How Long Do I Wait
For the Housing Choice Voucher Program
How long is the wait for assistance?
There are approximately 40,000 families on the waiting list at this time. The waiting list is currently closed. Funding will not allow all of the families on the waiting list to be assisted. The Housing Authority has money for about 8,100 families. Once all funding has been expended, families can only be added when a family that is being assisted is terminated from the program. The wait may be about one year and six months or longer for families that meet all of the waiting list preferences listed below and are on the list now. The waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) was closed as of 7/01/2008, so new applications are not being accepted for that program.
Am I eligible to be assisted soon?
Because of the shortage of funding, ranking or preferences have been set up to assist those who are the most needy and the least likely to be able to improve their situations in the short term. The preferences are as follows:
WAITING LIST PREFERENCES
The HA has implemented the following preferences for drawing names from the waiting list. In accordance with California State Law, at each level of preferences, veterans and/or active duty servicemen and their spouse or widower will have priority.
The Housing Authority will release families to result in a lease up of:
75% of the families will be at or below 30% of the median income (extremely low income), and 25% of the families will be between 30% and 50% of the median income (very low income).
The release will be in accordance with Federal Regulations. A family must meet both of the characteristics of a “Level of Preference”. If the First Level of Preference releases do not satisfy the regulations regarding extremely low income families, releases will be done at the second Level of Preference and then to the Third Level of Preference until the 75% extremely low income requirement is met.
FIRST LEVEL of Preference
Characteristic:
- County of Riverside Residency Preference, including homeless, and
- Working Families with minor or dependent children or Elderly Families or Disabled Families (A family where the Head of Household or Spouse is disabled as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
What age is considered Elderly?
62 years of age or older
How many hours per week must a qualified family member work to be considered a working family?
32 hours per week (see “what does working family mean?” listed below for more information)
What are the 30% income limits? See column 2
What are the Section 8 income limits? See column 3
Riverside County Maximum Gross Income Limits
Effective 03/10/2008
|
Family Members
|
Extremely Low Income Limits(30% of median)
|
Very Low Income limits (50% of median)
|
Low Income Limits (80% of median)
|
|
in household
|
Annual
|
Monthly
|
Annual
|
Monthly
|
Annual
|
Monthly
|
|
1
|
$14,000
|
$1,167
|
$23,300
|
$1,942
|
$37,300
|
$3,108
|
|
2
|
$16,000
|
$1,333
|
$26,650
|
$2,221
|
$42,650
|
$3,554
|
|
3
|
$18,000
|
$1,500
|
$29,950
|
$2,496
|
$47,950
|
$3,996
|
|
4
|
$20,000
|
$1,667
|
$33,300
|
$2,775
|
$53,300
|
$4,442
|
|
5
|
$21,600
|
$1,800
|
$35,950
|
$2,996
|
$57,550
|
$4,796
|
|
6
|
$23,200
|
$1,933
|
$38,650
|
$3,221
|
$61,850
|
$5,154
|
|
7
|
$24,800
|
$2,067
|
$41,300
|
$3,442
|
$66,100
|
$5,508
|
|
8
|
$26,400
|
$2,200
|
$43,950
|
$3,663
|
$70,350
|
$5,863
|
|
9
|
$28,000
|
$2,333
|
$46,600
|
$3,883
|
$74,600
|
$6,217
|
|
10
|
$29,600
|
$2,467
|
$49,300
|
$4,108
|
$78,900
|
$6,575
|
|
11
|
$31,200
|
$2,600
|
$51,950
|
$4,329
|
$83,150
|
$6,929
|
|
12
|
$32,800
|
$2,733
|
$54,600
|
$4,550
|
$87,400
|
$7,283
|
|
13
|
$34,400
|
$2,867
|
$57,300
|
$4,775
|
$91,700
|
$7,642
|
|
14
|
$36,000
|
$3,000
|
$59,950
|
$4,996
|
$95,950
|
$7,996
|
What does homeless mean?
”Homeless” means a family lives in a park or in a car or stays at a temporary shelter or that a homeless program is providing assistance in a motel.
What does working family mean?
To be considered a "Working family with minor or dependent children" for the purpose of meeting the waiting list preference the head of household or spouse or sole member is employed and is working at least 32 hours per week at California minimum wage or higher for the last 60 days, or receiving State Disability or Workman’s Compensation in lieu of earnings provided that the person was employed and working at least 32 hours per week at California minimum wage for 60 days prior to receiving State Disability or Workman’s Compensation. To be considered an "Elderly family" for the purpose of meeting the waiting list preference the head of household or spouse must be 62 years of age or older. To be considered a "Disabled family" for the purpose of meeting the waiting list preference the head of household or spouse must meet HUD's definition of disability.
What if I don’t meet the preferences?
If your situation does not match the requirements, the wait for assistance could be very long. If your circumstances change, it is your responsibility to report the change to the Housing Authority so your waiting list registration can be updated. You must meet all of the categories at the time your name is drawn from the waiting list and be able to provide verification. You can report changes in your family situation by completing a waiting list change form.
I am interested in obtaining employment, are there any programs available in the area to assist me?
The Workforce Development Centers provide education, job training and employment programs, services, and information to help with employment preparation needs. You may find out more about their services and locations using the following link to access their website: http://www.rivcojobs.com/jobseekers/ (you will be leaving the website for the Housing Authority).