Housing Authority of the County of Alameda (HACA)

Housing Choice Voucher & Project-Based-Voucher Wait Lists are opening April 2, 2024

The wait lists will open at 8 am on April 2 and will close at 11:59 pm on April 5, 2024. Starting on April 2, online applications will be available 24 hours a day at the Housing Authority’s website www.haca.net by clicking “apply now”. Applications are available in English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The Housing Authority has made provisions for the elderly,the disabled, and those with limited English to receive assistance through“Community Partners” or to pick up a printed application at the Housing Authority’s office at 22941 Atherton Street in Hayward. The website has more information about Community Partners on its website.

The Housing Authority serves the following cities: Albany,Emeryville, Castro Valley, Dublin Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Pleasanton, SanLeandro, San Lorenzo, Union City and unincorporated areas within the County.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (often referred to as “Section 8”) is tenant-based rental assistance. HACA will use a lottery to select 5,000 applicants for the Housing Choice Voucher wait list.

HCV rent is based on 30% of the household’s monthly adjusted income.  The voucher holder finds a landlord who is willing to rent a house or apartment that is within the Housing Authority’s Payment Standard and meets the Housing Authority’s inspection standards. Voucher holders are permitted to transfer their rental assistance anywhere in the US where there is a public housing authority.

Income eligibility for the HCV program is 50% of AMI.Maximum annual income by household size ranges from $51,800 for a household of1 person to $121,300 for a household of 12 people. Voucher size, i.e. the number of bedrooms the voucher holder is entitled to, is determined by HUDoccupancy standards.

The Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program provides rental assistance in a specific unit at a property that is owned by HACA. Like the HCV program, people with Project-Based Voucher assistance pay rent based on 30% of the household’s monthly income. However, PBV assistance cannot be taken from unit to unit because it is held by the property. When a tenant moves out, the assistance goes to the next tenant who occupies the unit.

Unlike the HCV wait list, the PBV wait list is only open for 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom Vouchers. HACA will choose 3000 applicants for the three-bedroom Vouchers: 1,500 households with “Very Low Incomes” and 1,500households with “Extremely Low Incomes”. HACA will also choose 3,000 applicants for the four-bedroom Vouchers: 1,500 households with “Very Low Incomes” and1,500 households with “Extremely Low Incomes”. Income limits by household size are posted in the announcement on the HACA website.

To be considered for either type of Voucher, the following requirements must be met:

· Head of Household must be 18 years old or an emancipated minor at the time of application

· At least one person in the household must be a US citizen or have eligible immigration status. (These households are referred to as“blended families” and the rental subsidy is proportional to the number of people in the household who are citizens or eligible immigrants).

· The following individuals are not eligible for voucher assistance, both as head of household and as a member of a family: