Rental Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

The Section 8 Waiting List for the City of Pasadena is now CLOSED for applications. Applications were accepted from June 1, 2023-June 15, 2023.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8) helps low-income families, elderly persons, veterans and disabled individuals afford housing in the private market. The Section 8 program is financed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Program participants can choose any eligible housing unit, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, with rent partially covered by a subsidy paid directly to the landlord.

Other Rental Assistance Programs
  • Project-Based Housing Choice Voucher Program
  • VASH Vouchers
  • Non-Elderly Disabled Vouchers
  • Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA)
  • Continuum of Care Rental Assistance

SECTION 8 - GETTING STARTED

To begin your journey with the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (aka Section 8), it's important to understand the eligibility requirements and application process to determine if you qualify for assistance.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for assistance an applicant must meet HUD's criteria as well as any permissible additional criteria established by the City of Pasadena's Housing Department.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, applicant household’s total gross annual income must be at or below the very low-income limit for the household size for the application year.

The City of Pasadena applies the following preferences to determine selection from the waiting list:

  • People who live or work in the City of Pasadena
  • Veterans
  • People with disabilities
  • People experiencing homelessness

These eligibility requirements are explained in Chapter 2 - Eligibility For Admission

For the CoPHD's additional criteria for eligibility, see Section G in Chapter 2 - "Other Criteria for Admission".

The family's initial eligibility for placement on the waiting list will be made in accordance with the eligibility factors. Compliance with the eligibility factors will not be verified before the family is placed on the waiting list. Evidence of Citizenship/Eligible Immigrant Status will not be verified until the family is selected from the waiting list for issuance of a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), unless the CoPHD has determined that such eligibility is in question, regardless of whether or not the family is at or near the top of the waiting list.

How do I apply?

Families who wish to apply for the CoPHD 's Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) must apply during open enrollment. The CoPHD will review different intake methods to determine the most effective method. The CoPHD enrollment process will be in English, Spanish and other languages specific to the general population. During the open enrollment process, families may request a reasonable accommodation to facilitate the enrollment process.

Applicants will be required to provide information on the family composition, income, and local preferences to complete their enrollment. Once the open enrollment process has been completed and the applicants have met the preliminary eligibility requirements, their name will be placed on the waiting list. The information provided will be the basis for the family’s placement on the waiting list. Providing false, incomplete or inaccurate information will be grounds for denial of placement on the waiting list and/or disqualification of application.

View Chapter 3 - Applying for Admission

CoPHD will accept online applications for the waiting list during the next enrollment period.

Applications will only be available online and can be submitted online only at www.cityofpasadena.net/housing.

Applicants must have a valid email address to complete the application and must keep that email address active during the time they remain on the waiting list. Each application submitted must have a unique email address. Duplicate applications are not permitted.

SECTION 8 DOCUMENTS

Public Notices

currently not available

Income Limits

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is required by law to set income limits that determine eligibility for HUD’s assisted housing programs including the rental assistance programs administered by the City of Pasadena Department of Housing. Income limits are published annually and are based on HUD estimates of median family income in a particular area, with adjustments for family size.

Income limits are used for eligibility only at admission. Eligibility is established by comparing a family’s annual income with HUD’s published income limits. When you apply, the Department of Housing will help determine if you or your family are income eligible.

View Current Income and Rent Limits

Rental Assistance Payment Standards

Payment Standards are the maximum rent subsidy amounts paid to landlords on behalf of a household under the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). They cap how much assistance the housing authority can contribute toward the rent for an approved unit.

Following guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), the City of Pasadena has adopted zip code specific payment standards based on the Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) calculated by HUD for the city of Pasadena.

Current Rental Assistance Payment Standards

Utility Allowance Schedule

A Utility Allowance Schedule is an official chart used by Pasadena Department of Housing to estimate reasonable monthly utility costs for different types of rental housing. It ensures that housing assistance calculations fairly account for tenant-paid utilities when determining affordability and subsidy levels.

Downloadable Forms And Handouts

SECTION 8 TENANT RESOURCES

Section 8 - Waiting List Lottery Eligibility

Interested households must apply online during the open waiting list period. Applications may be submitted using computer, smart-phone, or internet-connected tablet.

Section 8 Vouchers allow the voucher holder to select a rental unit of their choice that meets the acceptable level of health and safety standards and is approved by the CoPHD. The household will pay approximately 30% of its monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities, with the CoPHD paying the difference based on the payment standard for the area. If the rent exceeds the area standard, the family must pay the additional amount, up to 40% of their monthly income.

Submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the waiting list. The CoPHD will only be able to accept 7,500 applications. If more than 7,500 applications are submitted, a random computerized selection process along with the CoPHD waiting list preferences will be used to determine which applications get accepted to the waiting list and the order in which the applications are placed. The date and time of application submission does not increase the likelihood of being selected for the waiting list. After the lottery takes place, an email will be sent to all applicants regarding the outcome of the application submitted with instructions for the selected applicants regarding where to check their application status.

Section 8 Waiting List Lottery

Section 8 - Waiting List Lottery Results

The Section 8 Waiting List for the City of Pasadena is now CLOSED for applications. Applications were accepted from June 1, 2023-June 15, 2023.

If you applied for Section 8 with the City of Pasadena between June 1, 20023 and June 15, 2023, your application was included in a lottery to select 7,500 applications to place on the waiting list. The lottery was conducted on August 15, 2023.

All applicants received an email after 5 pm on August 15, 2023 notifying whether or not their application had been selected for the Section 8 Waiting List Lottery.  There are no appeals to the lottery process.

Section 8 Waiting List Lottery

Section 8 - Rent Calculator

How To Figure Out What You Pay In Rent

The City of Pasadena Housing Department (CoPHD) Rent Calculator tool will help you determine if a unit is affordable based on your income and the unit rent and utilities. You will need to have the Rent Estimate form which was given to you at the time the voucher was issued, along with details related to unit (rent amount, utilities pay by tenant, & appliances provided by tenant).

The amount of subsidy you are eligible for is based on your family circumstances, unit selected, and payment standard. The CoPHD verified your family circumstances before issuing the voucher. However, if you experience a change in your circumstances or the information is outdated, the information will need to be re-verified and re-calculated.

Section 8 - Rent Calculator

SECTION 8 LANDLORD RESOURCES

Rent Your Property - Landlord Registration

Thank you for your interest in renting your property to the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) for the City of Pasadena. Please fill out the form below and we will respond to get you started.

Landlord Registration - Housing Choice Voucher Program
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