Housing Assistance Payments Program
The City of Rancho Santa Margarita cooperates with the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA), which administers the Section 8 Voucher Program. The Housing Assistance Payments Program assists low income, elderly, and disabled households by paying the difference between 30% of an eligible household's income and the actual rent. This program addresses the needs of overpayment and overcrowding of very-low- and extremely-low-income households through the provision of adequately-sized apartments at affordable rents.
County Programs & Resources
The county also administers rental assistance programs targeting special needs groups, including families whose children are at risk of being placed in out-of-home care, disabled persons, homeless, and the frail elderly. These programs serve extremely-low-income persons and include:
- Family Unification Program provides Section 8 assistance to families whose children are at risk of being placed in out-of-home care or delayed in returning from care because of the families’ inadequate housing.
- Aftercare Program for Disabled provides Section 8 assistance specifically targeted to disabled applicants.
- Shelter Plus Care Program provides rent subsidies to homeless persons with disabilities.
- Hope for Elderly Independence provides Section 8 assistance to frail elderly persons.
For More Information
If you have interest in participating in any of these programs or to see if you are eligible to participate, please contact OCHA at 714-480-2700 or visit the
OCHA website.