Rental Assistance Programs

ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY (OCHA)

Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) is the division of OC Community Services Department that administers rental assistance programs throughout Orange County except in the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Those cities operate their own city-wide rental assistance programs.

Currently, OCHA assists currently 11,000 income-qualified households who receive monthly rental assistance in a variety of apartments, houses, and other rental dwellings owned by private landlords. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides the funding for housing assistance programs administered by OCHA.

Eligible senior citizens, disabled persons, and families either apply on the waiting list or are referred through one of OCHA's Special Housing Programs. Participants select the rental unit; OCHA must inspect and approve the unit, enter into a contract with the owner and send directly to the owner a monthly Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Assisted tenants pay the balance of the contract rent, which is based on their income.

Property Owners & Landlords

In addition to low-income households, more than 4,000 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 our Owner Hotline (714) 480-2866 to discuss the advantages of making your rental unit available for this program.

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 allowed to pay up to 40% of their adjusted monthly income towards the initial rent.

OCHA's rental assistance is calculated from 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 Standards

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.

Each Housing Voucher has a deadline date and the family must find a rental unit and lease-up within this time limit.

Eligibility Guidlines

The Housing Choice Voucher Program can assist households whose income is below 50% of Orange County's median income:

• Elderly persons, i.e. 62 years or older
• Disabled persons (for at least one year)
• Families and individuals

How do I apply for a Housing Voucher?

1. Waiting List:

   During the open enrollment period, persons who want to apply must submit a pre-application for a Housing Choice Voucher and their name is placed on a waiting list. Applicants are placed on the list based on local preferences they may qualify for. Those applicants living or working within OCHA's jurisdiction (all cities in Orange County except: Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana) are given a Member Preference. Priority is then given to U.S. Servicemen and Veterans or, then elderly and/or disabled persons, and working families.
   
   2012 Waiting List

   The open period to submit pre-applications for rental assistance at the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) is closed.  If you submitted a pre-application between February 15, 2012 and February 29, 2012, you can expect to receive a letter and/or e-mail from OCHA by the end of July 2012.  The letter will confirm your place on the waiting list and provide you with an approximate wait time.  For a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), please click here.

   If you have changes in address or other circumstances, please submit a “Waiting List Change Form” to OCHA. To download this form, please click here. The form is also available at www.ochousing.org under the “Documents and Forms” heading or at the OCHA office located at 1770 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92706

2. Special Programs with targeted funding:

   In addition to the Housing Choice Voucher Program, OCHA has a limited number of Housing Vouchers or Certificates that are reserved for special needs and targeted programs, such as Family Unification, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Non-Elderly Disabled and Shelter Plus Care. Persons receiving these Vouchers or Certificates are selected through the County's Social Services Agency, the Long Beach Veterans Affairs office, Dayle McIntosh Center or the County's Health Care Agency. These agencies have specific agreements with OCHA to provide housing benefits to qualified clients who are receiving specific supportive services, and are referred to OCHA by case managers. OCHA also operates a successful Family Self-Sufficiency Program that currently has more than 250 participants and has graduated over 200 families who achieved independence from government assistance.

Orange County Housing Authority
Information Line (714) 480-2740