Housing Authority
The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino provides rental assistance and affordable housing programs for eligible low-income households throughout San Bernardino County. This article explains the major housing programs, basic eligibility standards, waiting lists, application procedures, online account functions, voucher portability, resident services, reasonable accommodations, and the Housing Authority offices that serve different parts of the county.
Housing Authority Services
The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, commonly referred to as HACSB, administers several forms of affordable housing assistance. Its programs include tenant-based rental assistance, project-based assistance, affordable housing communities, public housing, and specialized programs serving particular populations.
These programs do not all work the same way. Some assistance follows the household when it rents an eligible privately owned unit, while other assistance is attached to a particular apartment or housing development. Applicants should identify which type of waiting list they are joining because that choice affects where they may live and what happens if they later move.
The Housing Authority also provides separate online services for applicants, current voucher participants, affordable housing residents, and participating landlords. Applicants can monitor waiting-list applications and update information, while current residents and participants have additional tools for recertification, documents, maintenance requests, and caseworker information.
Major Housing Programs
HACSB administers several programs with different eligibility and occupancy rules. The agency's affordable housing program descriptions explain the primary differences between tenant-based assistance, project-based assistance, public housing, and specialized voucher programs.
Tenant-Based Voucher Assistance
The Tenant-Based Voucher Rental Assistance Program was formerly known as Section 8 and is also associated with the Housing Choice Voucher Program. It assists eligible low-income households in renting a home or apartment from a landlord in the regular private rental market.
Unlike project-based assistance, tenant-based assistance is associated with the eligible household rather than one specific Housing Authority development. A household that receives a voucher searches for a rental unit. Before assistance begins, the unit must pass inspection, the required paperwork must be completed, and the landlord enters into a lease with the household while also entering into a contract with HACSB for the Housing Authority's portion of the rent.
HACSB states that the waiting list for the Tenant-Based Voucher Program is closed. Funding limits mean the Housing Authority can assist only a certain number of households, and new households generally enter the program as currently assisted households leave it. As a result, qualifying for assistance does not mean a voucher is immediately available.
Term-Limited Lease Assistance
HACSB's Term-Limited Lease Assistance Program serves certain non-elderly, non-disabled households. The program provides rental assistance for a five-year term, with hardship exemptions available. HACSB also provides designated staff who can offer coaching and referrals to supportive services and employment opportunities.
Streamlined Lease Assistance
The Streamlined Lease Assistance Program serves specified household categories, including elderly and disabled households. HACSB describes this program as using a streamlined rent calculation in which households pay either 24% or 30% of gross annual income, depending on household type.
Project-Based Voucher Housing
The Project-Based Voucher Program provides rental assistance for designated housing units. The assistance is tied to the unit rather than traveling with the household. If a household voluntarily leaves the assisted unit or loses the unit through eviction, the household no longer qualifies to receive the project-based assistance attached to that unit.
HACSB maintains separate waiting lists by housing site and bedroom size. Some developments are intended for families, while others have age or other population requirements. Applicants therefore need to look beyond the name of the community and confirm that the open waiting list matches their household size and applicable eligibility category.
Public Housing
The Public Housing Program, also referred to by HACSB as the Affordable Housing Program, provides assistance in housing units owned and managed by the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority states that households in this program pay 30% of gross income toward rent directly to HACSB.
Special Purpose Programs
HACSB also administers programs for specific housing needs and populations, including Continuum of Care-Shelter Plus Care grants, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Housing for Persons with AIDS, the Family Unification Program, Mainstream vouchers, and the Emergency Housing Voucher program.
Eligibility and referral arrangements for these programs differ from the ordinary waiting-list process. Applicants should not assume that completing a standard housing pre-application automatically creates an application for every specialized program.
Basic Eligibility Standards
The Housing Authority's housing assistance application information identifies several basic standards used when determining eligibility. The head of household must be at least 18 years old or be a legally emancipated minor. The household must meet federal Section 214 requirements concerning U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
All adult household members are subject to a criminal background check when the application reaches eligibility processing. Site-based waiting lists can impose additional requirements, including acceptable-credit guidelines. Tax Credit properties follow the applicable Tax Credit income rules rather than relying solely on the general housing-program criteria.
Income Limits
For most households, total gross annual income cannot exceed the applicable federal income limit at the time of final eligibility. The limits provided by HACSB are:
1-person household: $68,900
2-person household: $78,750
3-person household: $88,600
4-person household: $98,400
5-person household: $106,300
6-person household: $114,150
7-person household: $122,050
8-person household: $129,900
Applicants should distinguish initial placement on a waiting list from final eligibility. HACSB evaluates income and other requirements when the household reaches the eligibility stage. Being allowed to submit a pre-application or appearing on a waiting list does not by itself establish final program eligibility.
Bedroom Size Rules
HACSB generally assigns voucher or unit size using a standard of two people per bedroom regardless of age, gender, or relationship. Exceptions may apply for live-in aides and approved reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Additional space is not provided for family members of a live-in aide.
This rule matters when selecting project-based waiting lists because open lists are often limited to particular bedroom sizes. A household should not assume it can join a larger-unit list simply because that list is open.
Housing Waiting Lists
Federal funding supports only a limited number of vouchers and assisted housing units. HACSB explains that even households that meet eligibility standards can spend years on a waiting list before assistance becomes available.
The Tenant-Based Voucher waiting list is identified as closed in the supplied Housing Authority information. Project-based and senior-community waiting lists have separate openings based on location and bedroom size. Examples identified by HACSB include sites in San Bernardino, Redlands, Barstow, Chino, Colton, Fontana, Victorville, Twin Peaks, Yucaipa, Bloomington, and other county communities.
Region-Based Waiting Lists
Some HACSB waiting lists cover scattered housing units rather than a single apartment complex. Applicants who join one of these region lists may be offered an appropriately sized available unit anywhere within that region. The region waiting lists are not divided into separate city waiting lists.
The Housing Authority housing-site map identifies the six geographic regions as:
Region 1: Bloomington, Colton, Fontana, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and Yucaipa.
Region 2: Chino, Montclair, and Ontario.
Region 3: Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville.
Region 4: Barstow.
Region 5: Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, and Yucca Valley.
Region 6: San Bernardino.
An applicant selecting a regional list should therefore be prepared for placement based on the available unit and appropriate bedroom size within the region, rather than expecting a specific city.
Application Process
Applying for HACSB housing assistance is free. Interested households can submit an online pre-application for an open waiting list. Both first-time applicants and people already on a waiting list need to register for the Applicant Portal.
Applicant Portal Accounts
The Applicant Portal allows applicants to apply to open waiting lists, review application status, update contact information, and change information originally provided in a pre-application. One account can be used for multiple applications.
A first-time user who is not already in HACSB's system can register without a registration code. A current applicant or participant already in the Housing Authority system who has not previously registered needs a registration code. HACSB directs these users to request assistance through its technical-help process and provide their full name and the last four digits of their Social Security number when requesting the code.
Applicants should avoid submitting a second pre-application simply because they cannot access an existing account. HACSB states that duplicate pre-applications will be rejected. Account-access problems should be addressed through the registration process rather than by creating another housing application.
After Submitting an Application
Applicants receive an email confirmation after submitting an online application. HACSB states that online applications can take up to 90 days to review. Eligible applicants are then added to the waiting list for which they qualify and remain with an “On List” status until selected for the initial eligibility process.
A long period in “On List” status is not necessarily an indication that the application was overlooked. New households are assisted as existing households leave programs, which can create lengthy waits even for households that meet program requirements.
During that period, applicants should keep their contact information and other pre-application details current through the Applicant Portal. Outdated information can interfere with the Housing Authority's ability to process an application when it reaches the eligibility stage.
What Happens After Selection
The next steps differ substantially between tenant-based and project-based assistance.
Tenant-Based Voucher Selection
When a household is called from the tenant-based waiting list and completes eligibility processing, HACSB issues a Family Obligations Agreement, described by the Housing Authority as essentially the household's voucher.
The household then looks for a rental unit in the private market. The unit must pass the required inspection, and the appropriate paperwork must be filed. The family signs a lease with the landlord, and the Housing Authority enters into a contract with the landlord to provide its share of the rent on behalf of the household.
Project-Based Selection
A household selected from a project-based waiting list must also complete HACSB eligibility processing. If the applicant is found eligible, the Housing Authority refers the household to the property management company for further eligibility screening.
If the household also passes that screening, it can be assigned a unit. The unit must pass inspection and required paperwork must be completed before the lease and housing assistance arrangements take effect.
Current Participant Services
Households already receiving voucher assistance have different responsibilities and online services from applicants. HACSB's current voucher participant information provides access to the Resident Portal and program forms.
Voucher participants can use the Resident Portal to complete recertification forms and submit electronic documents to their Housing Services Specialist. The portal can be accessed from an internet-connected computer or mobile device. HACSB's main website also indicates that residents can locate caseworker contact information through online services.
Affordable housing residents can use the Resident Portal for functions that include submitting maintenance requests, reviewing and updating contact information, and communicating with their management office.
These portals serve different stages of the housing process. An applicant checking a waiting list should use applicant functions, while a household already participating in a program should use resident or participant services appropriate to its program.
Voucher Portability
Portability allows an eligible household with a Housing Choice Voucher, Section 8 voucher, or Tenant-Based Voucher to transfer housing assistance from one housing authority's jurisdiction to another. HACSB provides separate procedures for households moving into San Bernardino County and current HACSB participants moving elsewhere.
The Housing Authority's portability instructions should be followed because a portability transfer is not the same as submitting a new waiting-list application.
Porting Into the County
A participant who wants to port into San Bernardino County must begin with the housing authority that originally issued the voucher. If that agency determines that the household is eligible to port, the initial housing authority sends portability documents to HACSB.
The required file includes:
HUD Form 52665.
Current HUD Form 50058.
A copy of the participant's current voucher.
Current income verifications.
After receiving and reviewing the portability file, HACSB sends the participant an appointment letter, disclosure questionnaire packet, and request for required documents. HACSB states that it will contact participants within two weeks after receiving the portability documents.
Participants should allow for processing time and should not assume that arrival in San Bernardino County by itself transfers the voucher. The initial housing agency must transmit the required portability file before HACSB can proceed.
Porting Out of the County
Eligible HACSB voucher participants seeking to move to another jurisdiction may request portability through their caseworker or a Portability Request Form. The receiving housing authority then handles its portion of the transfer under the applicable portability process.
The initial housing agency determines the participant's original unit-search period. HACSB states that, for people porting into San Bernardino County, it extends the voucher expiration date by 30 days when the portability file is received. Requests for additional search time must be made through the initial housing authority, and an approved extension requires revised HUD portability forms from that agency.
Rent and Unit Selection
HACSB is a Moving to Work agency and uses local payment standards divided among nine rental submarkets. For Moving to Work rental assistance programs, the requested rent must be reasonable and cannot exceed the applicable local payment standard.
For elderly or disabled portability households, the tenant portion is described as 30% of gross monthly household income, subject to HACSB's $125 minimum rent. Other households pay the higher of 36% of gross monthly income or the $125 minimum rent.
Voucher size generally follows the two-person-per-bedroom standard. HACSB allows a portability participant to select a unit one bedroom larger than the issued voucher size, but the participant is responsible for the difference between the payment standard for the issued voucher size and the rent for the larger unit.
After Locating a Unit
When a portability participant finds a unit, the landlord must submit a Request for Tenancy Approval. HACSB then schedules the unit for a housing inspection. The assistance contract takes effect after the unit passes inspection and the family moves into the unit. The participant remains responsible for signing the lease with the landlord.
Portability assistance can be denied if eligibility requirements are not met. HACSB identifies possible reasons including failure to provide requested information, missed appointments, income above the applicable threshold, voucher expiration, a participant's request to cancel portability, or failure of adult household members to satisfy criminal-history and other eligibility requirements.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests
HACSB provides reasonable accommodations or modifications for individuals with disabilities when necessary to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities. The reasonable accommodation information includes the request and verification forms used by the Housing Authority.
A program participant may request an accommodation for themselves or a household member with a disability. HACSB staff can assist a household in completing the request form when needed.
Verification of a disability and the disability-related need for the requested accommodation may be provided by a physician, licensed health professional, professional representing a social service agency, disability agency or clinic, or another knowledgeable professional.
Where the request is submitted depends on the person's status:
Voucher participants submit requests to their assigned caseworker.
Affordable housing residents contact their property management office.
Applicants and households porting into HACSB submit requests to the Compliance Specialist.
A portability participant may request a reasonable accommodation at any time, but HACSB requires a disability-related need for the requested accommodation before it can be granted.
Finding the Correct Office
HACSB maintains an administrative office, three Housing Programs Offices, and several Affordable Housing Offices. The Housing Authority office directory identifies the geographic areas handled by the program offices.
The Upland Housing Programs Office covers communities including Bloomington, Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, specified Fontana ZIP codes, and other listed areas. The San Bernardino Housing Programs Office covers communities including Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Yucaipa. The Victorville Housing Programs Office covers much of the High Desert and mountain areas, including Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Victorville, and Yucca Valley.
Affordable Housing Offices are associated with particular HACSB communities and service areas. A current affordable housing resident should normally work with the office connected to the property or area rather than selecting an office only because it is geographically nearby.
Housing Authority Offices
HACSB Administrative Office
715 E. Brier Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 890-0644
Upland Housing Programs Office
1200 N Campus Ave.
Upland, CA 91786
909-982-2649
San Bernardino Housing Programs Office
672 S. Waterman Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
909-890-9533
Victorville Housing Programs Office
15465 Seneca Road
Victorville, CA 92392
760-243-1043
Barstow Affordable Housing Office
421 South 7th Street
Barstow, CA 92311
(760) 256-8814
Chino Affordable Housing Office
13088 Monte Vista Avenue
Chino, CA 91710
(909) 628-3413
Los Olivos – Upland Affordable Housing Office
1200 N Campus Ave.
Upland, CA 91786
909-982-2649
Maplewood Homes Office
1738 West 9th Street
San Bernardino, CA 92411
(909) 890-5350
Parkside Pines – Colton Affordable Housing Office
772 Pine Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 370-3816
Redlands Affordable Housing Office
803 West Brockton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 890-5320
Housing Authority FAQs
Can Housing Authority participants use rental assistance to become homeowners?
Some current participants may qualify for HACSB's Homeownership Assistance Program, which can provide mortgage assistance instead of rental assistance. Applicants generally must have participated in an eligible HACSB program for at least one year, remain in good standing, meet employment and credit requirements, and provide a required down payment. Elderly participants age 62 or older and participants with disabilities are exempt from the full-time employment requirement. HACSB also states that not every housing assistance program qualifies. The Homeownership Assistance Program requirements explain the eligibility standards in more detail.
How does the Family Self-Sufficiency Program work?
Eligible participants can enroll in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and work with HACSB staff on a five-year plan focused on employment, higher earnings, and financial independence. As a participating family's earned income rises, certain increases associated with rent can be credited to an escrow account. Participants who successfully complete the program may receive the accumulated escrow funds. The program is not available to every HACSB household, so participants should review the Family Self-Sufficiency enrollment requirements before pursuing enrollment.
What protections are available for residents experiencing domestic violence?
HACSB participants and affordable housing residents may have protections under the federal Violence Against Women Act. The protections apply to qualifying victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. HACSB states that households seeking these protections may submit HUD Form 5382 or other documentation permitted by the certification form. Current voucher participants can find the applicable notices, certification form, and emergency transfer information through the voucher participant forms and protections.
Can the public request Housing Authority records?
Yes. HACSB accepts requests to review or obtain copies of public records it generates and retains under the California Public Records Act. However, its public-records process is not intended for applicants asking about their housing application, eligibility review, housing assistance, or copies of their own participant records. Those matters should be directed through the appropriate applicant or participant process described on the Housing Authority contact page.