If you meet income and other eligibility guidelines, you can apply for a Section 8 housing voucher to help pay your rent in a private apartment. Your portion of the rent is based on a percentage of your household income (starting with 30 percent to no more than 40 percent). The San Diego Housing Commission pays the difference directly to the landlord.

Eligible participants must live or work in the City of San Diego and must be low-income families, veterans, persons who are disabled, and the elderly (62-years or older). Total household income may not exceed program limits.  Income of all household residents will be checked through an Income Verification System.

Applying for a voucher means getting on a waiting list in most U.S. cities, and it is true for San Diego, too. In San Diego, the waiting list is currently 40,000 individuals, with an average wait time of five to seven years.  

Once you receive a voucher, you can look for the house or apartment you want to rent and negotiate a lease with the rental owner or manager, just as you would in the "regular" rental market, providing the amount is within HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) guidelines. In many cases, you can use your voucher where you are currently living, if your landlord will accept it.

Section 8 voucher holders have the opportunity to sign up for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program to help you create a career plan and obtain job training that can lead to better, higher-paying jobs.

If you live outside the City of San Diego, but within the County of San Diego, you may apply for housing assistance through area Housing Authorities.

To apply for Rental Assistance or Public Housing, click here.

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