Housing Choice Voucher - Participants - Special Programs

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) homeownership program allows families that are assisted under the HCV program to use their voucher to buy a home and receive monthly assistance in meeting homeownership expenses. The HCV homeownership program is available only to families that have been admitted to the HCV program. To participate in the HCV homeownership program, the HCV family must meet specific income and employment requirements (the employment requirement does not apply to elderly and disabled families), be a first-time homeowner as defined in the regulation, attend and satisfactorily complete the pre-assistance homeownership and housing counseling program required by the Authority, and meet any additional eligibility requirements set by the Authority.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Have an HCV voucher

• Owe no debts to the Authority (or another housing authority) 

• Head of household or responsible adult must be employed for minimum of one year at 30 hrs./week (unless elderly/disabled) 

• Must be first time homebuyer 

• Must participate in HUD certified Homeownership Counseling Course 

• Must attend a SFHA HCV Homeownership Orientation with staff 

Aspects for Potential Applicants to Consider:

• SFHA does not participate in down payment assistance. This will be the responsibility of the participant.

• Household must qualify and secure their own financing from a bank 

• Strongly suggest securing a 30-year FIXED Rate loan rather than adjustable-rate mortgages 

• Household would need to find a unit that they could afford (a below market rate unit) 

• The assistance from the Authority lasts for a maximum of 15 years (except elderly/disabled) 

Homeownership Program Interest Form: Click Here

FUP is a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. FUP provides rental assistance for families whose lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the placement of their children in out-of-home care or in the delay of their children returning home. The Authority administers the program in partnership with the Human Services Agency of the City and County of San Francisco (HSA). HSA refers FUP-eligible families to the Authority and provides case management and supportive services before and after the family is housed while the Authority administers FUP rental assistance.
 

To be eligible for the program, families must meet both HCV program eligibility requirements AND be referred to the Authority by HSA. Once HSA makes the referral, the Authority determines whether the family or youth meets HCV program eligibility requirements. Upon determination that the family is eligible to receive housing assistance, a voucher will be issued to the family or emancipated youth. Supportive services must be provided by HSA to FUP youths for the entire 18 months in which the youths participate in the program.

The FYI initiative is another HCV program the Authority administers in partnership with HSA. Eligible youth must be at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older.

An FYI voucher issued provides housing assistance for the youth for a maximum of 36 months, at the same time HSA provides case management and supportive services to assist the young person on their path to self-sufficiency.

The Mainstream Voucher Program provides rental assistance to very low-income, disabled households. The Mainstream Program is a partnership between the Authority and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. This program currently offers over 200 vouchers and is administered through the Authority’s HCV waitlist. The waiting list for the Mainstream program is currently closed.

In order to be eligible:

• At least one person in the household must be non – elderly (18 to 61 years at the time of admission) and disabled AND

• Homeless OR

• Transitioning out of an institutional facility or other segregated setting OR

• At serious risk of institutionalization

The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program provides permanent supportive housing for eligible homeless Veterans and their families. Homeless veterans are screened by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and then referred to the Authority. The goal of the HUD-VASH program is to combine housing assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA at its medical centers to enable homeless and chronically homeless veterans and their families to re-integrate in the community, remain in stable housing, and lead healthy, productive lives. The VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers, community-based outreach clinics, through VA contractors, or through other VA designated entities. Currently, the Authority has over 1,000 HUD-VASH Vouchers and partners with the San Francisco HUD-VASH Office. Individuals interested in the program should visit the VA Downtown Clinic at 401 3rd Street, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and ask to speak to Housing Support or a social worker. They will be able give veterans an assessment and provide them with appropriate referrals, such as HUD-VASH and other transitional housing options. The VA Downtown Clinic also provides food, showers, access to laundry facilities, and the ability to connect with a medical or mental health provider to veterans in need.