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1. WHAT IS SECTION 8?
The Section 8 Housing Program was
established by the 1974 Housing and
Community Development Act. It is the
principal U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) program for
assisting lower income persons to secure
decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The
Section 8 Existing Program includes both the
Certificate and Voucher Programs. Assistance
is provided to eligible households to be
used towards renting privately owned housing
within the City of Santa Monica. Program
participants pay approximately 30% of their
income towards rent and the Housing
Authority pays the remainder.
2. WHO CAN QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM?
The program is designed to assist low
income families consisting of two or more
people and single individuals who are
disabled, handicapped or over 62..
3. HOW MUCH CAN A HOUSEHOLD EARN AND STILL BE
ELIGIBLE?
Any household with an income less than
50% of the HUD determined median family
income for the Los Angeles County area is
potentially eligible to have their rent
subsidized under the program. The income
limits vary according to family size and are
as follows:
| |
Family Size |
Annual Income |
| |
1 Person |
$25,900 |
| |
2 Persons |
$29,600 |
| |
3 Persons |
$33,300 |
| |
4 Persons |
$37,000 |
| |
5 Persons |
$39,950 |
| |
6 Persons |
$42,900 |
| |
7 Persons |
$45,900 |
| |
8 Persons |
$48,850 |
(These limits are adjusted annually)4. ARE THERE PREFERENCES GIVEN BASED ON URGENT
NEED?
The Section 8 Program is not an emergency
housing program. However, if you have been
displaced under the Ellis Act and are
otherwise eligible for assistance, you will
be placed at the top of our waiting list.
5. HOW ARE THE RENT CONTRIBUTIONS DETERMINED?
The household's share of the rent will be
based on their income. In the Voucher
Program, the Housing Authority will
subsidize a standard amount based on income
and family size, and the household will pay
the difference. The income of all
participants will be verified annually.
6. WHAT DETERMINES THE SUBSIDY AMOUNT?
HUD annually sets maximum rents [i.e.
Payment Standard] on the Voucher Program for
different unit sizes in each housing market
area. The rent must meet a rent
reasonableness test for the area and unit
size. For the Voucher Program, the Payment
Standard is determined by the Housing
Authority. The tenant negotiates the rent
with the owner annually based on local rent
standards. The current maximum rents are:
| |
Unit Size |
Current Maximum Rent |
| |
0 Bedrooms |
$1,009 |
| |
1 Bedroom |
$1,352 |
| |
2 Bedrooms |
$1,843 |
| |
3 Bedrooms |
$2,411 |
| |
4 Bedrooms |
$2,411 |
7. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY
OF SANTA MONICA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND A PROPERTY
OWNER?
The City of Santa Monica Housing
Authority executes a Housing Assistance
Payments Contract with the owner after
approval of the lease and determining, by
inspection, that the unit complies with
housing quality standards. Other terms and
conditions of the program are specified in
the contract.
The owner is responsible for tenant
selection and rent collection. The Housing
Authority administers the program and
determines tenant eligibility, issues
Certificates of Participation and Vouchers,
approves leases, and verifies the units
suitability.
8. WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING IS ELIGIBLE?
Any existing rental housing in the
incorporated areas of Santa Monica may be
eligible for the program (single family
houses, townhouses or apartments) provided
that the units conform to housing quality
standards. Owner occupied units are not
eligible.
9. HOW CAN A HOUSEHOLD APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?
Please note that the Housing Authority of the
City of Santa Monica – Section 8 program is closed
and not accepting applications. Our waiting list was
open: July 24 – August 14, 2006. Due to proposed,
on-going federal budget cuts to discretionary
program like Section 8, we do not anticipate opening
our waiting list again in the foreseeable future.
However existing tenants can and do move from one
unit to another so that the program is not static in
nature.
Additionally neither the current Administration
nor Congress is anticipated to add vouchers to the
Section 8 programs in the foreseeable future. You
may contact our office periodically to check the
status of this application process.
10. SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS)
is a HUD mandated, voluntary program
designed to assist Section 8 participants in
achieving economic independence from
government assistance and a living wage
within five years. The FSS program offers
education, job training and employment,
child care, transportation assistance and
other services for all members of
participating Section 8 families. FSS
participants develop an Action Plan with St.
Joseph Center staff "service coordinators"
to achieve specific goals and objectives
leading to self sufficiency. SMHA offers a
financial incentive to save money for FSS
participants who increase their earned
income and successfully complete the program
by contributing to an Escrow/Savings Account
in the participant's name for any increase
in wages earned.
The Shelter Plus Care Program,
a demonstration project funded by HUD
(McKinney Homeless Assistance Act) and the
City of Santa Monica, began in 1994 as a
partnership between the Housing Authority
and local homeless service agencies. Shelter
Plus Care was developed to link housing with
supportive services for homeless persons
with disabilities (eg. Mental illness,
substance abuse, AIDS). Shelter Plus care
provides Section 8 rental assistance and
supportive services to 130 program
participants. The City contracts with Ocean
Park Community Center, Step Up on Second and
St. Joseph Center to provide case
management, housing assistance and
coordination of other necessary community
services. There is currently a waiting list
for this program.
For Further Information,
Contact
Section 8/Housing Authority
This page was last modified on
01/30/2008
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