Public housing in California
Data from November 2026
Public housing agencies in California
96 public housing agencies administer 371,095 Section 8 vouchers and 22,560 public housing units in California. Each one takes applications and runs its own waiting list.
Key numbers in California
- Agencies
- 96
- take applications and keep their own waiting lists
- Section 8 vouchers
- 371,095
- total they manage, not openings
- Public housing units
- 22,560
- total they manage, not openings
How it works
How they work
There are two main kinds of help: the voucher to rent in the private market and public housing. You apply for both at the agency for your area in California.
- Step 1
Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers)
The family finds a home on the private market. The agency pays part of the rent directly to the landlord and the family pays the difference.
- Step 2
Public housing
Homes the agency itself manages. Rent is set from the family’s income.
- Step 3
How to apply
Apply at the agency for your area. They check income and family size, and may close their waiting list when it is full: ask whether it is open and how long it takes.
According to HUD: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)· HUD: public housing program
Mixed-status families Section 8 and mixed-status families: how it works How the Section 8 voucher works, how aid is prorated in a mixed-status family, how to apply through your housing agency and what HUD proposed. Read the guideHUD’s list
Every agency in California
Largest first. Search by name or county.
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Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Los Angeles County
53,456 vouchers · 5,997 public housing units
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Los Angeles County Development Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Los Angeles County
27,201 vouchers · 2,954 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City & County of SF
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Francisco County
16,331 vouchers · 533 public housing units
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San Diego Housing Commission
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Diego County
16,385 vouchers · 189 public housing units
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Oakland Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Alameda County
14,343 vouchers · 1,641 public housing units
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County of Sacramento Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Sacramento County
13,836 vouchers · 640 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of San Diego
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Diego County
12,517 vouchers · 121 public housing units
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Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Santa Clara County
12,553 vouchers · 4 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Bernardino County
11,881 vouchers · 1 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County Contra Costa
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Contra Costa County
9,823 vouchers · 955 public housing units
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Housing Authority City of Fresno
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Fresno County
7,560 vouchers · 652 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Alameda
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Alameda County
7,138 vouchers
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Housing Authority of Fresno County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Fresno County
5,845 vouchers · 467 public housing units
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Housing Auth. of the County of San Joaquin
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Joaquin County
5,380 vouchers · 904 public housing units
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Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Stanislaus County
5,190 vouchers · 647 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Santa Cruz County
5,690 vouchers
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Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Mateo County
5,321 vouchers
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Housing Authority of the County of Monterey
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Monterey County
4,852 vouchers
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Housing Authority of the County of Kern
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Kern County
4,663 vouchers · 75 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Santa Barbara County
4,366 vouchers
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Tulare County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Tulare County
3,128 vouchers · 710 public housing units
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County of Merced Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Merced County
2,896 vouchers · 421 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
Section 8 vouchers · Santa Barbara County
2,956 vouchers
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Housing Authority of County of Marin
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Marin County
2,535 vouchers · 407 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Ventura
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Ventura County
2,589 vouchers · 350 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of San Luis Obispo
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Luis Obispo County
2,766 vouchers
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County of Butte HSG Auth
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Butte County
2,301 vouchers · 345 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Oxnard
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Ventura County
1,904 vouchers · 528 public housing units
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Imperial Valley Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Imperial County
1,865 vouchers · 511 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Yolo
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Yolo County
1,943 vouchers · 431 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Ventura County
2,029 vouchers · 189 public housing units
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City of Alameda Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Alameda County
2,064 vouchers
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Housing Authority of the City of Santa Monica
Section 8 vouchers · Los Angeles County
1,551 vouchers
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City of Sacramento Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Sacramento County
1,237 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Madera
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Madera County
804 vouchers · 244 public housing units
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Kings County Housing Auth
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Kings County
727 vouchers · 268 public housing units
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HSG Auth of the City of Livermore
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Alameda County
943 vouchers
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Housing Authority of the City of Baldwin Park
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Los Angeles County
913 vouchers · 12 public housing units
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County of Plumas Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Plumas County
643 vouchers · 96 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Calexico
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Imperial County
249 vouchers · 252 public housing units
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City of Benicia HSG Auth
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Solano County
376 vouchers · 75 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Port Hueneme
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Ventura County
367 vouchers · 30 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Richmond
Public housing · Contra Costa County
269 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Hawaiian Gardens
Section 8 vouchers · Los Angeles County
132 vouchers
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Needles Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · San Bernardino County
53 vouchers · 52 public housing units
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City of South San Francisco Housing Authority
Public housing · San Mateo County
80 public housing units
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None match your search.
HUD’s official list exactly as published, retrieved November 6, 2026. Vouchers and units are totals each agency administers, not vacancies. Source: Public Housing Agencies (HUD) Retrieved November 6, 2026 Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (external site)
Frequently asked questions
What is a Section 8 voucher?
A Housing Choice Voucher from HUD’s federal program: the family rents on the private market and the housing agency pays part of the rent to the landlord. The family pays the difference.
How do I apply for a voucher or public housing in California?
At the housing agency for your area; California has 96. Each one has its own application and waiting list, and may close it when it is full. Call or check its site to see whether it is open.
How many Section 8 vouchers are there in California?
The agencies in California administer 371,095 Section 8 vouchers and 22,560 public housing units, according to HUD’s list retrieved November 6, 2026. They are program totals, not available vacancies.