Who Receives Rental Assistance?

Approximately 10,000 families receive Section 8 assistance in Oakland. 41% of these families are working families, 28.3% are elderly families, and 26.1% are disabled (non-elderly) families.

Primary eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher Program is based on income. To receive assistance tenants must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). However, 75% of the tenants entering the program must have incomes of 30% or less of AMI.

How do Tenants Receive Assistance?
Tenants apply for rental assistance when OHA opens its waiting list. Because the demand for Vouchers far exceeds the available funding, waiting lists are generally only open for very short periods of time. Once the tenant receives assistance they have 6 months to find housing and begin receiving the rent subsidy.

What is OHA’s Screening Process? OHA screens all applicants before offering them rental assistance. Tenants are not admitted into the program if they have: - A recent history of violent or drug related criminal activity - Committed program fraud - Delinquent debts to OHA or another Housing Authority OHA does not screen applicants for tenant or credit worthiness. Property owners are responsible for screening Section 8 tenants just as they would other tenants.