The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles manages the Section 8 Program, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which provides housing rental assistance to eligible families (“Participants”) . Participants choose where they want to live from rental properties whose owners accept Section 8. If the unit passes an inspection conducted by HACLA and the contract rent is approved by HACLA, the Section 8 office pays a portion of the contract rent in the form of a housing assistance payment to the landlord on behalf of the Participant. For more information,
watch a short video that explains how the program works:

“What is Section 8?” Video
▪          English (automatic captions available for additional languages)
▪          Spanish
▪          Armenian
 
Other HACLA Section 8 Video Resources

HACLA is opening a lottery for an opportunity to be placed on the Section 8 Program Waiting List starting Monday, October 17, 2022 at 6:00 AM until Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). Applying early during the opening period does not increase your chance of being selected for the Section 8 Waiting List. Applications for the lottery will be available online only through hacla.hcvlist.org and may be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any smartphone, mobile device, or computer with Internet access during the opening period.

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older, or who is an emancipated minor in accordance with California law, may apply for the Waiting List Lottery. Additionally, there must be at least one legal resident in the household (even if that resident is a child). And the annual household income must be below the 2022 very low-income limit for the city of Los Angeles, listed below. 

Note: Federal regulations require that 75% of newly admitted program participants have income below the extremely low-income (lower than the above table) limit each year.  
 

If selected for the Section 8 Waiting List, you must meet all HACLA Section 8 Program eligibility requirements. All information will be verified to determine eligibility at the time you are scheduled for an interview. For more information, visit HACLA’s Section 8 website.

If you are still on the current HACLA Section 8 Waiting List (opened in 2017), you do not need to reapply in 2022.  HACLA will schedule an eligibility interview for all applicants on the existing Section 8 Waiting List before contacting any applicant on the new Waiting List. If you have questions about your status on the 2017 Section 8 Waiting List, please call (833) HACLA-4-U or (833) 422-5248. 

Note: Applications for the new Section 8 Waiting List will not be added to the existing Section 8 Waiting List. HACLA expects to contact all existing waiting list applicants by mid-2023. 

If you have already applied for HACLA public housing or are living in HACLA public housing, you can still apply for the HACLA Section 8 Waiting List lottery. 

 

You must apply online at hacla.hcvlist.org during the Waiting List lottery application period: Monday, October 17, 2022, at 6:00 AM until Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Daylight Time). You may apply from any smartphone, mobile device, or computer with Internet access. If you cannot apply from your smartphone or a computer at home or you do not have Internet access, you may submit the application online at locations throughout the city, such as your local public library, that offer free use of their computers. To find a map of places near you where you can access the Internet or set up an email account, visit hacla.hcvlist.org/Home/ResourceList. The application website is available in multiple languages.  

Applications for the lottery, including internet access, will NOT be available or accepted at any HACLA location. 


If you require assistance in completing an application because of a disability, language translation or need for a specific communication format, please call (213) 523-SEC8 (7328) or toll-free (877) 621-SEC8 (7328) / 7-1-1 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, every day during the open application period.

 

Applicants must have a valid e-mail address to apply for the Section 8 Waiting List Lottery. If you don’t have an email address, there are many services that offer free e-mail accounts, such as gmail.com, yahoo.com, or hotmail.com. You can access these sites through any smartphone, mobile device or computer with Internet access. Many resources are available around the city where anyone can access free Internet or set up an email account. 

The same email address may be used for more than one application, as long as the username is unique for each household.

The online application process allows applicants to apply at a time and place that is convenient for them. Online applications also make it easier for applicants to use internet-based translation tools, eliminates the need for standing in line and makes the chance of getting selected for the waiting list fair for applicants who may have trouble applying in person. Applicants must apply during the time that the Section 8 Waiting List lottery is open. Applying early in the opening period does not increase your chances of being placed on the Section 8 Waiting List. 

Applications can be completed on any smartphone, mobile device, or computer with Internet access. If you don’t have access to the internet, you can find free internet and public computers at many libraries and community-based partner locations. Public computers are not available at HACLA offices. 

For each application, there must be at least one legal resident in the household (even if that resident is a child). Legal residency will only be verified if you are selected for the waiting list, and scheduled for an eligibility interview, which may be many months or years from the date you apply. Legal residency information is ONLY used by the Housing Authority to verify your eligibility for housing assistance and the level of benefits to be provided and is not shared with other government agencies.

If you are currently experiencing homelessness, the application will ask you to provide the city, state, and zip code that you live in. However, you will also need to provide HACLA with a mailing address to receive important documents. Talk with family and friends, churches, shelters, or other organizations to see if you may use their mailing address and confirm that they will contact you with any mail you receive at that address.  

Yes, preference for waiting list selection will be given to applicants who live, work, or have been hired to work within the City of Los Angeles, as well as to applicants who are veterans or have a household member who is a veteran of the US military, released from such military service under conditions other than dishonorable. If you are unsure if your neighborhood is within Los Angeles, you may check HACLA’s neighborhood listing.

If an applicant from the HACLA 2017 Section 8 lottery was selected to be placed on the official waiting list but is still on the waiting list and waiting for their eligibility interview, the household does not need to apply for this Section 8 lottery. HACLA will reach out to all remaining 2017 Section 8 waiting list applicants on the waiting list before contacting any families for eligibility interviews from this lottery. If you are unsure of if you are on HACLA’s 2017 Section 8 waiting list, please contact HACLA at (833) HACLA-4-U or (833) 422-5248.

Yes, applicants may apply for and be placed on different waiting lists at any given time. If there are questions on the status of an application for a different type of housing assistance or a different Section 8 waiting list, please reach out to that agency for information on the status of the application.

Yes, applicants currently experiencing homelessness may apply; however, they may receive faster assistance by applying for HACLA’s Emergency Housing Vouchers. If you think you are eligible for the program, please contact a Coordinated Entry System Access Center in your region.

Yes, an email address may be used for more than one application. For example, if a social service case worker is helping multiple applicants, their email address may be used more than once. A unique username must be created for each household.

Completing an online application is relatively easy. First, go to hacla.hcvlist.org and register for an account. Then log in to your account to apply for the waiting list lottery. If you need step-by-step instructions, click the HELP menu on the homepage to view a “How To Apply” instructional video. The video is available with captions in various languages.

No, there is no cost to apply for the waiting list lottery or be selected for the waiting list. HACLA will never ask an applicant for payment of any kind. No one can guarantee you a place on the Section 8 Waiting List, improve your changes to be placed on the Section 8 Waiting List, or ensure that you will receive any HACLA benefits. Please do not provide personal information to anyone claiming they can help you in any of these ways.

Yes, the application is mobile friendly, and you are welcome to use any device with Internet access, including smartphones.

Yes, if you are comfortable, you can have someone assist you with completing the application as long as they have your personal information. Remember, by submitting the online application, you are certifying that all the information provided is true and complete.

Only one application can be submitted per head of household. Duplicate submissions will be deleted.

No, completing a lottery application only puts you in a group of applicants. Once the application period closes, HACLA will use a random lottery system and waiting list preferences to select 30,000 applicants for the Section 8 Waiting List. Once those selected applicants come to the top of the Waiting List, they will be scheduled for an interview, at which time HACLA will determine if they are eligible to receive a voucher. This process can take several years.

Yes, if your adult children will be included on your application and will live in your household, you must include their annual income as a part of the annual household income. If they are applying on their own, as part of a separate household, you would not include their income.

If you did not click the submit button on the application, you will need to log back in and continue the application on the page where you left off. When you successfully complete an application, you will see with a confirmation number, which you should keep for your records. You will also receive a confirmation email at the email address that you provided in the application.

For security, all applications will be automatically “logged out” after 30 minutes of inactivity. If you do not complete the application before the session is logged out for inactivity, you will need to start the application over from the beginning.
 
If at any point you need to abandon your application, save the current page you are on and click the “Log Out” link.  Your application will be saved up to the last fully completed page.

When you successfully complete an application, you will receive a confirmation number and application summary. Please keep this number for your reference. You will also receive a confirmation email notifying you that your application was successfully submitted. Remember: Applying does not guarantee a place on the Section 8 Waiting List. At the end of the application period, HACLA will use a random lottery system to select 30,000 applicants according to the Waiting List preferences.

By December 1, 2022, all applicants will receive an email (at the email address used to submit the application) to let them know if they were selected for the Section 8 Waiting List. Applicants may also check their status at hacla.hcvlist.org after this date. HACLA will not have information regarding your status prior to this date.

Included sources of income may include: wages, salaries, overtime or tips from employment; net self-employment income (including gig work, childcare, hair styling, caretaking, etc.); Social Security (including survivor benefits and SSDI); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Annuities, insurance policies, retirement funds, pensions, or disability/death benefits; Veterans benefits; Unemployment benefits; Worker's compensation and/or severance pay; Payment of the Armed Forces; Student financial aid that is more than tuition; not including any type of loan; Regular contributions or gifts received from organizations or individuals who do not reside in the unit; California CalWORKS (TANF); Alimony payments; Child support payments; and Other recurring income. CalFresh/SNAP is not included as income. Earned income (wages) of minors is not countable. If applicant is selected for waiting list, the Housing Authority will verify income sources as required by HUD. For additional information on income, visit: 24 CFR 5.609.

Income sources that should not be included in your annual income on your lottery application may include: CalFresh/SNAP benefits; Income from employment of children (including foster children) under the age of 18 years; Payments received for the care of foster children or foster adults (usually persons with disabilities unrelated to the tenant family, who are unable to live alone); Lump-sum additions to family assets, such as inheritances, insurance payments (including payments under health and accident insurance and worker’s compensation), capital gains, and settlement for personal or property losses; Amounts received by the family that are specifically for, or in reimbursement of, the cost of medical expenses for any family member; Income of a live-in aide (person who resides with one or more elderly persons, or near-elderly persons, or persons with disabilities, and who:  (1) Is determined to be essential to the care and well-being of the persons; (2) Is not obligated for the support of the persons; and, (3) Would not be living in the unit except to provide the necessary supportive services); The full amount of student financial assistance paid directly to the student or to the educational institution; The special pay to a family member serving in the Armed Forces who is exposed to hostile fire; Amounts received under training programs funded by HUD (e.g., training received under Section 3); Earnings in excess of $480 for each full-time student 18 years or older (excluding the head of household and spouse); Adoption assistance payments in excess of $480 per adopted child; Deferred periodic amounts from supplemental security income and social security benefits that are received in a lump-sum amount or in prospective monthly amounts. If applicant is selected for waiting list, the Housing Authority will verify income sources as required by HUD.  For additional information on income, visit: 24 CFR 5.609.

When you successfully complete an application, you will receive a confirmation number and application summary. Please keep this number for reference.

 

The lottery application period will close Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. Out of all of the applications that are submitted, 30,000 will be randomly selected for placement on the waiting list according to HACLA’s Section 8 Waiting List preferences.
 
Starting December 1, 2022,  you will be able check the status of your application by visiting hacla.hcvlist.org. You will need to log into your Portal account to access the status of your application.

It is important for applicants who were randomly selected for the Section 8 waiting list to update HACLA with any contact information changes, such as mailing address or phone number so that you may be reached about your application. To update your contact information, mailing address or phone number for your submitted application:
 
Before February 28, 2023: Log into your account at hacla.hcvlist.org or call 213-523-SEC8 (7328) to provide your new contact information.
 
After February 28, 2023: You will need to register with MyHousing, a free online service offered by HACLA. HACLA will mail you additional instructions on how to register and update your contact information and will use MyHousing to provide you with any updates, including but not limited, to your eligibility interview.

 

There are several affordable housing resources available in HACLA’s Housing Resource list.  

You may inquire about Section 8 or housing programs for other Housing Authorities through Affordable Housing Online. Many Housing Authorities may have waiting lists open. You may apply to as many waiting lists as you wish, however, you can only receive assistance from one Housing Authority. 

The Housing Authority administers several Special Programs for homeless individuals and families (i.e. the VASH Program - vouchers for Veterans and Emergency Housing Vouchers).  These programs are separate from the Section 8 Waiting List and many of them are ongoing. You cannot apply directly to these programs. You would have to be referred to the Housing Authority through the Coordinated Entry System (CES).  

HACLA is accepting applications for the Low-Rent Public Housing Program. The subsidy assistance is tied to the building. If you have any questions, please contact our Public Housing office at 833-422-5248 or visit their website. Please be advised that there may be a waiting list. 

For other housing options, you may wish to view units in HACLA’s Asset Management Housing Portfolio.  

You can also inquire about Section 8 or housing programs for other Housing Authorities through Affordable Housing Online. Many Housing Authorities may have waiting lists open, and you may apply to as many waiting lists as you wish. However, you can only receive assistance from one Housing Authority. 

You may search for rental housing at Housing.LACounty.gov, the Los Angeles County Housing Resource Center, that was created to help peoplelist and find affordable, special-needs, accessible, and emergency housing within the County of Los Angeles.  

For assistance and resources for transition age youth, please click or call (877) 694- 5741. 

For an online property-search service that links individuals and families with affordable and accessible rental housing, visit their website or call 877-428-8844/TTY 711. 

For emergency and transitional housing and services for survivors of domestic violence and their children please call 800-799-SAFE/TTY 800-787-3224. 

If you have been served an eviction notice, require assistance finding a legal service provider, or have additional questions about you rights as a tenant, visit stayhousedla.org

For one-stop services for low-income families including case management, tutoring, financial literacy/budgeting, parenting classes, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), computer and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, and more, please call FamilySource Centers at 866-557-7368. 

For tenant rights information and applications for Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) programs including informational workshops and presentations on landlord and tenant issues, please call 866-557-RENT. 

For housing assistance and supportive services for persons with disabilities, please call 213-202-2764. 

For housing assistance and supportive services for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, please call 213-808-8805. 

For emergency housing and services for homeless persons and families in Los Angeles, please visit their website or call 213-683-3333.  

For fair housing counseling, complaint investigation, and property management training by the Housing Rights center to ensure all have equal access to housing, please call 800-477- 5977/TTY 213-201-0867.

 

As funding is available, HACLA will reach out to families who reached the top of the Section 8 Waiting List for an eligibility interview to receive housing assistance. The waiting time to be scheduled for an interview could be from several months for people who are placed at the top of the list by the random lottery and up to 10 years for people who are placed at the end of the list by the random lottery. The last wait list lottery was held in 2017, which means all families in the existing wait list, including those at the end of the list, will have been contacted in just over 5 years since they were placed on it in the last lottery.

You will have to wait until the Section 8 Waiting List Lottery is open and accepting applications again. We cannot accept applications for the lottery after the Waiting List Lottery application process is closed.