ByHow to Get Low-Income Housing In Irvine, CA Quickly
Housing is in short supply all over southern California, but residents of Irvine are the lucky ones. There's more affordable housing here than anywhere else in Orange County—4,853 units are in place now, and 1,000 more are under construction. If you need housing assistance, keep reading to learn DoNotPay's tips for navigating .
Affordable housing all over the US falls under the direction of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The department introduced the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, in 1974. Section 8 vouchers allow low-income households to find their own housing, but the local Public Housing Authority (PHA) pays rent subsidies to the property landlords.
Who Qualifies for Low-Income Housing in Irvine, CA?
A lower than average income is usually the main reason , but here are the other qualified classes.
- Veterans
- Senior citizens
- People with disabilities
- Citizens of the US, or a documented immigrant
Understanding Income Limitations in Irvine, CA
Orange County is one of the most expensive places to live in the US, and Irvine is right in there. The average income in Irvine is about $52,000, compared to the national average of just over $31,000. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, in Little Rock or Boise, it is. But in southern California, that income level qualifies you for housing assistance.
Irvine separates qualified households (one person living alone counts as a household) into four categories: extremely low income, very low income, low income, and moderate-income. In most cities, moderate-income households would not have trouble finding affordable housing, but again, the cost of living here is literally double some parts of the country.
One thing to keep in mind is that although your income may qualify you for a Section 8 voucher, landlords have the right to ask that tenants prove that their income is 2.5 times the monthly rent. Even though they know that the rent is mostly covered, many do put this restriction on prospective tenants.
Here are the income limits:
| Number of Person | Extremely low income | Very low income | Low Income | Moderate income |
| 1 | $28,250 | $47,100 | $75,300 | $89,650 |
| 2 | $32,300 | $53,800 | $86,050 | $102,450 |
| 3 | $36,350 | $60,550 | $96,800 | $115,250 |
| 4 | $40,350 | $67,250 | $107,550 | $128,050 |
| 5 | $43,600 | $72,650 | $116,200 | $138,300 |
| 6 | $46,850 | $78,050 | $124,800 | $148,550 |
| 7 | $50,500 | $83,400 | $133,400 | $158,800 |
| 8 | $53,300 | $88,800 | $142,000 | $169,050 |
Irvine residents are taking the same inflation hit as other Californians, but each year HUD and the California Department of Housing and Community Development re-evaluate the income limits. This happens in mid-to-late summer, but until then, these are the income restrictions.
Other Housing Resources in Irvine, CA
Although the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers for low-income families in Irvine is closed, the list for some specialized assistance is open. This doesn't mean there's a spot; it simply means that the waitlist isn't full.
These options may be taking applications; call before you apply:
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Buena Esperanza Apartments Project-Based Voucher
Homeless veterans are eligible to apply for a voucher for this community. The phone numbers are (844) 838-8300 or (714) 562-9803.
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Westminster Crossing Apartments Project-Based Voucher
One-bedroom apartments may be available for homeless residents of Irvine or Orange County. Telephone (714) 480-2700 if you need assistance.
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Altrudy Senior Apartments Project-Based Voucher
Seniors who are homeless, or eligible for services under the Special Needs Housing program, can apply for a one-bedroom apartment here. Applicants must be referred by the Orange County Coordinated Entry System (CES) to the Housing Authority.
If you need more information on how to apply in Orange County or Irvine, here's the address and telephone.
Irvine Civic Center 1 Civic Center Plaza Irvine, CA 92606-5207. Telephone: 949-724-6000. You can also contact the Orange County Housing Authority at 714-480-2700.
This is a Lot to Navigate. Can DoNotPay Help?
When you need housing assistance, figuring out which agency is most likely to help is hard. Then, you've got to be sure that your application has all the information it needs, and all the supporting documents have to be included. It's a stressful situation.
Fortunately, DoNotPay can assess your information, run it through our sophisticated database for , and determine where your best options are to apply. Just a few clicks and you're on your way.
Here's how.
- Answer a few questions about your income, family size, veteran/disability status, which county you hope to live in, etc.
- DoNotPay will find the PHA in charge of that county and contact them with all of your eligibility information to determine if you can start applying. They'll get back to you directly via email with the next steps.
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