What the Los Angeles Housing Authority Section 8 Program Does

The Los Angeles Housing Authority (LAHA) administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program in Los Angeles County. The program gives you a voucher that covers part of your rent — typically the difference between 30 percent of your income and the fair market rent for your unit. You find your own apartment, the landlord agrees to accept the voucher, and LAHA pays the landlord directly each month.

LAHA does not own the housing. You live in private apartments, houses, or condos. The landlord must pass a housing inspection and agree to the program's rent limits, which vary by neighborhood and unit size. You pay your share of the rent to the landlord; LAHA pays theirs.

The program is not the same as public housing. You have more choice in where you live, but you also have to find the unit yourself and convince the landlord to participate. LAHA's role is to verify your income, issue the voucher, inspect the unit, and send the landlord's payment each month.

Key Takeaways

  • LAHA maintains a waitlist for Section 8 vouchers that is currently closed to new applicants, though it occasionally reopens for brief periods.
  • Your monthly rent payment is typically 30 percent of your gross household income, with LAHA covering the rest up to the fair market rent limit for your area.
  • You must find your own apartment, and the landlord must agree to accept the voucher and pass LAHA's housing inspection before you can move in.
  • Once you receive a voucher, you have a limited time (usually 120 days) to find an apartment and have it inspected before the voucher expires.
  • LAHA's main office is in downtown Los Angeles, but you can reach them by phone or mail to check waitlist status and ask about reopening dates.

How to Get on the LAHA Section 8 Waitlist

The first step is to get on the waitlist. LAHA's Section 8 waitlist is currently closed, meaning they are not accepting new applications. The waitlist opens periodically — sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a few weeks — and then closes again once a certain number of people have applied. When it opens, you can explore online through LAHA's website or in person at their office.

When the waitlist does open, you will need to provide basic information: your name, address, phone number, household size, and income. You do not need to submit documents at the time of process. LAHA will contact you later if you are selected from the waitlist to move forward in the process.

To find out when the waitlist reopens, call LAHA's Section 8 office at (213) 252-2500 or check their website regularly. Some people sign up for email alerts or call monthly to ask. There is no cost to explore, and your place on the waitlist does not expire if you are already on it.

What Happens After You Are Selected from the Waitlist

If LAHA selects your household from the waitlist, they will send you a letter with instructions to attend an orientation and bring documents. This is when you prove your income, household composition, and immigration status. Bring recent pay stubs, tax returns, a lease or proof of current housing, and a photo ID. If you are not working, bring documentation of unemployment benefits, Social Security, or other income sources.

At orientation, LAHA staff will explain how the program works, what your rent share will be based on your income, and what happens next. They will also give you a packet with the rules you must follow — for example, you cannot sublet the apartment, you must report income changes within 30 days, and the landlord must maintain the unit to housing code standards.

After orientation, LAHA will verify your information with employers, benefits agencies, and other sources. This process typically takes two to four weeks. Once verification is complete, LAHA will issue you a voucher and give you a important date to find an apartment — usually 120 days.

Finding an Apartment and Getting It Inspected

Once you have a voucher, you search for an apartment on your own. You can look anywhere in Los Angeles County, as long as the rent is at or below the fair market rent limit for that area and bedroom size. LAHA publishes these limits on their website — a one-bedroom might have a different limit than a two-bedroom, and limits differ between neighborhoods.

When you find an apartment, you give the landlord a Request for Tenancy Approval form (also called an RTA or lease addendum). The landlord signs it, agreeing to accept the voucher and the rent amount LAHA will pay. You then submit the signed form and lease to LAHA, along with a request for a housing inspection.

LAHA sends an inspector to the unit to check that it meets housing code standards — working plumbing, heat, electrical outlets, no mold or pests, safe stairs and railings. If the unit fails inspection, the landlord has time to fix the problems and request a re-inspection. Once it passes, LAHA issues a Housing information Payment (HAP) contract between LAHA and the landlord, and you can move in.

Your Monthly Rent Payment and LAHA's Payment

Your share of the rent is typically 30 percent of your gross household income, though LAHA may adjust this based on local policy. If your household income is $2,000 per month, your share would be $600. The fair market rent for your unit might be $1,200. LAHA would pay the landlord $600, and you pay $600.

If the fair market rent is lower than your 30 percent share, you pay the lower amount. If the fair market rent is higher, LAHA pays up to the limit and you do not pay the difference — the landlord accepts the lower payment.

Your rent share can change if your income changes. You must report increases or decreases to LAHA within 30 days. If your income goes up, your rent share goes up. If it goes down, your rent share goes down. LAHA recalculates your share once a year at minimum.

Rules You Must Follow to Keep Your Voucher

Once you are in the program, LAHA requires you to follow specific rules. You must live in the unit as your primary residence — you cannot sublet or rent it out. You must report any household changes (births, deaths, people moving in or out) within 30 days. You must report income changes within 30 days. You must not engage in criminal activity or lease violations.

LAHA conducts annual inspections of your unit to make sure it still meets housing standards. The landlord must maintain the unit and make repairs. If the landlord fails inspection or stops accepting the voucher, LAHA will help you find a new unit, but you must move within a certain timeframe.

If you violate program rules — for example, if you sublet the apartment or fail to report income — LAHA can terminate your voucher. You would then be responsible for the full rent. If you are evicted or convicted of a crime, you may lose your voucher permanently.

How to Contact LAHA and What to Expect

LAHA's main Section 8 office is located at 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90057. You can reach them by phone at (213) 252-2500. They also have a website where you can find forms, fair market rent limits, and information about waitlist status. Phone wait times can be long, especially near the beginning of the month.

If you need to report a maintenance problem with your unit, contact your landlord first. If the landlord does not respond, you can contact LAHA's housing management division. If you need to report a change in your household or income, you can do so by phone, mail, or in person at the office.

LAHA also has satellite offices in Long Beach and other areas of the county. If you live far from downtown, you may be able to handle some business at a closer location. Call ahead to confirm what services are available at each office.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the waitlist, and how long does it take to get a voucher?

LAHA's waitlist has tens of thousands of people on it. Wait times vary widely — some people wait one to two years, others wait five years or longer. It depends on how many vouchers become available each year and where you are on the list. There is no way to know your exact position or timeline.

Can I use my voucher outside Los Angeles County?

No. Your voucher is only valid in Los Angeles County. If you move out of the county, you lose the voucher. Some other housing authorities in California run their own Section 8 programs, but you would need to be on their waitlist separately.

What if my landlord wants to raise the rent above the fair market limit?

The landlord cannot raise the rent above the fair market rent limit set by LAHA for your area and unit size. If they try, you can refuse to pay the increase and report it to LAHA. The landlord's only option is to end the lease and rent to someone else, but they cannot charge you more than the limit allows.

What happens if I lose my job or my income drops?

Report the change to LAHA within 30 days. Your rent share will be recalculated based on your new income, and it will go down. You will pay less each month. LAHA will adjust the landlord's payment accordingly. You keep your voucher as long as you remain in the program and follow the rules.

Can I buy a house with my Section 8 voucher?

No. Section 8 vouchers only work with rental housing. You cannot use a voucher to buy a home or get a mortgage. If you want to buy, you would need to save a down payment and work with a lender separately. Owning a home would also disqualify you from Section 8, since the program is for renters with low income.