County Receives Approval to Fast Track Housing For Choice Voucher Participants

LOS ANGELES — In August the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD approved requests submitted by the Los Angeles County Development Authority or LACDA and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles or HACLA to modify Housing Choice Voucher or HCV Program admissions requirements to help expedite the agencies’ efforts to help people experiencing homeless. The HCV Program, which helps seniors, families, and other people with low incomes to afford rental housing in the private market, are a key part of Federal, State, and local strategies to reduce homelessness.

The action comes as a result of multiple efforts by both agencies to inform HUD about the impact granting the waivers would make to expedite the leasing process and allow the agencies and their partners to make full use of all the Federal resources dedicated to fighting homelessness in the immediate term. One waiver approved by HUD will allow the LACDA and HACLA to issue housing vouchers to people experiencing homelessness, and then verify their income via independent, third-party sources within 60 days. The prior requirement called for current income to be verified before the agency issued a housing voucher. The approval of an additional waiver allows applicants to submit a self-certification affirming all income and assets. The prior requirement mandated the agencies to request current third-party documentation and if the applicant was unable to provide third-party documentation, the agencies were required to obtain verifications dated within 60 days of the voucher being issued.

For more information on the LACDA’s programs, please click here to access the agency brochure or call 626-262-4510.