What Sacramento Housing Authority does

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) is the local public housing authority for Sacramento County. It runs public housing units, administers the Section 8 voucher program for the county, and manages affordable housing development projects. SHRA does not handle homelessness services, emergency rental information, or eviction prevention — those are separate county and city programs.

If you live in Sacramento and need housing support, you will likely interact with SHRA only if you are looking for public housing or a Section 8 voucher. The agency maintains its own waiting lists, sets its own income limits, and processes requests through its own offices. You cannot reach SHRA through a state or federal hotline; you must contact the agency directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) runs public housing and Section 8 vouchers for Sacramento County, but does not handle emergency rental help or eviction cases.
  • SHRA maintains separate waiting lists for public housing and Section 8 vouchers, and both lists are typically closed or have long wait times.
  • You must contact SHRA directly by phone, mail, or in person — there is no online process portal for most programs.
  • If you need when ready rent help or are facing eviction, contact Sacramento County's emergency rental information program or the city's eviction prevention services instead.
  • SHRA's income limits and rent calculations follow federal rules, but the specific amounts and your position on the waiting list depend on when you explore and your household size.

How to contact Sacramento Housing Authority

SHRA's main office is located at 3330 North Freeway Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95834. You can reach the agency by phone at (916) 433-7794 during business hours, Monday through Friday. The office does not accept walk-in applications for most programs; you typically must call first to request an process packet or learn about current waiting list status.

When you call, have your household size, current income, and any documentation of your housing situation ready. The staff member who answers can tell you whether the waiting list for public housing or Section 8 is open, closed, or accepting applications with a long wait. If the list is closed, ask when it is expected to reopen — SHRA publishes this information periodically.

Public housing through SHRA

SHRA owns and operates public housing units throughout Sacramento County. These are apartments and townhomes where rent is set at 30 percent of your household's gross monthly income, up to a maximum. You must meet income limits that vary by household size; SHRA uses federal poverty guidelines adjusted annually.

To be considered for public housing, you must be a U.S. citizen or may be able to access immigrant, have a valid Social Security number, and pass a background check. SHRA will review your rental history, criminal history, and credit. The agency can deny housing for certain convictions, repeated evictions, or drug-related offenses, though it considers the age and circumstances of each incident.

The waiting list for public housing in Sacramento is typically closed or has a wait of several years. Call SHRA to ask the current status and whether your household would meet income limits before requesting an process.

Section 8 vouchers in Sacramento County

SHRA administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for Sacramento County. A voucher allows you to rent from a private landlord while the program pays a portion of your rent directly to the landlord. You pay the difference, which is capped at 30 percent of your income.

To hold a voucher, you must meet the same citizenship, income, and background requirements as public housing applicants. The voucher is yours to use at any rental property where the landlord agrees to participate in the program — you are not assigned to a specific unit. However, the rent cannot exceed the program's payment standard for your area, and the landlord must pass SHRA's inspection.

The Section 8 waiting list in Sacramento County is also typically closed. When it opens, it fills quickly. SHRA maintains a single waiting list and prioritizes based on date of process and, in some cases, preference categories such as homelessness or disability. Call to ask whether the list is currently open and what the estimated wait time is if you explore.

Income limits and rent calculations

SHRA uses federal income limits that are updated each year. For public housing and Section 8, your household's gross monthly income cannot exceed 80 percent of the area median income for Sacramento County. The exact dollar amount depends on your household size and is published by SHRA each spring.

If you are accepted into either program, your rent will be the greater of: 30 percent of your gross monthly income, $25 per month, or the program's minimum rent (usually $50 to $75). SHRA will calculate this amount based on the income you report at the time of your process and will recalculate it annually when you recertify.

What SHRA does not handle

SHRA does not run emergency rental information, eviction prevention, or homelessness services. If you are behind on rent and facing eviction, you need to contact a different agency. Sacramento County's Emergency Rental information Program is administered by the Department of Human information and can pay back rent directly to your landlord. The City of Sacramento also runs an Eviction Prevention Program through its Department of Community Development.

If you need help paying utilities, food, or other expenses, contact Sacramento County's Department of Human information or call 211 Sacramento for a referral to local services. These agencies can connect you to resources SHRA does not provide.

How waiting lists work and what to expect

Both public housing and Section 8 use waiting lists. When a list is open, SHRA accepts applications for a set period — sometimes a few weeks, sometimes a few months. Once the list closes, no new applications are accepted until it reopens, which may be months or years later.

Your position on the list is based on the date you applied. SHRA will contact you when a unit or voucher becomes available, but this can take years depending on the size of the list and the number of units available. You must respond to SHRA's offer within a set timeframe, usually 10 business days, or you lose your place and must reapply when the list opens again.

If your contact information changes, you are responsible for notifying SHRA. If the agency cannot reach you when a unit is offered, you will be removed from the list. Keep your phone number and address current with SHRA at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be on both the public housing and Section 8 waiting lists at the same time?

Yes. You can request to be on both lists simultaneously. However, once you are offered and accept either public housing or a Section 8 voucher, you will be removed from the other list. Tell SHRA if you prefer one option over the other, and the agency will contact you in the order your applications were received.

What if I have a criminal record or eviction history?

SHRA reviews criminal and eviction history as part of the background check. The agency does not automatically deny housing for these reasons but considers the nature, severity, and age of the incident. Contact SHRA directly to discuss your specific situation before explore, as the outcome depends on the details of your case.

How long does it take to hear back after I explore?

If the waiting list is open, SHRA will confirm receipt of your process within a few weeks. After that, you will wait on the list until a unit or voucher becomes available. This can take months to years. SHRA will contact you by phone when something is offered; you must respond quickly or lose your place.

What if I need help right now and cannot wait for a waiting list?

Contact Sacramento County's Emergency Rental information Program or the City of Sacramento's Eviction Prevention Program. These programs can help with when ready rent arrears or upcoming rent payments. You can also call 211 Sacramento for referrals to emergency housing resources, shelters, or other support services in your area.

Does SHRA help with deposits, moving costs, or other housing expenses?

SHRA does not provide deposits, moving information, or utility deposits. Some nonprofit organizations in Sacramento offer these services. Call 211 Sacramento or contact the Sacramento Housing Alliance to learn about local nonprofits that may help with move-in costs or other housing-related expenses.