California (2024)

HUD supports many organizations that provide housing assistance and/or supportive services to people. HUD is not a direct service provider.

For direct assistance, please refer to the following resources:

Dial 2-1-1. Press 6 for homeless services.

**If you are unable to get a response from 2-1-1 or receive a message that the service is not available from your location, you may go to: https://www.211.org/about-us/your-local-211 and enter your zip code to find the number for your local office.

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  Contact a homeless service provider
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  Veterans:
  • For a Veteran who needs temporary housing shelter outside of normal business hours, please call Volunteers of America (available 24/7) at (213) 563-7979.
    **If you do not receive a response within 30 minutes of your call, please text “Unhoused Veteran in Need of Transitional Housing” to (213) 563-7979 or (213) 500-7889.
  • Contact the VA medical center near you and mention your interest in Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) or find instructions for contacting the National Homeless Veteran Call Center here. You may also call the Veterans Affairs Emergency Housing Hotline for assistance at (310) 268-3350

• Alameda County
  • Call 2-1-1 (available 24/7) or text 898211 (available M-F between 9am and 4pm) to get connected with health and human service programs.
  • Contact a Housing Resource Center: Alameda County Housing Resource Center
    • North County (2), Oakland (4), East County (1), Mid County (2), South County (2), Transitional Age Youth (1)
  • Alameda County Coordinated Entry Workflow
• Los Angeles County
• Call 2-1-1 (available 24/7) or text 898211 (available M-F between 9am and 4pm) to get connected with health and human service programs or go to 211la
  • Visit the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority website
  • Find and visit your local Homeless Access Center
• Sacramento County
  • Call 2-1-1 and press 8 (available 24/7) to be connected with housing services.
  • Sacramento’s Coordinated Access System – Accessing Resources: CAS: Client Portal - Sacramento Steps Forward
  • Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART)
    • Call (916) 875-1720 or submit a HEART Referral form to [email protected].
  • Mental Health Access Team
    • Call (916) 875-1055 or toll-free (888) 8881-4881 to be referred.
      • Adults with Mental Illness and Homelessness: Community Outreach Recovery Empowerment (CORE) Program
        • You may also visit a CORE provider site during designated walk-in hours for an assessment.
      • Youth with Mental Illness and Homelessness: Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT) Program
• San Diego County
  • Call 2-1-1 (available 24/7) or text 898211 (available M-F between 9am and 4pm) to get connected with health and human service programs or go to 211sandiego
  • Find and visit your local Homeless Access Center
• Santa Clara County
  • Santa Clara County Here4You Hotline: available 7 days a week from 9am – 7pm for individuals and families currently experiencing homelessness.
    • Call (408) 385-2400
    • Veterans: Call HomeFirst-Veterans Services at (408) 510-7522
  • Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System (HPS): provides assistance to low-income families or individuals who are at-risk of losing their housing.
    • Call (408) 926-8885 or email [email protected] to schedule a ‘pre-screening’ appointment.

HUD supports many organizations that provide housing assistance and/or supportive services to people. HUD is not a direct service provider.

For direct assistance, please refer to the following resources:

• Speak to a HUD Approved Housing Counselor for advice on your specific housing needs. Search online for a HUD Approved Housing Counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287.
• Contact your Local Public Housing Authority to inquire about information about public housing programs (Housing Choice Vouchers HUD Facts, Public Housing).

  Find a list of Public Housing Authority contacts by State or call (800) 955-2232 for help to find your local Public Housing Authority.

  • Information for Senior Citizens
  • Information for Persons with Disabilities
  • Information for Persons Experiencing Violence
  • Information for Veterans
• Use the HUD Resource Locator to find affordable housing opportunities near you.
  **Please note, the HUD Resource Locator does not show property vacancy. Please call the management company to inquire about vacancies, wait lists or the application process.
  • HUD does not have applications for these properties.
  • HUD does not have information about the vacancies in these properties.
  • HUD does not maintain waiting lists.

• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties
  A Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property is run by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. Developers and investors who participate in LIHTC get reduced federal income taxes in exchange for making an investment in an affordable housing development.

  To be eligible for an affordable unit in a LIHTC property, you must make no more than the income limit for that unit. LIHTC rents are not based on your income, but instead is set by the use restrictions tied to the unit. Note: LIHTC property owners accept Section 8 voucher tenants. To apply, contact the LIHTC property directly. You can find a map of LIHTC properties here.

  To contact the CTCAC for more information, dial (916) 654-6340.

• USDA Rural Development Multifamily Housing
  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Multifamily Housing programs helps property owners through loans and grants to rehabilitate properties for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers. USDA RD Multifamily Rental Assistance Program provides payments to owners of USDA-financed projects on behalf of low-income tenants unable to pay their full rent.
  Search for RD Multifamily Housing rentals in California.

  For more information, dial (202) 720-2791.

• Local Listings
  You are also advised to check your local city and/or county’s website for additional affordable housing opportunities.

HUD has rental assistance and housing resources through the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. ​

Public Housing​

• Public Housing provides decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities. HUD provides federal aid to local Public Housing Authorities (PHA) that manage public housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford.
• Eligibility: Public Housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. A Public Housing Authority determines eligibility based on 1) annual gross income, 2) whether you qualify as elderly, a person with disabilities or as a family, and 3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
• To apply, contact your local Public Housing Authority.

​

Housing Choice Voucher (commonly known as Section 8) ​

• The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program assists low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Housing assistance is provided through HUD on behalf of the family or individual, so participants can find their own housing. You can use an HCV to pay for all or part of the rent. ​
• Eligibility: A Public Housing Authority will determine eligibility for the housing choice voucher program based on the total annual gross income and family size, U.S. citizenship and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. ​
• To apply, contact your local Public Housing Authority. During the application process, a Public Housing Authority will collect information on family income, assets, and family composition. The Public Housing Authority will use this information to determine program eligibility and the amount of the housing assistance payment. ​

• Learn more about homebuying from HUD's website or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Speak with a HUD Approved Housing Counselor about becoming a homeowner.
  A HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency can offer advice customized to your housing needs. Search online for a HUD Approved Housing Counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287.

• Find the answer online
• Email us
• Call toll-free (800) CALL-FHA (800-225-5342)
  TTY: Dial 7-1-1 (Not available in all areas)

• Find Information on my FHA loan
• Use the SMART Integrated Portal to make a request and begin the subordination process (see SMART FAQs & Resources)
• Contact a Secretary-Held Mortgage Servicing Contractor

There are various federal loan programs and community-based programs to help with home repairs and improvements. Learn more about HUD’s Home Improvements programs.

If you have more questions, contact the FHA Resource Center

• Email: [email protected]
• Call: (800) 225-5342

• Speak with a HUD Approved Housing Counselor about becoming a homeowner. A HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency can offer advice customized to your housing needs. Search online for a HUD Approved Housing Counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287.
• Explore Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
• Contact a Local Legal Assistance Organization
• Explore CA Mortgage Relief help

HUD supports many organizations that provide housing assistance and/or supportive services to people. HUD is not a direct service provider.

For direct assistance, please refer to the following resources:

• Legal Help FAQs list common answers to Eviction and Landlord-Tenant problems.
• The LawHelpCA.org offers answers to general questions about evictions and your rights as a tenant in California.
• California Courts Self-Help Resources page provides general information on evictions, including mediation.

• Speak with a HUD Approved Housing Counselor. A HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency can offer advice customized to your housing needs. Search online for a HUD Approved Housing Counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287.
• Get help paying rent and bills
• Rent Help

• Contact your local government office and find community service providers in your area.
• Contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Hotline at (866) 675-6623

• Immediately after a disaster, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other government agencies offer initial assistance. HUD then provides additional support for ongoing recovery through programs and partnerships.
• Register with FEMA online at: www.disasterassistance.gov
• Register through FEMA’s disaster app on your smartphone. If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, you can go to www.fema.gov/mobile-app
• Call (800) 621-3362. Phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are on duty.

• HUD Disaster Resources
• HUD Disaster Line: Call 1-800-304-9320 or email [email protected]
• Speak with a HUD Approved Housing Counselor. A HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency can offer advice customized to your housing needs. Search online for a HUD Approved Housing Counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287.