HA Item 05 -Update to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

Home Browse Search

Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 4-13 Homeless Individuals and Families Set-Aside Preference In accordance with PIH Notice 2023-13, SAHA will accept direct referrals to the HCV program for the following target population: Homeless Individuals and Families: The number of homeless individuals and families who can qualify for this preference and successfully lease a unit with their voucher will be limited to 50% of the total number of vouchers that become available through annual turnover in the previous calendar year. To qualify for this preference, homeless individuals and families must be referred by agencies with a contract or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with the Housing Authority or City of Santa Ana. The referring agency must provide a certification of the family’s homeless status. Additionally, families already registered on the Waiting List who declare themselves as homeless, but are not referred by a CBO must provide a certification of their homeless status from an agency that has an MOU in place with the Housing Authority. This set-aside preference has been documented by SAHA using generally accepted data sources. All homeless individuals and families must qualify for the Residency Preference. Families who have been involuntarily displaced: Families who have been involuntarily displaced due to a disaster (e.g., fire, flood, earthquake) or eminent domain. The preference depends on funding availability. If insufficient funds are available, then applicants will be prioritized based upon elderly and disabled families first. Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Vouchers The waiting list for FYI vouchers is continually open for referrals from the Orange County Social Services Agency (Santa Ana’s Public Child Welfare Agency) as long as there are FYI vouchers available. PHAs may choose to create a preference in their regular HCV program for persons whose FYI assistance is expiring and will lack adequate housing as a result of their termination from the program, or other similar category. As required by statute, an FYI voucher may only be used to provide housing assistance for youth for a maximum of 36 months. However, youth who first lease a unit with an FYI voucher after the date of enactment of the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities (FSHO) amendments may receive an extension of the 36-month time limit of assistance for up to an additional 24 months if they meet the requirements of FSHO. FSHO applies to eligible youth who first leased or leases a unit after the date of enactment of FSHO, December 27, 2020, which includes youth who will be assisted with funding under this Notice. See HUD’s FSHO implementation notice published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2022 (87 FR 3570). SAHA will provide a selection preference for FYI voucher holders who are terminated due to the time limit on assistance in accordance with this policy. EXHIBIT 1