About Section 8 Housing in Sacramento, California
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees the Housing Choice Voucher--formerly Section 8--in Sacramento, California. HUD requires that public housing agencies (PHAs) manage local housing programs. The Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) administers Sacramento's subsidized housing programs and other affordable housing projects. The Housing Choice Voucher program pays a rental subsidy on behalf of low-income, disabled or elderly residents, according to HUD.
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Significance
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In the United States, many people need some form of rental assistance. In 2003, 1.3 million disabled adults, 3.6 million children and 1.6 million elderly individuals required assistance with meeting monthly rental obligations, according to data collected by HUD. At least 4,367 people experience homelessness in Sacramento in a given year. Seventy-four percent of the Sacramento homeless have at least one disability and 300 are children, according to data released by the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance. The scarcity of affordable housing contributes to homelessness in Sacramento, reports the Community Services Planning Council. The SHRA offers programs for first-time home buyers and renters, according to the agency's website.
Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency
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Sacramento County and the city of Sacramento created the SHRA to manage redevelopment and to serve as the housing authority. The organization controls the Housing Authority for the City of Sacramento and the Housing Authority for the County of Sacramento, which manage public housing and other affordable housing projects. In June 2010, the SHRA owned 3,500 affordable housing units and administered 11,000 rental subsidy vouchers monthly.
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Qualification Factors
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Generally, a family's household income may not exceed 50 percent of the median income of Sacramento, according to HUD. American citizens and specific non-citizens may apply. Qualification requirements are based on several factors, including family composition, income and household assets.
Application Process
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The Sacramento housing agency requires the completion of a pre-application. The process helps determine a family's eligibility. If a family is eligible, it is placed on a waiting list, unless housing is immediately available, according to HUD. Families must provide information about income, preferential status--homeless or involuntarily displaced, for example--and assets. When the process is complete, the housing agency issues a voucher and allows the family three months to locate housing.
Benefits
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Participation in housing programs provides Sacramento residents an opportunity to build a strong financial foundation and enter the housing market as owners. In addition to the HCV program, the Sacramento housing agency offers a first-time home buyer program that transitions low-income families into home ownership.
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References
- Photo Credit house image by Anton Chernenko from Fotolia.com
