Section 8 Housing Voucher Wait List Now Open

The Friendship Shelter of Laguna Beach will be helping local residents apply to get on the voucher waiting list for the Orange County Housing Authority's Section 8 housing. The list opens today, Wednesday, for the first time since 2005.

There is a two-week time limit for applicants to apply. The window will close again on Wednesday, Feb. 29. This brief span is due to the large number of people who apply for the small number of available vouchers. As a result, the "list opening may be the only opportunity for Orange County residents to apply for many years to come," according to a news release issued by the OCHA.

The program enables OCHA to subsidize monthly rent payments for qualified applicants who live or work in 31 cities in Orange County, including Laguna Beach.

"The opening of the Waiting List for Housing Assistance is a tremendous opportunity for our very low-income families, individuals, seniors, and disabled persons who live in Orange County,” stated Karen Roper, Director, OC Community Services. “A Housing Choice Voucher often provides the only means for these Orange County residents to have a safe and affordable place to live, and I encourage every eligible person to submit an application.”

Section 8 Voucher assistance allows a very low-income family, senior, disabled person, or individual to pay approximately 30% of their monthly income towards rent. The remaining rental amount is paid by OCHA directly to the property owner or manager. Applicants must earn below 50% of the county’s median income. For a family of four, that amount is $48,150 while the amount for an individual is $33,750.

Applications for the Waiting List are available online by clicking this link, or at participating cities and branches of the Orange County Public Library. Applications will also be available at select community organizations. Numerous community partners will have computers available to apply online and applicants are strongly encouraged to use this method which will provide an immediate confirmation.

Applications can be submitted in three ways:

• Online at www.ochousing.org, beginning 12:01 a.m. February 15 through 11:59 p.m. on February 29, or ...
• Faxed to 714-667-6544, beginning 12:01 a.m. February 15 through 11:59 p.m. on February 29, or ...
• Mailed to P.O. Box 22005, Santa Ana, CA 92702 and postmarked from February 15 through February 29, 2012.

No applications will be accepted at cities, libraries, or the OCHA office. Only one application per household will be accepted. Submitted applications are not considered first come, first served. Accepted applications will be grouped by preference categories (veteran, senior, disabled, working family or individual residing within OCHA’s jurisdiction). Applicants will be randomly placed within their qualifying preference group.

Interested persons are encouraged to log onto www.ochousing.org or call OCHA’s Waiting List Information Line at 714-480-2740 for updated information (including locations of community partners with computer access). Instructions and applications will be available online beginning Wednesday, February 15. Applicants will be able to apply directly online or the application forms can be printed and submitted by mail or fax.

In Laguna Beach, application clinics will be held on the following dates and at the locations listed below. For more information about the application clinics, call the shelter at 949-494-6928:

• Wed., Feb 15, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Laguna Beach Alternative Sleeping Location (For ASL clients only)
• Thurs., Feb 16, 9 a.m. – noon at Bridge Hall, Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach
• Thurs., Feb 16, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Laguna Beach Alternative Sleeping Location (For ASL clients only)
• Thurs., Feb 16, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
• Sat., Feb 18, noon – 6 p.m. Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
• Tues., Feb 21, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
• Tues., Feb 21, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Laguna Beach Alternative Sleeping Location (For ASL clients only)
• Tues., Feb 21, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Bridge Hall, Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach
• Wed., Feb 22, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
• Wed., Feb 22, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Laguna Beach Alternative Sleeping Location (For ASL clients only)
• Thurs., Feb 23, 9 a.m. – noon Bridge Hall, Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach
• Thurs., Feb 23, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Laguna Beach Alternative Sleeping Location (For ASL clients only)
• Thurs., Feb 23, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
• Sat., Feb 25, noon – 6 p.m. Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach