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Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development

Waiting Lists

Learn more about Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development.

Closed: Santa Monica, California Section 8 HCV

The Santa Monica Housing Authority (SMHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed. It was last open for one day in January 2017, and before that for two days in August 2011.


To apply during the opening period, applicants were required to complete the online application.


This waiting list has the following preferences: Displaced from housing in Santa Monica due to the Ellis Act, owner-occupancy, code enforcement, disaster, or domestic violence; live or work in Santa Monica; veteran; elderly; disabled; employed full time; families with minor children; rent burdened.


Applicants were placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.


For more information, visit the SMHA website, or call the office at (310) 458-8743.

Last Updated on 01/31/2017.

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About Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development

1901 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA | Visit Website | (310) 458-8743

Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development provides affordable housing for up to 1,182 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program..

Housing Authority Jurisdiction

Low-income housing managed by Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development is located in Santa Monica, CA.

Households with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher managed by this housing authority must rent within its jurisdiction.

About the Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development manages 1,339 active Housing Choice Vouchers.

The following table summarizes types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2021:

Standard Tenant Protection Ported Out VASH
Vouchers 1,089 222 4 24
Monthly Cost Per Voucher $1,250 $1,195 $1,087 $1,004
Monthly Cost $1,361,607 $265,299 $4,346 $24,092
Waiting List and Tenancy

According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 5% having issued approximately 203 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 12 years and 10 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 20 months on the waiting list1.

Income Characteristics

According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 1.5 persons and has a household income of $15,850 per year. 95% of households were very low income (VLI) and 79% were extremely low income (ELI). 16% of households had wages as a major source of income, 4% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 80% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.

Heads of Household Characteristics

-1% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 18% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 21% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 61% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 9% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.

12% of households included children, 1% of which had two adults in the household. 11% of households with children have a female head of household. 69% of all households were headed by a female.

40% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 21% of all heads of households being Black and 0% being Hispanic.

Of all households participating in the Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development Housing Choice Voucher program, 51% include at least one person with a disability. 52% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 82% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.

Bedroom Size and Overhousing

60% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 34% with 2 bedrooms and 6% with 3 or more bedrooms. 10% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.

Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances

The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Santa Monica Housing and Economic Development voucher holders in 2016 was $425 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $1,220. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $46.

1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.