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Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher

Phone number
(530) 671-0220
Category
Home
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Eligibility
low‑income individuals and families
Auto Summary
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers pay most of your rent (you pay ~30% of income) and are portable nationwide. Locally administered by the Regional Housing Authority of Sutter and Nevada Counties (serving Sutter, Yuba, Colusa, and Nevada counties) — the waitlist is CLOSED as of May 2026; watch regionalha.org and local newspapers for the next opening. Office: 1455 Butte House Rd, Yuba City; (530) 671-0220 / toll-free (888) 671-0220. In California, landlords may not refuse you just for using a voucher. Verified 2026-05-30
Value
No content
Espanol
Vale de Elección de Vivienda Sección 8
URL
https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8
Last verified 2026-05-17
Status in Nevada County (as of May 2026): the local Section 8 waitlist is CLOSED. The Regional Housing Authority will post a notice in local newspapers and on their website when it reopens. [Source: regionalha.org/programs/housing-choice-voucher (accessed 2026-05-17)]

What you get

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is the federal government's main rental-assistance program. A voucher pays part of your rent directly to your landlord. You pay the rest — usually about 30% of your adjusted monthly income. At move-in, new tenants may pay up to 40% if they choose a unit with higher rent. [Source: regionalha.org/programs/housing-choice-voucher (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Vouchers are portable — once you have one, you can usually take it with you to almost any city or county in the United States.

Who qualifies

  • Income: your household must be at or below the income limit for your county. Limits are set by HUD and updated yearly. In Nevada County, "very low income" for a family of four is roughly in the $40,000s — check the current HUD limits for your exact household size.
  • Citizenship: at least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status.
  • Background: the housing authority will run a criminal background check. Some convictions (like lifetime sex-offender registration or recent meth manufacturing in subsidized housing) are automatic disqualifications. Others are reviewed case-by-case.

How to apply

The Regional Housing Authority of Sutter and Nevada Counties (RHA) runs the program locally for Nevada, Sutter, Yuba, and Colusa counties.
  1. Check whether the waitlist is open. Right now it is closed. Watch regionalha.org and local newspapers for the next opening.
  1. When it opens, apply one of three ways:
      • Online through the RentCafe Applicant Portal (linked from regionalha.org).
      • In person at 1455 Butte House Road, Yuba City, CA 95993, Monday–Thursday, 8am–12pm.
      • By mail or drop-box at the same address.
  1. After you apply, you'll be placed on the waitlist. Waits can be long — often years. Keep your contact info up to date in the Applicant Portal or RHA will remove you.
  1. When your name comes up, you'll be invited to a briefing, given a voucher, and have a set time (usually 60–120 days) to find a unit. The home must pass a housing-quality inspection and the rent must be reasonable for the area.
[Source: regionalha.org/programs/housing-choice-voucher (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Common pitfalls

  • Missing the waitlist opening. Openings can be short (sometimes only a few days). Sign up for any notification list RHA offers and check the website regularly.
  • Falling off the list. If RHA mails you and you don't respond, you're removed. Keep your address and phone current.
  • Landlords who won't accept vouchers. In California it is illegal for a landlord to refuse you just because you have a Section 8 voucher (source of income discrimination, Gov. Code §12955). If a landlord refuses, you can file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.
  • Scams. RHA never charges a fee to apply. Anyone asking for money to "put you on the list" is a scam.

Where to get help

  • Regional Housing Authority of Sutter and Nevada Counties — (530) 671-0220 or toll-free (888) 671-0220. TTY (800) 927-9275. Office at 1455 Butte House Road, Yuba City, CA 95993, Mon–Thu 8am–12pm.
  • Nevada County Housing Resource Center — for help while you wait, or if you need shelter now.
  • 211 — dial 2-1-1 for a live referral to local rental assistance, shelters, and homelessness services.
  • HUD direct — 1-800-955-2232 or HUD.gov for general program questions.

Sources