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

PRE-APPLICATION FOR THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM (SECTION 8 ONLY)

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 Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) of the county of Santa Cruz only.  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 administer by the Housing Authority, including Low Income Public Housing, click here.

ABOUT THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (SECTION 8) PROGRAM
Participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) are issued a Voucher.  Participants must locate a unit and negotiate the rent with a landlord who agrees to participate in the Section 8 program.  The Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord.  The participant pays the difference between the negotiated rent and the amount paid by the Housing Authority to the landlord.  This amount can (and in many cases does) exceed 30% of the household’s adjusted income.  

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.  The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) does not have any preferences on the basis of need, age, disability, or any other criteria. 

If you are interested in placing your name on the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Waiting List for the County of Santa Cruz, 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 Information Line at (831) 454-5950.  The Information Line will inform you of when the people who we are currently receiving full applications from, first placed their names on the Waiting List.  For example, if we are taking applications from people who applied in June 2004, and you applied in June 2007, you would know that you may still have a long wait for assistance.

4.  You must keep us informed, in writing, within thirty (30) days of any changes to your mailing address.  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.

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 may also perform a criminal background check or credit check.   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 Information Line at (831) 454-5950.  The Waiting List Information Line will inform you of when the people who we are currently receiving full applications from, first placed their names on the Waiting List. 

If you need assistance completing this form, please contact the Housing Authority Information Line at (831) 454-5950.

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