Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly known as Section 8) provides assistance to very low-income individuals and families to enable them to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private rental housing market. In Sacramento, the HCV program for the City and County of Sacramento (including all incorporated cities in the County) is operated by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) acting as the Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento. The HCV program includes both Tenant Based Vouchers and the Project Based Vouchers.

For information on how to apply click here.

Tenant Based Vouchers – this program provides housing assistance on behalf of the family or individual and participants are free to choose any housing unit in the County where the owner agrees to rent under the program and that meets program requirements, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The housing subsidy is paid to the private landlord directly by SHRA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

Project Based Vouchers – This program provides housing assistance at specific privately owned affordable housing communities.

For regular updates about wait list openings/closings or changes, follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter.

For information regarding the local policies that govern the HCV program, please go here for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan and Five-Year Plan and other related financial documents.

Finding Housing Using Your Voucher Workshop

This workshop will help voucher holders understand how to be rent ready, how to ensure a unit is affordable and what rent reasonableness is, understanding the application process, and the RFTA/inspection process. This training is open to all voucher holders, but may be mandatory for some voucher extension requests. The workshop will take on every other Monday at 2:30pm.

HCV Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Listed below are FAQs related to the HCV Program for those interested in applying for assistance through the HCV program. If you are already on the waiting list or already have a voucher, please refer to the FAQ located in the “Resident Resources” section of the website. If you have already applied but do not yet have a voucher, contact us at 916-440-1390 for additional assistance.

Are the wait lists currently open?

The Housing Authority manages 12 different wait lists, which open and close based on availability and other factors.

For current information on status of open and closed wait lists, please refer to www.sacwaitlist.com.

How can I apply for assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 Program?

Apply online at www.sacwaitlist.com using any device with internet access and an email address. There is no charge to apply. Information can be translated in multiple languages directly on the website. Or, you may submit a request for assistance or for a paper application by clicking here. For reasonable accommodation, please call 916-440-1390 | TTY 711 or 1 (800) 855-7100.

How can I be notified when the wait list is open?
Waiting list opening notices will be posted on SHRA’s website, Facebook and Twitter as well as in the local media including the local newspaper. We encourage you to monitor our website or to follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter.

After I apply, how long should I expect to be on the waiting list?
Once you have been added, the length of time spent on the waiting lists depends on multiple factors such as when the application was submitted and on the number of preference points the family or individual has. Preference points are based on factors such as:
• if you are a resident or work in Sacramento County,
• if someone in your household is disabled,
• if you are rent burdened (the amount of rent you currently pay compared to income),
• if you or a family member is a veteran,
• if you are homeless.
For more information on the preference system, refer to the current HCV Administrative Plan at this link.
The frequency and volume of applicants selected from each of the waiting lists varies as well depending on the number of families exiting the program, making way for new program participants. The best way to ensure that you are selected as quickly as possible is to sign up for all waiting lists for which you qualify and are interested. Due to the fact that the waiting lists are constantly changing as discussed above, we are unable to provide you with your exact position on the waiting list.

Can anyone apply to be on the wait list?

Everyone has an equal opportunity to apply for housing, and U.S. citizenship is not a requirement to submit an application.

If an applicant is placed on the wait list (one of the 7,000 that will be randomly selected), once they are contacted for a housing opportunity, they will be asked to provide up to date information that will assist in verifying their eligibility to receiving housing assistance. At least one family member listed on the application must be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant to be eligible to receive a voucher.

How do I update my information once I am on the waiting list?
In order to maintain your status on the waiting lists and so that staff can reach you if you are selected, you must notify SHRA in writing within 30 days of any changes to your household, such as:
• a change of address,
• addition or removal of household members,
• an increase or decrease in income.
• change of email address or phone number.

To update your information, visit sacwaitlist.com.

During a recent open wait list period, I was contacted by an entity who said they could help me with my application by paying for a credit check. Is that a normal part of your process?
No, it is not. There is never a fee to apply. Please do not provide any money or provide any personal information to any organization that may contact you.

If I was removed or denied from the waiting list, what can I do to appeal the denial or the removal?
If the application is denied for cause (ie. did not meet eligibility or preference requirements), families may appeal the decision by requesting an Informal Review or hearing. The process for requesting an Informal Review is written on the letter denying the application. If the family was removed from the waitlist for failing to respond, there is no right to an informal review, however, the family may request to be reinstated due to extenuating circumstances. Please contact staff regarding the documentation and proof required to receive this type of reinstatement.

What if I have a criminal conviction on my record? Am I able to receive housing assistance?
As part of the application, staff will run a background check on members of the household listed on the application over the age of 18. If there are convictions related to drugs, fraudulent or violent criminal activity that took place within the past three years, it may lead to further review of your application. An individualized review of mitigating circumstances will be conducted before a decision is made. If the application is still denied after individualized review, this decision can be appealed by requesting an Informal Review.

Does my prior rental history and credit status impact my eligibility?
As the HCV program works with landlords in the private rental market, each landlord has different screening guidelines and standards. Rental and credit history are evaluated by the landlords and may impact your ability to obtain assistance.

Do I need to be a citizen to receive housing assistance?

Everyone has an equal opportunity to apply for housing, and U.S. citizenship is not a requirement to submit an application.

What are the income limits to qualify for HCV housing?
A: The maximum allowable income to qualify for HCV is listed below.

Family Size	Income Limit
1	$41,300
2	$47,150
3	$53,050
4	$58,950
5	$63,650
6	$68,400
7	$73,100
8	$77,850
9	$82,550
10	$87,250
11	$92,000
12	$96,700

The full table is available HERE

What is a “reasonable accommodation”?
A “reasonable accommodation” is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from SHRA’s housing programs. The reasonable accommodation process applies to both applicants and program participants and determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. A reasonable accommodation must first be requested, preferably in writing, before it can be considered and both the disability and the need for an accommodation must be verified.

Can a request for a reasonable accommodation be denied?
Yes. A request for a reasonable accommodation may be denied if:

there is no disability-related need for the accommodation;
the accommodation is not reasonable;
it would impose an undue financial, operational or administrative burden on the Housing Authority;
there is an alternative available other than the requested accommodation;
the disability is not verified.

SHRA’s reasonable accommodation policy can be found at this link under the Public Housing Agency Plans and Reports tab in the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan document.

For more information about the Housing Choice Voucher program, contact the Customer Service line at (916) 440-1390. You may also send a fax to us at (916) 449-1285, or use our drop box located outside our office building at 630 I Street, Sacramento, near the entrance to our parking lot on 7th Street. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are open by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:15 am to 4:45 pm. If you have an in-person appointment, please come to our office at 630 I Street.

Are you an Applicant? Do you need help with…

to Apply to a Waiting List
Intake Housing Choice Voucher paper application already submitted
a Change of Income
a Change of Household
to request a Voucher Extension
Reasonable Accommodation
Other