Frequently Asked Questions

Section 8 is a federally funded and locally administered program that provides monthly rental assistance to eligible families.

The Department administers Housing Choice, Voucher, and Moderate Rehabilitation Programs. In addition, the Department also administers a Public Housing Program. These programs provide monthly rental assistance towards the rent of eligible participants. The amount of rental assistance is based on the family size and the income of the participants.

The Housing Agency does not screen families for their suitability as renters. This is a responsibility of the property owner. However, the current address and name of landlord, as well as the previous address and the name of the previous landlord may be requested by the prospective landlord.

Yes, a family may use its own lease agreement. However, a lease addendum containing HUD proscriptions and federal provisions will also be required.

A unit must pass a housing quality standard inspection and the rent must be reasonable. These two requirements are necessary for health and safety reasons and to make sure that rents families are paying are consistent with program rents. The unit inspection checklist can be viewed in our website library or by clicking here.

The purpose is to ensure that rents are similar with unassisted rents in the community, and to make sure that Section 8 participants are not being charged more than non participants.

The property owner is allowed to charge a reasonable security deposit in accordance with State and local laws.

Every rental assistance unit must be inspected by the Housing Authority at least once a year. The inspections are necessary for health and safety reasons. The unit inspection checklist can be viewed in our website library or by clicking here.

The property owner may request adjustments at the expiration of the lease terms. However, the rent must be similar with unassisted rents in the community. Notice must be given before rent is raised. Contact HCD before making any adjustments.

The owner may terminate the lease unilaterally only if the tenant violates the terms of the lease, or for another good cause. The owner and the tenant can mutually decide to terminate the lease at any time

The owner must contact the Housing Agency prior to the sale of the property. The contract and lease terminate upon sale of the property. However, the Housing Agency and the new owner may transfer the Housing Assistance Payments Contract to provide uninterrupted rental assistance payments.

A written contract provided by the Housing Agency is needed. This a program requirement and the purpose of the contract is to legally provide housing assistance payments on behalf of an eligible family.

The contract rent is the total amount of rent that the Housing Authority authorizes as reasonable for a unit occupied by a family receiving assistance.

You can call (858) 694-4801 or toll free at (877) 478-LIST to ask for information about the program.

You may submit an application for rental assistance by calling (858) 694-4801 or toll free at (877) 478-LIST and providing the Housing Authority with family and income information. You will then be placed on the waiting list.  You can also apply online and update your application by visiting our online Waiting List Application.  You need to have Adobe Reader on your computer to use the online waiting list. 

The wait for rental assistance after a family is placed on the waiting list is usually between 4-7 years.

The rent may be increased after the expiration of the initial lease term. However, a rent increase cannot be processed unless an advance 60-day notice is provided to the tenant and the Housing Authority. Also, the increased rent must always be similar to like unassisted rents in the community.

The process is simple. A landlord with an available rental unit receives a rental application from an eligible Section 8 participant. The landlord screens this applicant like any other applicant and decides to approve the application. The Section 8 participant then gives the landlord a packet of forms to complete. These forms are mailed back to the Housing Authority and the landlord is contacted regarding the inspection of the rental unit once the Housing Authority determines the proposed unit meets program requirements.

The payment will start either the date the unit passes inspection or the date the family will be moving into the unit ? whichever is later. Assistance will never start before the unit passes inspection and a lease and contract must be executed before a payment can be issued.

The first HAP for a newly approved unit is issued approximately two weeks after all paperwork has been processed. Thereafter, the HAP is mailed or electronically deposited on the first of the month. The landlord should contact the Housing Authority if a payment is not received by the tenth working day of the month.

The landlord must notify the Housing Authority and the tenant of owner changes as soon as possible in order for future payments to be issued correctly. The landlord should promptly mail or fax written notice of any changes. Changes in ownership or property management must be accompanied by a list of the affected assisted tenants and proof of the change such as a copy of the grant deed, the closing escrow settlement documents, or the new property management contract. After a request has been properly submitted, the changes will be processed.

The preservation of existing affordable housing is primarily accomplished through a home repair program.  The Home Repair Loan Program is offered to qualified applicants who own and occupy their single-family home or mobile home. 

The program generally addresses a health and safety related items, ranging from minor repairs to substantial repair of roofs, heating, electrical, or plumbing systems. A low interest deferred loan is utilized to serve the repair of single-family homes or mobile homes in the eligible target areas of the county.

The residential rehabilitation programs are available throughout the unincorporated areas of San Diego County, i.e., those areas not within a city, as well as the cities of Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach. In addition, the city of Encinitas contract with the County to administer their residential rehabilitation program.

For the Home Repair Loan Program (i.e., owner occupied single-family residences and mobile homes), the following applies:

• Household income must be below eighty percent (80%) of San Diego area median income (AMI), as determined by household size. (i.e., for a family of four: $55,200).
• Assistance is provided through a low-interest deferred loan of up $25,000 for a single-family residence ($20,000 City of Encinitas) and $8,000 for a mobile home ($7,500 City of Encinitas).
• Deferred loans are offered to qualifying applicants. If you qualify for this loan, you can borrow funds at three percent (3%) simple interest, which is calculated annually on the unpaid principal only. The loan is due and payable when your property changes title through sale, transfer, or death, or when you no longer reside in the residence or in 30 years, whichever comes first.

For the Home Repair Loan Program, call (858) 694-4825.

The County?s density bonus programs allow for increases in the number of dwellings that may be built on a property. A developer who wishes to take advantage of a density bonus may be allowed to increase the total number of units over what would otherwise be allowed, provided that a certain percentage of the total number of the additional units are reserved for low- and moderate-income households. The required number of affordable units varies according to the program under which the proposed project falls. The County has four programs that can be utilized by developers to increase the density of their projects.

You may view more information on these program here.

The Expedited Permit Processing for Lower-income Housing Developments (Policy A-68) expedites the processing of permits and other clearances required by the County prior to construction or rehabilitation of a housing development to be occupied in whole or in part by lower-income households.

For affordable multi-family rental developments, the Department of Housing and Community Development administers, coordinates, or provides a conduit for several programs.

Tax-exempt Multi-family Housing Revenue Bond Programallows the County issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds and the proceeds of the bond sales are used to finance the construction and permanent financing for rental housing developments. At a minimum, the borrower can elect to reserve either 20% of the total units at affordable rents for households at or below 50% of AMI or 40% of the total units at affordable rents for households earning 60% or less of AMI.

Tax Credits for Low-income Rental Housing Programprovides tax credits for owners and investors of low-income rental housing. Applications for funding for this program are through the State's Tax Credit Allocation Committee. As with the tax-exempt bond financing program, there are minimum occupancy and rental rate restrictions for developments receiving federal tax credits. The developer may choose two options for the setting-aside units at affordable rental rates: 20% of the total units for households of 50% or less of area median income; or, 40% of the total units for households of 60% or less of area median income. To be competitive in the statewide application process for the limited supply of tax-credits, it may be necessary to increase the amount of set-aside units above the minimum requirements.

*AMI figures can be viewed here

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program provides funds to local governments based on a formula to implement local housing strategies designed to increase the supply of housing for persons with incomes at or below eighty (80%) percent of the Area Median Income. These funds are then available in the form of low-interest loans to nonprofit and for-profit developers of affordable housing.

Eligible activities include: property acquisition, rehabilitation, site improvements, assistance to homebuyers (including assistance with down payment and closing costs), new construction, relocation, and special needs tenant based rental assistance.

HOME funds are available through the County's Notice of Funding Availability. Eligible applicants include non-profit housing developers, for-profit housing developers, other non-profit organizations, Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO)--as recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development--and private for-profit developers.

The Mobile-home Occupant Assistance Program provides low-cost, deferred loans for low-income households who want to participate in a resident purchase of their mobile-home park.

The mobile-home park's resident association applies to the County on behalf of the low-income household. The loan is provided to the resident organization, which provides a loan to the low-income household. The deferred loan is made at a fixed, 3% annual simple interest. Resident ownership can take the form of condominiums, cooperatives, limited equity cooperatives, planned unit developments, long term leases, and mutual benefit corporations.

Eligible activities include public improvements (such as parks, streets, community centers, drainage structures, etc.), housing development, residential rehabilitation, economic development and public services which directly relate to housing or physical community revitalization.

Specific areas targeted for CDBG funding are termed Neighborhood Revitalization Areas. These are located within the six participating cities, Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach, and within the unincorporated portion of San Diego County, in the communities of Casa De Oro, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Lincoln Acres, Ramona, Spring Valley, and in the eastern part of County, termed the Rural Development Area.

Projects must meet one of three CDBG National Objectives, namely benefit low and moderate income persons, eliminate slums and blight or address a matter of particular urgency.

With regard to benefit to low and moderate income persons, a project must benefit a geographic area, or serve a limited clientele, that is predominantly low and moderate income. A low and moderate income person is defined by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a member of a household whose total household income falls below 80% of the regional median. However, certain groups of persons, including abused children, battered spouses, elderly, disabled, homeless, illiterate, and farm workers, are "presumed" to be lower income.

With regard to the CDBG National Objective of the elimination of slums, a study must be conducted of a defined area, and a determination made, with concurrence by HUD, that the area is blighted.

A matter of urgency, the third CDBG National Objective, is reserved for major disasters such as floods or earthquakes, where the urgent condition has not existed for less than 18 months and no other funds are available to address the condition.

In September of each year, CDBG staff schedule community meetings to provide technical assistance to communities and consortium/participating cities, County departments, residents and community organizations on how to apply for CDBG funding. The topics covered include, but are not limited to, eligibility, procedures, and dates for submittal. A CDBG application is also handed out at that time.

By the end of October all applications for the next funding cycle must be received. Preliminary staff recommendations regarding funding are made to the County Board of Supervisors by March of the following year.  The Board of Supervisors reviews recommendations, receives public input, and makes final recommendations by the end of April or early in May.  Projects awarded funds must be ready to proceed in July.  Projects may then be implemented, assuming a contract has been executed between the County of San Diego and the sub recipient.

All projects funded with CDBG funds require:

Environmental Processing: All CDBG Projects must be processed though California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements before commitment of any CDBG funds.  This work is conducted by County staff.

CDBG Implementation Agreements: CDBG funded projects require execution of a standard County/Sub-recipient Implementation agreement.

Competitive Bidding: Agencies implementing CDBG projects must obtain competitive bids or estimates for all materials purchased and work to be accomplished by contractors and sub-contractors.