Housing Authority Budget Advances Rental Assistance to Support Thousands of Families
The County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners today approved a $293.7 million Housing Authority budget that will help about 11,100 low-income households — more than 25,000 residents — each month.
The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is $900,000 less than last year, mainly due to reductions in federal funding, which cut the Emergency Housing Voucher Program (EHV). The budget decrease is offset by increases in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), supporting rising rental costs for participants. In the last fiscal year, the County has transitioned about 140 EHV households to the Section 8 program. The budget also includes more than $21 million paid monthly to local landlords.
“Every month, thousands of families in our region rely on this support to stay in their homes,” said David Estrella, director of the County’s Housing and Community Development Services and Housing Authority. “Housing stability is foundational to wellbeing. This budget allows us to maintain critical rental assistance, expand supportive housing opportunities, and continue partnering with landlords and communities to meet growing needs.”
Support for Vulnerable Residents
Roughly 68% of Housing Authority households include someone who is older or living with a disability, many relying on fixed incomes. The County Housing Authority also supports 900 formerly homeless veteran households through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program.
The County has increased leasing bonuses five-fold for landlords who rent to veterans experiencing homelessness, aiming to bring more rental units into the system and expand landlord participation.
Other programs include Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Project Based Vouchers, Emergency Housing Vouchers, Mainstream Vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities, along with specialized programs for families, youth, and people experiencing homelessness.
Nearly 99% of the $293.7 million Housing Authority budget is dedicated to housing assistance, including monthly rental payments.
Most of the revenue, $281.3 million, comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
County Investments in Affordable Housing
The County’s Housing Authority is a separate legal entity from the County and develops its own annual budget, which is not reflected in the County’s Operational Plan.
Since 2017, the County has invested more than $334 million in affordable housing through:
- use of excess County land
- the Innovative Housing Trust Fund
- state, federal and local funding sources
These investments have led to over 3,766 new homes, with another 2,279 in development, all part of the County’s long‑term Housing Blueprint.
Residents can explore the Housing for All Hub, an online dashboard offering real-time information on the region’s affordable housing inventory, rental assistance programs, homelessness services, inspections, permits, zoning and more.
Learn more about the County Housing Authority at www.sdhcd.org.