of experience. She received her JD from Loyola Law School in 2012. In law school, she participated in the immigrant justice practicum and served as a volunteer with several nonprofit agencies.

  

  Lahaina Araneta, JD

  Attorney at Law

  Expert Answer

  Yes, the housing voucher program in California is currently accepting applications.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  Senior living in san diego with kidney failure income of 48500/ year could I get rent help?

  

  Lahaina Araneta, JD
  Attorney at Law

  Lahaina Araneta, Esq. is an Immigration Attorney for Orange County, California with over 6 years of experience. She received her JD from Loyola Law School in 2012. In law school, she participated in the immigrant justice practicum and served as a volunteer with several nonprofit agencies.

  

  Lahaina Araneta, JD

  Attorney at Law

  Expert Answer

  This depends, what are your financial obligations? Your income is definitely on the higher end.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Tips

• To increase your likelihood of getting a voucher, you can apply to as many housing authorities as you want. You are not limited to the housing authority for the city or county where you currently live. However, you must rent in the area where you get a housing voucher. Accordingly, don’t apply for Section 8 unless you can live in the area.
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