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Rental Assistance Programs

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Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program provides monthly rental assistance payments to private landlords on behalf of low-income families who have been determined eligible by the Housing Authority. The program's objective is to assist low-income families by providing rental assistance so that families may lease safe, decent, and sanitary housing units in private rental market. The program is designed to allow families to move without the loss of housing assistance. Moves are permissible as long as the family notifies the Housing Authority ahead of time, terminates its existing lease within the lease provisions, and finds acceptable alternate housing. FAQ's on the Housing Choice Voucher Program in English Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ's) on the Housing Choice Voucher Program in Spanish (en Español) Section 8 Project-Based Program The Section 8 Project-Based program is a component of the Housing Choice Voucher program. The program's objective is to induce property owners to make standard housing available to low-income families at rents within the program limits. In return, the Housing Authority enters into a contract with the owner that guarantees a certain level of rents. There are 14 different Project-Based properties for up to 419 units throughout the county. Under the Project-Based program, the assistance is tied to the unit. A family who moves from the Project-Based unit does not have any right to continued housing assistance. Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program The purpose of the Moderate Rehab program is to assist very low-income families in obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary housing in privately owned, rehabilitated units. Owners agree to rehabilitate properties to meet certain safety and sanitation standards. In return, the Housing Authority enters into a contract with the owner and sets the rents based on the cost of owning, managing, maintaining, and rehabilitating the property. There is one Moderate Rehabilitation property with 130 units in San Mateo County. Under the Moderate Rehabilitation program, the assistance is tied to the unit. A family who moves from the Moderate Rehabilitation unit does not have any right to continued housing assistance. Shelter Plus Care Program The Shelter Plus Care Program provides rental assistance that, when combined with supportive services, provides housing to homeless people with disabilities, primarily those with serious illness, chronic problems with alcohol and/or drugs, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or related diseases. The goals of the Shelter Plus Care Program are to assist the participants to achieve residential stability, to increase their skill levels and/or income, and to be involved in making decisions that affect their lives. Supportive Housing The Supportive Housing Program provides rental assistance that, as part of Continuum of Care strategy, promotes the development of housing and supportive services to assist homeless persons with disabilities in the transition from streets and shelters to permanent housing. The goal of this program is to use housing as a vehicle to engage participants into support services, remain engaged with services, and gradually move into mainstream health and other service systems, that will result in greater self-determination and sufficiency.