San Diego Housing Commission

1122 Broadway Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101

San Diego Housing Commission

Apply for government assistance programs

Error!

This account already has a linked application, only one application per account is eligible to be linked.

Congratulations!

You have successfully verified your email address. Please use your email address and password when signing into your account.

Congratulations!

You have successfully subscribed to receive waiting list alerts.

Congratulations!

You have successfully subscribed to receive waiting list alerts. Confirm your email to ensure smooth delivery!

Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher)

Status:
Program Type: Section 8 (HCV)
No. of Vouchers: 14,073

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, often referred to as Section 8, is the federal government's' primary program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants can choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and are not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

Search for affordable housing

Do you need to find a rental right now? Browse all AffordableHousing.com and San Diego Housing Commission 's properties on the map.

Rentals listed by property owners and managed by San Diego Housing Commission in this area

Search now to find all available rentals within the San Diego Housing Commission area:

  • rentals managed by San Diego Housing Commission
  • income-restricted rentals
  • rentals for Section 8 voucher holders
  • rentals listed by verified Trusted Owners
  • general affordable rentals in the local market

Government housing assistance FAQs

  • To begin, you'll need to create a profile on AffordableHousing.com. Then, you can use our common application to apply to multiple housing assistance programs and naturally occurring affordable housing listings across the country. This one-time application requires you to provide detailed information about your household, income, and current living situation. Our system will then keep you in the loop for any open waiting lists or available properties that match your criteria.

  • Our common application is a streamlined process designed to save you time and effort. Instead of filling out multiple applications for different housing programs and properties, you only complete one comprehensive form. This form is then used to apply for a variety of housing assistance programs and rental opportunities within our extensive network of over 700 housing agencies.

  • AffordableHousing.com has the most extensive inventory of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) online. These are properties that are priced at rates affordable to lower or moderate-income families but are not limited by waiting lists, meaning they are available immediately to the general marketplace.

  • Once your application is submitted, it moves from the applied to waiting status for housing assistance programs. For immediate rental listings, you'll be directly connected with landlords. Additionally, we will keep you informed about new housing opportunities as they arise, ensuring you don't miss out on any potential homes.

  • Wait times can vary significantly due to demand, available funding, and turnover rates in existing housing assistance programs. While some applicants may face extended wait times, our system is designed to alert you to new openings or programs, potentially reducing the time spent on waiting lists.

  • A Section 8 waiting list is used by your local Public Housing Agency (PHA) to manage the queue of applicants for housing choice vouchers, which are used to subsidize rent in the private market. Placement on this list means you're in line to receive a voucher as soon as one becomes available and you're deemed eligible.

  • While you are on a waiting list, make sure to keep your contact information and family details up to date with each housing agency you've applied to. Stay active on AffordableHousing.com to explore immediate rental opportunities and consider applying to multiple waiting lists if available, to maximize your chances of securing housing.

  • Some waiting lists have preferences or priorities that might apply to your situation, such as being a veteran, experiencing homelessness, or living in substandard housing. Ensure that you've provided complete and accurate information about such circumstances in your application to potentially move up the list more quickly.

  • Yes, you will be notified by the housing agency managing the waiting list when you reach the top. It is crucial to keep your contact information up to date to ensure you receive these notifications. Additionally, AffordableHousing.com will alert you about new housing opportunities that you may qualify for based on the preferences and information in your profile.

  • It's important to report any changes in your income or family situation to the housing agencies where you've applied as soon as possible. Changes can affect your eligibility or priority status on the waiting list.

  • A waiting list lottery and a first-come, first-served (FIFO) system with preferences are two different methods used to manage the placement of applicants on waiting lists for housing assistance.

    Waiting List Lottery:
    In a lottery system, once the application period closes, all applicants are randomly assigned a number, and this number determines their position on the waiting list. This approach is designed to give all applicants an equal chance of being selected regardless of when they applied during the application period. It's often used when there is a large number of applicants and limited resources available.

    First-Come, First-Served with Preferences:
    A first-come, first-served system prioritizes applicants based on the date and time their complete application was received. However, this system is modified by "preferences" which can move applicants up on the list. Preferences are typically given for urgent housing needs, such as homelessness, displacement by natural disaster, or to populations like veterans or the elderly. If you qualify for one or more preferences, you could be placed higher on the list, even if others applied before you.

    Both systems are used to manage waiting lists fairly, but they operate differently. A lottery is more random and does not consider when an application was submitted, whereas the FIFO with preferences system is more time-sensitive and structured to prioritize those with more urgent housing needs.

    Remember, AffordableHousing.com is here to support your journey towards securing affordable housing. If you have any more questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our customer support team.

Our programs

There are many ways that San Diego Housing Commission name provides assistance for people in need in our area. San Diego Housing Commission mostly administer housing programs funded by the U.S. Department of HUD, typically Federal Public Housing units and Section 8 Vouchers. PHAs may also administer state-funded programs as well as other programs funded locally. Explore more programs offered by San Diego Housing Commission on their website, which may not be listed listed here.

  • The Housing Choice Voucher Program, often referred to as Section 8, is the federal government's primary program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants can choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and are not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

    • Must be a family, elderly, disabled, or a single person meeting specific income guidelines based on family size and location.
    • Must have citizenship or eligible immigration status.
    • Must pass background checks for drug-related criminal activity and other criminal activity that could threaten the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents.
    • Must meet other criteria as set by the local housing authority.

    The Housing Agency calculates your subsidy based on 30% of your monthly adjusted income, covering the difference between this amount and the Payment Standard directly to the owner. Your share od rent may exceed 30% but not surpass 40% of your monthly adjusted income when moving to a new unit. After the initial lease term, the landlord may increase the rent, subject to a rent reasonableness test by the Housing Agency. Proposed rent amounts, Payment Standards, and Utility Allowances are subject to change, and the Housing Agency’s verified income determines your subsidy.

Other resources & information

  • Income Limits

    HUD sets income limits that determine eligibility for assisted housing programs including Public Housing, Section 8 project-based, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, Section 202 housing for the elderly, and Section 811 housing for persons with disabilities programs.

  • United Way

    United Way is a global nonprofit that partners with communities to address important social issues through collective efforts and philanthropy.

  • Fair Housing

    The Fair Housing Act, established in 1968, bans housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status in the United States. It ensures equal housing opportunities for everyone.

  • HUD Office of the Inspector General

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General safeguard HUD’s programs from fraud, waste, and abuse. They offer vital resources to thwart scams and fraudulent activities, including a fraud prevention hotline.

Secure your income as an affordable housing owner

San Diego Housing Commission and AffordableHousing.com have partnered to connect renters to government assistance programs and owners to reliable renters. As a property owner with San Diego Housing Commission, access renter applications and scores, manage leases and more AffordableHousing.com - your #1 affordable housing resource.

Steady income

Steady Income

Partnering with San Diego Housing Commission and AffordableHousing.com ensures reliable rental income, with San Diego Housing Commission guaranteeing a portion of the rent for consistent payments.

Steady income

Easy tenant selection

You have the freedom to select tenants just as you would in the private market. Select the best tenant using renter scores. This gives you control and flexibility in choosing responsible tenants.

Steady income

Understand market prices

If you're unsure how much rent to charge, get Rent Reasonableness reports with local comparables and price at market value.

Understanding rent determination for the Section 8 voucher program

The rent for Section 8 properties is determined by San Diego Housing Commission based on two primary factors: Rent Reasonableness and Voucher Eligibility.

Rent Reasonableness

This is calculated by comparing your unit with similar units in your locality.

Voucher Eligibility

Voucher Eligibility

This ensures that the rent is affordable for the tenant. Section 8 tenants shouldn't spend more than 40% of their income on rent and utilities.

Find out how much rent you can receive

Use our Market Rent Estimator

Enter your address and get an instant rent estimate. Use if you are considering participation in the Section 8 program.

Use Rent Estimator Use Rent Estimator
Add comparables

Share information about comparable rentals in your area to support your asking rent. Use during the rent determination process with your Housing Authority.

Add comparables Add comparables

Section 8 property owner FAQs

  • Accepting Section 8 vouchers can have several benefits for property owners, including:

    1. Guaranteed Rent Payments: The Housing Authority pays a portion of the tenant's rent directly to the property owner, so the property owner is guaranteed to receive a portion of the rent on time each month.
    2. Larger Pool of Potential Tenants: By accepting Section 8 vouchers, property owners have access to a larger pool of potential tenants, including low-income families, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities who may not be able to afford market-rate rents.
    3. Reduced Vacancy Rates: Since there is a high demand for affordable housing, property owners who accept Section 8 vouchers often have reduced vacancy rates.
    4. Lower Tenant Turnover: Tenants who receive Section 8 vouchers are often looking for long-term stable housing, so property owners who accept these vouchers may have lower turnover rates.
    5. Tax Credits: Property owners who accept Section 8 vouchers may be eligible for federal tax credits, which can help offset the costs associated with renting to low-income tenants.

  • When conducting inspections, the housing authority will follow a checklist like this one. Units are required to meet criteria like:

    1. An alternative exit in case of fire
    2. A cooking stove or range
    3. A kitchen sink with hot and cold running water
    4. A refrigerator that is of appropriate size for the unit
    5. Space for storage, food preparation, and serving
    6. Facilities and services for food waste disposal
    7. At least one window in living and sleeping rooms
    8. A working light fixture in the bathroom and kitchen
    9. At a minimum of two electric outlets in the kitchen, living room, and each bedroom
    10. Adequate air circulation
    11. Free from dangerous levels of sewer gas, carbon monoxide, dust, fuel gas, and other harmful air pollutants
    12. A flush toilet
    13. A fixed tub or shower with hot and cold running water
    14. A fixed basin with hot and cold running water
    15. A kitchen, living room, bathroom, and at least one bedroom or a living-sleeping room
    16. Screens on all exterior doors and windows that are accessible from the outside
    17. No serious defects, such as large holes, bulging or loose surface materials, on floors, ceilings, and walls
    18. A firm and weathertight roof

  • Voucher eligibility, found in every AffordableHousing.com premium pre-screening application, is determined by calculating the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The HAP is based on several factors, including family income, family size, and local housing agency payment standards (or local market conditions), the cost of utilities, your requested rent, and more.

    Below is a step-by-step explanation of how AffordableHousing.com displays HAP and Section 8 Voucher eligibility in the pre-screening application.

    Voucher Status: The pre-screening application clearly lets you know when an applicant has a Section 8 voucher. A section 8 logo will only appear next to applicants with vouchers.

    Voucher Size: Section 8 vouchers are bedroom specific. The voucher size represents the number of bedrooms the applicant is eligible for. In some circumstances a voucher holder can rent a property with more bedrooms than their allotted voucher size. However, the reverse is rarely true. The applicant’s renter score will take these factors into consideration. If an applicant is not eligible for your property because of a voucher/bedroom size mismatch, they will have a significantly lower renter score.

    Eligibility Determination: pre-screening applications use simple red, yellow, and green color codes to represent whether or not a voucher holder meets the necessary section 8 eligibility requirements to rent your property. It is important to note that eligibility requirements do not apply to lease renewals, they are relevant only to new leases.

    1. Green: your requested rent is below the maximum allowable rent for the applicant.
    2. Yellow: your requested rent is within 10% of the maximum allowable rent for the applicant.
    3. Red: your requested rent is greater than 10% of the maximum allowable rent for the applicant.

    Who Pays How Much: this section breaks down the Housing Agency's portion of the rent versus the prospective tenant’s portion of the rent. These amounts use your listings’ asking rent and information provided in the pre-screening application to determine the HAP, so they may vary from property to property and from applicant to applicant.

    Trying to understand if a voucher holder is eligible to lease your property can be a confusing and cumbersome process. Making this determination early in the leasing process is critical to saving owners time and headaches.

    1. List your property on AffordableHousing.com to have your listing syndicated to the suitable housing authority on your behalf. This platform ensures that Section 8 renters can easily discover your property listing online at affordablehousing.com.
    2. Reach out to your local housing authority to express your interest in joining the Section 8 program.
    3. Arrange a viewing of the rental unit with the Section 8 voucher holder and establish mutually agreeable terms for the lease.
    4. The rental rate needs to meet the criteria of reasonableness set by the Housing Authority.
    5. The housing authority will conduct an inspection of the unit to ensure it complies with the program’s standards and requirements.
    6. Complete a lease agreement with the Section 8 voucher holder and a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) agreement with the housing authority.

    Learn More

Get started now and list your property in just a few minutes!
List Your Property

Do you already have a listing? Earn confidence from renters and San Diego Housing Commission with a Trusted Owner badge! Apply now

Get started now and list your property in just a few minutes!

About the San Diego Housing Commission

San Diego Housing Commission provides stable, quality affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income families throughout the local community. Through the provision of public housing apartments and the management of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, San Diego Housing Commission serves more than 14073 low-income families and individuals, while supporting healthy communities.

Who we serve

Jurisdictions

  • Serving parts of San Diego County.

Contact us

Main office

1122 Broadway Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 231-9400

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, gender, and disability. The Fair Housing Act ensures that all persons receive equal housing opportunity. For more information about the Fair Housing Act and your rights, visit the Department of Housing and Urban Development.