• What programs does the Housing Authority operate?
• How can I apply for assistance through the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach?
• Do you provide any emergency rental assistance?
• I'm already on the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 or HOPWA waiting list how long do I have to wait?
• I already have a Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 voucher but would like to use it to move to Long Beach. What do I do?
• I'm a property owner, how do I find out more about the program?

What programs does the Housing Authority operate?
The Housing Authority provides rental assistance to low-income Long Beach families. The largest program is the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) commonly known as Section 8. It assists over 6,000 Long Beach families with a rental subsidy in privately owned units. Additionally there is the Shelter Plus Care program designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for homeless persons with disabilites; the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program to assist households where one or more people are HIV positive or have AIDS and; the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Veterans Affairs.

The Housing Services bureau operates the first time homebuyer and down payment assistance programs for the city of Long Beach. For more information on the program please see contact information below.

Housing Services Bureau
Tel: (562) 570-6949
Fax: (562) 570-5921
First-Time Homebuyer Programs Hotline: (562) 570-6855

Website: http://www.longbeach.gov/cd/housing_services

How can I apply for assistance through the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach?
Both the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 and HOPWA programs have a waiting list. When the waiting lists for these programs are opened they will be advertised in local media outlets and on our website. Unfortunately we cannot notify you personally when the waiting list opens. Shelter Plus Care clients are referred by the Mental Health Association and the US Veterans Initiative and VASH clients are referred by the Veterans Administration Long Beach Hospital.

Do you provide any emergency rental assistance?
Unfortunately we offer only the programs listed above. However you may visit our website for the affordable housing listing at http://www.longbeach.gov/cd/housing/affordable_housing.asp. Each facility has its own waiting list so you may apply at as many as you like.

Also while our waiting list is closed you may check others in the metropolitan area for Section 8 and Public Housing:

County of Los Angeles website: http://www.lacdc.org/CDCWebsite/HA/Home.aspx

City of Los Angeles website: http://www.hacla.org/

For Los Angeles County Senior and Disabled Information: http://ltcconnection.lacounty.info/

Long Beach Senior Services Center
562 570-3533
1150 E. 4th Street
Long Beach, CA 90802

Emergency Housing:
The Multi-Service Center
1301 W. 12th Street (cross streets are Anaheim and Harbor)
Long Beach, CA
562 733-1147

I'm already on the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 or HOPWA waiting list how long do I have to wait?
Unfortunately we are unable to estimate when applicants will be pulled from the waiting list. If you wish to view your waiting list status or change your contact information you may do so by accessing the link below. Should you have any problems, you may contact HAwaitinglist@longbeach.gov

https://secure2.longbeach.gov/haonlinewaitlist/waitlistinfo.aspx

I already have a Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 voucher but would like to use it to move to Long Beach. What do I do?
We do accept transfers from participants who already have a tenant based voucher. Have your worker fax your file to 562-499-1054. When you transfer over to us, we will interview you to determine eligibility in our jurisdiction. You and other approved adult family members must be present for the interview and will need to bring all current income, id's, social security cards, bank statements etcetera. We will also run a criminal history check on all adult family members. The City of Long Beach Housing Authority only covers the City of Long Beach, California so you must lease up in Long Beach if you transfer to us.

When you transfer to our jurisdiction, you will be subject to our subsidy standards (the number of bedrooms you receive on the voucher). Our subsidy standards are 1 bedroom for every two people in the household, regardless of age or gender. If you are a single person, you will be issued a 1 bedroom voucher. You would have to have 3 family members in your household to qualify for a 2 bedroom. The payment standards are: $1,090 for a 1 bedroom and $1,361 for a 2 bedroom , 1,828 for a 3 bedroom, $2,199 for a 4 bedroom and $2,529 for a 5 bedroom. Any additional family members would have to be added to your case prior to your file being transferred to us.

Be aware that the payments standards are considered for the rent amount that the owner is asking AND the utilities that you, as the tenant, are paying. The housing authority will also determine if the rent amount the owner is asking is acceptable based on our rent reasonable database information. It can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 weeks to get the unit approved, once the RLA paperwork has been submitted to our office.

I'm a property owner, how do I find out more about the program?
The HACLB Housing Choice Voucher program assists over 6,000 families in the city of Long Beach. To meet the demand for housing we need good landlords and invite your participation.

Participants of the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 program typically pay between 30% - 40% of their adjusted income for rent while the housing authority via federal dollars from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) cover the difference between the approved contract rent and the tenant's rent payment. This guarantees that landlords will receive a portion of the rent on time each month.

By becoming our partner in the Housing Choice Voucher program you make it possible for low-income families to enjoy quality, affordable housing and in return owners enjoy:

• Stable payments
• Annual unit inspections
• Fair market rental rates
• On time monthly payments
• Enforceable renter obligations defined in the lease addendum
• Periodic owner newsletters