Housing Authority
The Santa Clara County Housing Authority helps eligible households obtain rental assistance and manages programs for people who already receive housing vouchers. This article explains the differences between voucher programs, how to join the interest lists, which online portal fits your situation, and how to handle income changes, household changes, moving requests, and landlord paperwork. It also identifies the appropriate Housing Authority offices and the information to prepare before contacting them.
Santa Clara County Housing Authority Services
The Santa Clara County Housing Authority, commonly called SCCHA, offers rental assistance programs and affordable rental housing. Its Housing Choice Voucher program, formerly known as Section 8, is a federally funded program that helps eligible individuals and families pay for housing.
SCCHA serves several groups with different needs. New applicants use its interest lists to register for consideration for rental assistance. Existing voucher participants work with Housing Specialists to maintain their assistance, report changes, and request approval for housing-related actions. Participating landlords work with SCCHA on assisted units, inspections, rent adjustment requests, and Housing Assistance Payments.
The first distinction to make is between seeking assistance and managing assistance you already receive. Joining an applicant interest list is different from reporting a change to an active voucher household. The agency provides separate Applicant, Tenant, and Owner portals for these purposes.
Housing Choice and Property-Based Vouchers
SCCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher program explanation compares two types of assistance: Housing Choice Vouchers and Property-Based Vouchers. Both help with rental costs, but they differ in where the assistance can be used and how a household may move.
Housing Choice Vouchers
With a Housing Choice Voucher, you choose your rental unit. The assistance can be used at another home of your choice through the program’s moving procedures. Existing participants can request to begin the move process through the Tenant Portal and can review SCCHA’s information about moving and portability.
Voucher holders generally pay roughly 30% of their household income toward rent, while SCCHA pays the remaining approved assistance. That percentage is a general description of the program, rather than a substitute for your household’s actual rent determination. Existing tenants can view their current rent portion in the Tenant Portal.
Property-Based Vouchers
With a Property-Based Voucher, the assistance is attached to a specific rental home provided through the program. This differs from a Housing Choice Voucher, where the household chooses a rental unit.
After living in a property-based assisted home for two years, a household may request a Housing Choice Voucher to move to a home of its choice. That request is subject to voucher availability. The two-year period does not mean that a transferable voucher will automatically become available.
SCCHA requires applicants to register for consideration for the Housing Choice Voucher program before registering for consideration for a Property-Based Voucher. Keep that order in mind when using the applicant system.
Interest Lists and Applicant Registration
The information for new rental assistance applicants explains how to join SCCHA’s online interest lists. Registration tells the agency that you want to be considered for rental assistance. When vouchers become available, SCCHA randomly selects applicants from its interest lists.
Joining an interest list does not guarantee a voucher. It also does not mean that assistance has been approved or that a rental payment will begin. The interest lists are the entry point for consideration, and they should not be confused with an active voucher account.
Local Preference and Eligibility
SCCHA gives preference to people on the interest lists who live or work in Santa Clara County, or who have lived or worked in the county within the previous five years. This preference is relevant to selection, but it does not itself establish eligibility or guarantee assistance.
The Housing Choice Voucher program serves households that meet income eligibility limits. Applicants should distinguish the opportunity to register from the agency’s determination that a household qualifies for assistance.
The Applicant Portal
The Applicant Portal allows you to join the Housing Choice Voucher interest lists and make changes to your application. SCCHA provides access to the portal and a sign-up guide through its official website.
After registering, use the Applicant Portal to keep your application updated. This is the system for applicant information; the Tenant Portal is intended for households already participating in the voucher program. If you need assistance with the applicant system, the Applicant Portal Hotline is the appropriate contact.
SCCHA also offers monthly applicant information sessions. These sessions provide another way to learn about the application pathway and rental assistance program before or after registering.
Affordable Properties Are a Separate Path
SCCHA’s managed affordable housing property directory describes apartments in its housing portfolio. The agency specifically explains that this portfolio is separate from its Housing Choice Voucher program.
This distinction matters because a property listing and an interest-list registration serve different purposes. Reading about an apartment in the portfolio does not register you for a Housing Choice Voucher. Likewise, registering on a voucher interest list is not the same as obtaining an apartment at a particular property.
The directory identifies family and senior housing and includes information about unit counts, bedroom counts, and property locations. It also distinguishes properties with open waiting lists, closed waiting lists, and properties under construction. A property’s presence in the directory should not be treated as proof that an apartment is immediately available.
For questions about SCCHA’s local affordable housing development and leasing functions, the agency identifies a Local Programs contact separately from its federal Housing Choice Voucher operations.
Tenant Portal and Housing Specialists
SCCHA’s existing voucher tenant information explains the Tenant Portal, participant procedures, forms, and responsibilities. The portal is designed for managing an existing assisted household.
Through the Tenant Portal, participants can view their rent portion, send documents to their Housing Specialist, report income changes, request household additions or removals, begin the move process, request a reasonable accommodation, and send messages.
Your Housing Specialist handles requests affecting your participation and household assistance. When submitting a request, identify the change and include the supporting documents required for that type of request. Several processes may require additional information, and SCCHA provides written notices about decisions and resulting changes to rent or voucher size.
Response and Processing Times
SCCHA states that a Housing Specialist may take up to three business days to respond to a call or email. When a specialist is out of the office, another staff member covers their calls or emails.
A response to a message is different from completion of a request. Income change requests generally take approximately four to six weeks to process. Reasonable accommodation requests also generally take approximately four to six weeks. These are approximate processing periods, rather than guaranteed decision dates.
Income Changes and Rent Adjustments
Participants must report income changes within 15 business days of the change. The report must be in writing. The Tenant Portal provides a way to report the change and submit documents to the Housing Specialist.
When Household Income Increases
An increase in income must be reported even when it may not immediately change the household’s rent portion. SCCHA explains that income increases generally are not processed between re-examinations, except for families enrolled in the Family Self Sufficiency program.
Your written report should explain which income increased and include verification. Depending on the source of income, supporting documents can include pay stubs, an employment offer, revised child support documentation, or a Social Security award letter.
SCCHA will notify you in writing if it needs additional information. If your rent portion changes, the agency will also provide written notice of the new amount and its effective date.
When Household Income Decreases
Income decreases must also be reported in writing within 15 business days. Your Housing Specialist reviews the change. Identify the income that decreased and provide documentation, such as pay stubs, an employment termination notice, revised child support documentation, or a Social Security award letter.
Once the request is processed, SCCHA sends a letter to the participant and landlord explaining the change. In many cases, the effective date of the new rent amount is the first day of the month after the Housing Specialist receives all supporting documentation.
Rent While a Decision Is Pending
Do not treat a submitted income change request as an approved new rent amount. SCCHA recommends advising the landlord of the anticipated change and paying as much as possible, if not all, of the last known rent portion while the request is pending.
After SCCHA notifies both parties of the adjusted rent portion, the tenant and landlord can address any reimbursement or credit toward later rent. The agency’s written determination establishes the change and effective date.
Household Additions and Removals
Household composition affects voucher administration, including rent calculations and voucher size. Participants must notify SCCHA of household changes within 15 business days, but adding a person requires approval before that person moves in.
Approval Before Someone Moves In
To add someone to the household, first obtain SCCHA’s approval. If the proposed new member is an adult, obtain written permission from the owner or landlord before submitting the request to SCCHA.
Send the request in writing or through the Tenant Portal to your Housing Specialist, identifying the person you want to add. Supporting documents can include:
Birth certificates.
Custody documents for minors.
Social Security cards.
Photo identification.
SCCHA may request more information or require an office appointment. The agency provides a written decision and identifies any resulting change in voucher size or rent portion. Allowing someone to move in without SCCHA permission may be grounds for termination from the program.
Removing a Household Member
To remove someone from the assisted household, notify SCCHA within 15 business days of the change. Submit the request in writing or through the Tenant Portal and identify the person being removed.
Verification can include a lease agreement, utility bill, or death certificate for that person. SCCHA will notify you if additional information is needed and will provide written notice of any change to the household’s voucher size or rent portion.
Moving, Bedroom Size, and Payment Standards
Existing tenants can begin a moving request through the Tenant Portal. SCCHA also provides information about portability, which means moving to or from Santa Clara County with a Housing Choice Voucher.
A moving request, a household composition request, and a landlord’s rent adjustment request are different processes. Identify the action you need when contacting your Housing Specialist so that the correct paperwork can be addressed.
Voucher Size and Rental Bedrooms
SCCHA’s subsidy standards determine the number of bedrooms for which a household qualifies. The agency must assign the smallest subsidy the family qualifies for based on household size. That family unit size appears on the voucher.
The basic subsidy standard is one room for every two people. An approved live-in aide qualifies for one additional room, and an additional room may be provided as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.
A household may choose a rental with a different bedroom count from the number on its voucher. However, the household is responsible for paying for bedrooms above its allocated unit size, and occupancy limits also apply. SCCHA does not determine where family members sleep or who shares a bedroom or another room.
Payment Standards by ZIP Code
SCCHA transitioned in 2025 from a single set of payment standards to separate standards for each ZIP code. The payment standards explanation describes how these amounts are based on HUD’s ZIP-code-level Small Area Fair Market Rents.
A payment standard is the maximum monthly assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher program before deducting the participant’s minimum rent portion, which is typically 30% of household monthly income. It should not be confused with the amount SCCHA will pay directly for every household or with the tenant’s current rent portion.
SCCHA’s existing tenant page provides access to payment standards by ZIP code and an address-based search tool. When considering a rental unit, use the unit’s location to identify the applicable standard rather than assuming the same amount applies throughout the county.
Accommodations and Participant Protections
Participants may request a reasonable accommodation through the Tenant Portal or directly through their Housing Specialist. SCCHA accepts these requests verbally or in writing.
After a request is submitted, the medical or other knowledgeable professional identified in the request must respond to SCCHA’s confirmation inquiry. The agency mails a letter with its decision. The Housing Programs Department handles Housing Choice Voucher reasonable accommodation questions; reasonable accommodations for public meetings are handled separately by the Executive Department.
Rights Within the Voucher Program
SCCHA identifies participant rights that include living in safe, decent, and sanitary housing; protection from unlawful discrimination; paying only the rent approved by SCCHA; and receiving proper move-out notice. Participants who believe their rights have been violated should contact their Housing Specialist.
The agency also identifies protections under the Violence Against Women Act. A participant must not be denied assistance, terminated from participation, or evicted because they are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. SCCHA provides related notices and certification forms through its existing tenant information.
Responsibilities That Affect Assistance
Participants must provide required information for scheduled re-examinations, allow regularly scheduled inspections, comply with the owner’s lease, pay their rent portion, and follow the voucher and Tenancy Addendum terms.
Only authorized people may reside in the assisted unit, and participants may not lease or sublease it. SCCHA must also receive copies of notices sent to or received from the property owner, including notices concerning eviction, rent adjustments, payment demands, or moving out. Failure to follow program responsibilities may lead to termination of assistance.
Landlord Participation and Owner Paperwork
SCCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher information for landlords separates prospective owners from landlords already renting to voucher participants. The program pays the approved remaining contract rent directly to the owner through a Housing Assistance Payment, commonly called a HAP.
Prospective landlords can review program participation information and sign up for landlord workshops. Existing landlords use the Owner Portal for assisted-unit administration. The portal supports viewing HAP history, obtaining 1099 forms, enrolling in direct deposit, reviewing inspection results and holds or abatements, requesting rent increases, changing ownership or payee information, and identifying the assigned Housing Specialist.
Contract Rent Adjustment Requests
A landlord may submit a rent change request through the Owner Portal or in writing to the Housing Specialist. SCCHA’s guidelines call for the request 60 days before the proposed effective date, but no earlier than four months before that date.
For a tenant in an initial lease term, rent adjustments are processed no earlier than 60 days before the lease expires. The notice must be addressed to the tenant, with a copy provided to SCCHA. It must be signed by the owner or agent and state the requested dollar amount and effective date. A change in amenities requires a Unit Amenities Form.
SCCHA compares similar units in the market when reviewing the proposed adjustment. If approved, the agency notifies the owner and participant of the rent change and effective date. If denied, the owner may provide additional supporting information.
Office Routing and In-Person Visits
The SCCHA contact page identifies the appropriate departments and provides an inquiry form that routes messages according to the reason for contacting the agency. The form requests your name, email, phone number, street address, city, state, ZIP code, and message, with an apartment or unit field also available.
Applicant Portal questions belong with the Applicant Portal Hotline. Owner Portal questions belong with the Owner Services Department. Federal voucher questions and voucher-related reasonable accommodations belong with the Housing Programs Department. Local affordable housing development and leasing questions have a separate Local Programs contact.
SCCHA’s published lobby hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and every other Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because Friday opening follows an alternating schedule and office closures may affect access, review the agency’s posted schedule before traveling.
Housing Authority Offices and Contacts
Santa Clara County Housing Authority — Main Office
505 West Julian Street, San José, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 275-8770
TDD: (408) 993-3041
Applicant Portal Hotline
Phone: (888) 717-1180
Owner Portal Hotline/Owner Services Department
Phone: (888) 827-7091
Local Programs — Affordable Housing Development and Leasing
Phone: (408) 993-3050
Executive Department
Phone: (408) 993-2911
Housing Authority FAQs
Can I get help finding a rental after receiving a voucher?
Yes. SCCHA offers free Housing Search Workshops for voucher holders who need help finding a rental. The workshops explain the housing search process and how to complete a rental application. Check the Housing Search Workshop information for upcoming dates; the reference page does not list a scheduled session. You can also review SCCHA’s Housing Search Action Plan Packet and housing search flyers while preparing applications.
Where do I start if I’m experiencing homelessness?
Santa Clara County’s Office of Supportive Housing manages the Coordinated Entry System, which uses a standardized assessment to identify housing interventions suited to a household’s circumstances. SCCHA receives referrals for its special voucher programs through this system. Its information for people seeking rental assistance explains the assessment pathway. Joining a general voucher interest list does not replace the Coordinated Entry assessment needed for this referral route.
Are voucher forms available in Spanish or Vietnamese?
Some are. SCCHA provides Spanish and Vietnamese versions of its reasonable accommodation forms, Family Self Sufficiency forms, Housing Choice Voucher Family Handbook, and Violence Against Women Act notices and certification forms. Its existing tenant page also includes housing search flyers in those languages. Availability varies by document, so select the language version listed for the specific form you need rather than assuming every form has a translated edition.
How many people can live in a voucher rental?
SCCHA lists occupancy limits separately from the bedroom allowance on a voucher. A studio accommodates one to two people; a one-bedroom unit, one to four; a two-bedroom unit, three to six; and a three-bedroom unit, five to eight. A single-room occupancy unit is limited to one person. These limits matter when comparing rentals with different bedroom counts. A unit’s occupancy capacity does not increase your voucher’s bedroom allowance or authorize additional household members.