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IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE BEFORE COMPLETING THE PRE-APPLICATION FORM.

PRE-APPLICATION FOR THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ LOW INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM (LIPH ONLY) (Not Section 8)

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz administers several rental and housing assistance programs designed to assist income eligible households.  This pre-application form pertains to the County of Santa Cruz Low Income Public Housing Program (LIPH) only (not section 8).  You may also apply for any other programs the Housing Authority administers if the Waiting Lists for such programs are open.  For more information about how to apply for other programs administered by the Housing Authority, including the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, click here.

ABOUT THE LOW INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM (LIPH)Participants in the Low Income Public Housing Program (LIPH) rent a townhouse style apartment owned and managed by the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz.  Tenants pay rent directly to the Housing Authority.  Tenants have a choice of paying either an income based rent, which is equal to approximately 30% of their household income, or a fixed flat rent which is similar to market rent.  The housing assistance is tied to the public housing unit, so families in Low Income Public Housing must remain in one of the Housing Authority's public housing units to continue to participate in the program and receive housing assistance.

Waiting Lists have been established to provide households access to assistance in the order in which they place their name on a list.  The period of time a household must wait for assistance cannot be estimated.  Typically, families wait several years to reach the top of the waiting list.    

If you are interested in placing your name on the Low Income Public Housing (LIPH) waiting list, please complete a Pre-Application.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU COMPLETE A PRE-APPLICATION

1.   Your name will be placed on the Waiting List by the date the Housing Authority receives your completed Pre-Applications.

2.   You will receive a confirmation letter confirming that you have been placed on the Waiting List.  It may take up to five months before you receive this confirmation letter.  When you receive your confirmation letter, keep this letter for your records.

3.   Your wait for assistance may be long. We cannot predict when your name will reach the top of the Waiting List.  Once you have received your confirmation letter, you may not receive anything from the Housing Authority for a very long time.  Due to the volume of calls, the Housing Authority will not answer specific questions about your application or waiting list placement over the phone.  If, at any time, you request information about your place on the list, we will simply send you another copy of your original confirmation letter.  However, for general Waiting List information you may call our Waiting List Call Center at (831) 454-5950. 

4.  You must keep us informed, in writing, within thirty (30) days of any changes to your mailing address, household composition, or veteran status.  It is your responsibility to make sure the mailing address you give us is a reliable and secure one.  If, at any time, you do not respond to Housing Authority requests for information or appointments by the due dates established in those letters, or if at any time letters sent to you are returned to the Housing Authority as undeliverable, no further attempts to contact you will be made and your name will be removed from the Waiting List.  Additionally, it is your responsibility to keep the Housing Authority informed about your household composition and veteran status.  Each time an LIPH unit becomes available, the Housing Authority must fill the unit with a household of a size that is appropriate for the available unit.  Therefore, if you do not provide the Housing Authority with current information about your household composition and veteran status, you could be skipped when the right unit becomes available.

5.  When your name reaches the top of the Waiting List we will begin the process of determining your eligibility for participation in the program.  As part of that eligibility determination, the Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that we perform a sex offender check on all applicants.  Additionally, the Housing Authority will also perform a criminal background check, credit check, previous landlord reference check, and will visit your current residence to examine your housekeeping practices. However, program rules are subject to change at any time, and your eligibility will not be determined until you have reached the top of the list.  

6.   How to reach us – you may call the Waiting List Call Center at
      (831) 454-5950. 

If you need assistance completing this form, please contact the Waiting List Call Center at (831) 454-5950.

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