The Orange County Housing Authority
(OCHA) is a division of the County’s Housing and Community
Services Department that administers rental assistance
programs throughout Orange County except the cities of
Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Those cities operate
their own city-wide rental assistance programs.
Housing Benefits
Currently, OCHA helps approximately 10,000
households pay their monthly rent through its "tenant based" programs.
Such programs allow income-qualified households to receive
rental assistance in a variety of apartments, houses,
and other rental dwellings owned by private landlords.
Funding for tenant-based rental assistance programs was
established by federal law, and is distributed from the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Local
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) like OCHA operate these
programs.
Eligible senior citizens, disabled persons, and families
receive a "Housing Choice Voucher" that can be used throughout
the United States. Participants select the rental unit;
a local PHA must inspect and approve the unit. The PHA
then enters into a contract with the owner and sends a
monthly Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) directly to
the owner. Assisted tenants pay the balance of the contract rent, which is based on their income.
If you own or manage rental property
– We need your help.
In addition to low-income households,
more than 3,800 owners or managers of rental properties
participate in rental assistance programs and have made
one or more units available. Any owner can participate
(although there are restrictions on renting to relatives)
and many find that the program offers great benefits including
low turnover, timely, dependable rental payments, direct
deposit, and free annual property inspections. Call us
to discuss the advantages of making your rental unit available
under the program.
More about Housing Choice Vouchers
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS establish a
subsidy amount for each participant based on 30% of their
adjusted monthly income, and number of persons residing
in the household. Assisted households can then shop for
rental units knowing in advance how much OCHA will pay
towards the rent. Participants will pay no less than 30%
of their adjusted monthly income as their share, and are
not allowed to pay more than 40% of their adjusted monthly
income towards the initial rent.
Confused? Here’s an example:
OCHA’s rental assistance is calculated from the PAYMENT
STANDARDS, which are based on the Housing Voucher bedroom
size, for which the family is eligible. OCHA’s current
PAYMENT STANDARDS are: (Note: restricted areas in south
county have higher payment standards)
OCHA’s PAYMENT STANDARD
Bedroom Size
0
1
2
3
4
Effective May 1, 2007
$1,103
$1,238
$1,485
$2,125
$2,441
WHAT TYPES OF HOUSING UNITS ARE
ELIGIBLE?
After receiving a Housing Voucher, participants
are able to shop for a variety of rental units in Orange
County, within the state or anywhere in the United States.
Most types of rental housing are eligible for the program,
including single-family homes, apartments, condominiums
or mobile homes. Housing for special needs might also
qualify. The landlord must agree to accept the conditions
of the Housing Choice Voucher program. Except for Reasonable
Accommodation for a disability, participants cannot rent
from relatives. Persons who own a mobile home and
rent the space may also be assisted.
Time Limit? Each Housing Voucher has a deadline date and
the family must find a rental unit and lease-up within this time limit.
Who is Eligible?
The Housing Voucher Program can assist households whose income is below 50% of the County's median income:
Elderly persons, i.e. 62 years or older
Disabled persons (for at least one year)
Families and individuals
Eligibility Limits for OCHA Housing
Choice Voucher Program
Use this calculation tool to see what your estimated rent will be once you qualify for the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program.
How can someone receive a Housing
Voucher?
Waiting List: Applicants generally submit a pre-application
for a Housing Choice Voucher and their name is placed
on the Waiting List. Preference on the Waiting List
is given to applicants residing or working in OCHA’s
jurisdiction (all cities in Orange County except:
Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana). Priority is
then given to families of U.S. Veterans or U.S. Servicemen,
working families, the elderly and disabled persons.
The Waiting List will be open for application in November 2005. Eligible households are encouraged to apply during November.
Special Programs: In addition to the Waiting List,
OCHA has a limited rental assistance that
is dedicated for special needs and programs, such
as Family Unification, and Shelter Plus Care. Persons
receiving these Vouchers or Certificates don’t have to be on the Waiting
List and are selected through the County’s Social
Services Agency or the County’s Health Care Agency.
These agencies have specific agreements with OCHA
to provide housing benefits to a specified number
of qualified clients who are referred through these
programs.
OCHA also operates a successful Family Self-Sufficiency
Program that currently has more than 300+ participants
and has graduated about 100 families that are now completely
independent of any government assistance.
Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA)
Housing and Community Services
1770 N. Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714) 480-2700
Rental Assistance
Section 8 Rental Assistance is now closed.
Homeless Prevention
Homeless Prevention centrally
coordinates the preservation and expansion of the County’s
Continuum of Care System for the homeless which focuses
on homeless prevention, outreach and assessment, emergency
shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, and
permanent supportive housing..
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