Rental Help: California
Subsidized Apartments - HUD helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. To apply, contact or visit the management office of each apartment building that interests you.
Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
To apply for either type of help, visit your local Public Housing Agency (PHA).
Some PHAs have long waiting lists, so you may want to apply at more than one PHA. Your PHA can also give you a list of locations at which your voucher can be used.
For questions about HUD rental programs, including Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers, contact our Public and Indian Housing (PIH) Resource Center:
- Email us
- Call toll-free (800) 955-2232
Need advice?
- Contact a housing counseling agency
- HUD Resource Locator - search for HUD offices. public housing authorities, multifamily and public housing locations and homeless coordintated entry system points of contacts.
- My Social Security - housing applicants can get benefit verification letters, check benefit and payment information, update your address and phone number and more.
Other California Resources
- California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
- County of Orange Affordable Rental Housing List
- Find units for rent in rural Northern California
- Find units for rent in rural Southern California
- Help with your utility bills
- Housing resources for seniors
- Independent living centers - for seniors and people with disabilities
- Local tenant rights, laws and protections
- Local privately-owned subsidized apartments
- State Housing Finance Agency - ask your state housing agency if you qualify for one of their programs
- State Office of Housing and Community Development - ask about affordable rental housing programs
- Search for Federal tax credit rental housing
- SocialServe.com - a multi-agency website for finding affordable housing online
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing