How to Apply for the Section 8 Wait List in Los Angeles When It Opens

Please Note: If you are reading this article after October 29, 2017, this waiting list is now closed.

This waiting list has been announced to open in October of this year. Information on how to apply can be found here.

Last week, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) announced that it has begun planning to open its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting list after the current list is exhausted “in early 2018.” Here are the steps on how to apply once it opens:

1. Decide if you would like to live in Los Angeles, California.This program allows persons to receive rental assistance within the city limits of Los Angeles. This is not to be confused with the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles Section 8 program.
2. Verify that you meet the income qualification.All waiting lists have a required income limit for qualification. The income limits for this waiting list are:

3. Determine if you are eligible for any preferences.Preferences give applicants of certain demographics (such as elderly, disabled and homeless) priority placement on the waiting list. This waiting list has the following preferences: Live, work, or have been hired to work within the City of Los Angeles; and applicants who are veterans or have a household member who is a veteran of the US military, released from such military service under conditions other than dishonorable.
4. Have or create an email account.An email account is usually required to apply to an online waiting list, and is an important factor of keeping your household’s information up to date and checking your status on the waiting list. If you do not have an email account, create one for free with trusted providers such as Google.
5. Visit Affordable Housing Online’s page for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles.
6. Click the online application link.
7. Enter required household information.Almost all waiting lists require the following information for all household members: Name, Social Security Number, date of birth, income, housing history, criminal history, and preferences (if applicable).
8. Submit application after completion.All required sections of the application must be completed to qualify for assistance. If required sections are not completed, you will not be able to submit the online application.
9. Write down important information given after submission is confirmed.A confirmation number will be given after submitting the application. It is important to keep a record of this, and any other important information given after applying in a safe, easy to access place.

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is a federal low income housing assistance program that helps eligible renters pay a percentage of their income (usually 30%) for rent. The HACLA manages the Section 8 program for the City of Los Angeles, and voucher holders may live in a unit of their choice within the city limits that meets inspection requirements and Voucher Payment Standards. Persons can apply from anywhere in the country. More information about the Section 8 HCV program can be found here.

This waiting list will be open for two weeks, but no specific date has been provided yet because the housing authority has just begun its planning phase. Goals set by the HACLA during the planning phase include developing an online application form, providing outreach so all applicants have equal access to applications, and training other local organizations to provide assistance to applicants.

It is expected by the HACLA that more than 600,000 people will apply. Applying to the waiting list does not guarantee that the household will receive rental assistance.

Once the application period ends, 20,000 applicants will be placed on the waiting list by random lottery. The 2017 HACLA Section 8 Administrative Plan identifies preferences for this waiting list, but it will not be known if those same preferences will be applied for this opening until its 2018 plan is published later this year.

The HACLA will provide more information about this waiting list opening in the third quarter of 2017. We will keep an eye on this opening, and update our website when more information becomes available. Information will be updated on this blog and our Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles page.

Get Alerted When This Wait Lists Opens

Don’t miss your opportunity to apply to this opening by signing up for our Free Waiting List Alerts! You will receive email alerts for waiting list openings and closings in the states you select, as well as occasional tips for finding affordable housing. To receive alerts for this waiting list, check the box titled “California.”