The VHA/SCHA has established appropriate recertification procedures necessary to ensure that the income data provided by families is complete and accurate. The family must complete a recertification form. The recertification form will be reviewed by the VHA/SCHA, and the information provided by the family will be verified.

Families will be granted a maximum of one (1) reschedule for good cause. If the family does not appear for the recertification interview in person or by phone, and has not rescheduled or made prior arrangements, the VHA/SCHA will send a notice scheduling a final appointment for a resolution conference. If the family fails to appear for the final appointment, and has not requested in advance to reschedule for good cause, or if the family has a pattern of missed appointments, the VHA/SCHA will send the family a notice of termination and offer them an Informal Hearing.

The VHA/SCHA may deny or terminate assistance for a family because of the family's action or failure to act. The VHA/SCHA provides families with a written description of the family obligations under the program, the grounds under which the VHA/SCHA can deny or terminate assistance, and the VHA/SCHA's informal hearing procedures.

Section 8 Regulations now require that all income (money) you receive must be reported. This includes Food Stamps, income received by children, etc. Although not all these amounts are used to calculate your share of the rent, you must report them. Also complete current bank statements or other asset income must be reported. It is a HUD requirement that families report all changes in household composition.

'Good Cause' is defined as an unavoidable conflict that seriously affects the health, safety or welfare of the family. Families will be granted a maximum of one (1) reschedules for good cause.

In the notification letter to the family, the VHA/SCHA will include instructions for the family to bring the following items: Completed Personal Declaration Form; Current documentation of all household income and assets; Current documentation of any deductions/allowances; and Release of Information documents signed by all adult household members. If all required documentation isn't provided by the date of the interview appointment, the family will be given a form requesting any missing documents and allow 7 calendar days to provide them. If the documents are not provided within 7 calendar days, the VHA/SCHA may begin the process to terminate the family's assistance.

In accordance with HUD requirements, the Vacaville Housing Authority (VHA) and the Solano County Housing Authority (SCHA) will recertify the income and household composition of all families at least annually.

The average person would take about five years to meet their goals. However, it is common for some people to finish sooner. Some people have extenuating circumstances and may need longer than 5 years. An extension may be possible.

Once the family completes their contract, the money belongs to the family to use as they choose. Many past FSS participants have used their escrow accounts to help buy a home of their own.

The escrow account that can accrue for you is an excellent source for a down payment. You would also have access to first-time homebuyer guidance and resources. And don't forget the most important part ' you'll be aiming towards working in a job of your choosing and earning an income that should enable you to qualify for a home loan.

The family meets with the FSS Coordinator and sets goals for a 5-year period. Together they identify the steps the family needs to take to meet those goals and what services can help meet their needs along the way. Throughout the 5 years the family will have access to support services, a variety of resources, and a growing escrow account!

It doesn't. FSS is a voluntary program. If you choose not to participate, it will not affect your Section 8 assistance in any way. So what have you got to lose?

No, you are still eligible if you are employed.

It will be necessary to contact the Housing Authority you wish to transfer to and ask if they have a FSS Program and if they are able to accept you into their FSS Program. You must contact the FSS Coordinator at the receiving Housing Authority within 30 days of leasing up in their jurisdiction. For more information, please refer to the FSS brochure.

Having a job when you start the program is not necessary. All you need is the desire to change your current circumstances

That's okay, one of the services provided by the program is assistance with goal setting and career counseling. These resources will help you understand your strengths, interests, and identify jobs that would be most likely to suit you. This can help you choose what you want to do.

FSS stands for Family Self-Sufficiency. It's a program designed to help Section 8 participants work their way off government assistance and become financially independent.

When an FSS family's earned income increases the family's share of rent also increases and the amount the Housing Authority pays goes down resulting in a savings for the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority is then able to deposit money in an account for the family every month that this increase exists. When the family completes their FSS contract, they get the money that has been saved in the escrow account!

SCHA and VHA offers interpretation and translation services to ensure equal access to our housing programs for those with limited English proficiency. Please request translation services as needed with any staff.

To cancel your request, you must notify SCHA in writing before your voucher expires. However, this is only valid for your Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) and not your current rental contract. Please contact your landlord directly to request changes to your notice or rental contract.

When you receive your voucher, you have an initial term of 120 days from the issuance date to search for a rental unit to lease. You must request an extension from your Housing Specialist if you need additional time to search for a home - they can extend your voucher for an additional 60 days from the date of your Housing Specialist's approval or 60 days from the voucher's original expiration date, whichever is later. You must submit the extension request at least 10 days before your voucher is set to expire.

SCA or VHA can also provide a final extension of 60 days beyond the first 60-day extension if it's determined that the family is experiencing extenuating circumstances that affect the family's ability to find a unit.

Please see the general response timelines below:

Response to call or email: Housing Specialists are working through their messages as quickly as possible and it may take up to 3 business days to respond to your inquiry. If your Housing Specialist is out of the office, another staff member will cover the answering of their calls and/or emails.

Response to income change request: Processing times for income change requests is roughly 4-6 weeks. When your request is processed, SCCHA will send a letter to you and your landlord notifying all parties of the change. In many cases, the effective date of your new rent amount is the first day of the month after your Housing Specialist has received all supporting documentation.

Response to request for reasonable accommodation: The processing time for reasonable accommodation requests is roughly 4-6 weeks. Reasonable accommodations requests must be submitted to your Housing Specialist in writing. After you share the request with SCCHA, the medical or other knowledgeable professional you listed in the request must respond to SCCHA's confirmation inquiry. SCCHA will mail you a letter with the decision.

Any earned income including but not limited to:
Employment Income
Social Service Assistance
Unemployment
Disability

For a full list of income, please refer to this list published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

As a Housing Choice Voucher participant, you'll generally pay 30% of your income in rent. The easiest way to find your rent portion is by using the Tenant Portal, where you can always find your updated rent amount without having to contact your Housing Specialist.

To receive rental assistance under the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program, families whose annual income as of 4/1/2025 does not exceed the following are eligible:

Family of:

One	Two	Three	Four	Five	Six	Seven	Eight
$48,100	$54,950	$61,850	$68,700	$74,200	$79,700	$85,200	$90,700

Generally, every 1-3 years SCCHA is required to check program eligibility including income and household members. Because we use federal money to give households rental assistance, we must follow the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules and requirements. You can learn more about re-examinations here.

It's generally in the same month as your first income exam.

-You cannot move to another unit with Section 8 assistance if you owe money to any Housing Authority.
-The terms of your lease may'require you to stay until a certain date. If you decide to move before that date, your landlord must agree in writing. If you move without doing this, you could lose your assistance and be sued by the landlord'for monthly rent until the lease runs out or until another tenant is found.
-You must turn in the signed RFTA prior to 5 p.m.'on the day your voucher expires or you will lose your assistance.
-Housing Assistance Payments cannot begin until the unit is approved and inspected by the Housing Authority.
-Before making a deposit on a unit, contact your Housing Technician with the rent amount of the unit, utility information, and size and location of the unit to make sure you are eligible.

Yes. Portability is a feature of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program which allows families to move to areas outside the jurisdiction of the VHA/SCHA.' However, families may not be permitted to move outside the VHA/SCHA jurisdiction under portability procedures during the initial year of assisted occupancy, unless the requested move is necessary due to a job offer or necessary medical treatments outside normal commuting distance.' Your HCV allows you to look for housing anywhere within the United States where a Voucher program exists. Once you decide you wish to move to another area under the portability feature, the following steps must be taken:
-Determine there is a Housing Authority operating a HCV program in the area you want to relocate.
-Provide your landlord with the original written copy of a 30 Day Notice. Provide the Housing Authority with a copy of the written notice given to your landlord.
-Schedule an appointment with your Housing Technician to be issued a new Voucher and notify your Housing Technician of what city/state you are planning to relocate to.'Do not move until you have been issued a new Voucher. You will lose your housing assistance if you move before being issued a new Voucher.
-The Housing Authority will mail the necessary documents to the Housing Authority where you are requesting to transfer.
-When you arrive at your destination, you must check-in with the Receiving Housing Authority before renting a unit. They may require additional information from you before they can process your paperwork. The Receiving Housing Authority will provide you with information necessary for renting a unit in their area.'Do not rent a unit until it has been approved by the Receiving Housing Authority. If you rent a unit without approval, you may be responsible for the full rent and lose your Section 8'HCV assistance.

Landlords are encouraged to advertise their units on'www.gosection8.com'website. Also check the newspapers, tell friends and relatives what type of unit you are looking for, and drive around the area you are wanting to relocate to check for Rental Available signs on properties.

-The Payment Standard may be different. This may affect the amount the Housing Authority contributes toward your rent.
-The Receiving Housing Authority may change the bedroom size of your Voucher which also may affect your portion of rent.
-You must also remember that each Housing Authority operates a little differently. You will be required to follow the'rules of the Receiving Housing Authority.

Provide your current'landlord with the original written 30 Day Notice. Provide the Housing Authority with a copy of the written notice given to your landlord. Contact your Housing Technician to make an appointment to be issued a new Voucher. Do not move until you have been issued a new Voucher. You will lose your housing assistance if you move before being issued a new Voucher. At the appointment with your Housing Technician you will be issued a new Voucher and'given a Request for Tenancy Agreement (RFTA) form to be completed by the new landlord and signed by both of you. You will be required to return the completed RFTA form along with a copy of the proposed unsigned lease. Once the RFTA and lease information is approved by your Housing Technician, the new landlord will be contacted to set up the inspection of the new unit. Do not sign the lease or move in until the unit has passed inspection. The inspector will contact you to let you know the date of the inspection. Once the unit passes inspection you will be authorized to sign the lease and move into the new unit.

Moving within the same complex requires the same process as moving somewhere else except if the landlord is willing to waive the 30-Day Notice.' You must have the landlord's permission to change units within the same complex. You must contact your Housing Technician to let them know you have the okay of the landlord before moving even within the same complex. Your Housing Technician will need to issue you a new voucher, just as if you were moving to a complete new residence. If you move without being issued a new Voucher (even within the same complex) you will lose your Section 8 assistance. Once you make an appointment with your Housing Technician to be issued the new voucher, your technician will give you a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) form. Even though your landlord is not changing, you will need new paperwork for the new unit. You will have to return the RFTA form completed by your landlord and signed by you and your landlord along with a copy of the proposed unsigned lease. Once the RFTA and lease information is approved by your Housing Technician, your landlord will be contacted to set up an inspection of the new unit. Do not sign the lease or move in until the unit has passed inspection. The inspector will contact you to let you know the date of the inspection. Once the unit passes inspection you will be authorized to sign the lease and move into the new unit.

Yes.
-You must add someone to the household if that person stays for more than 14 consecutive days or 30 cumulative days within a 12 month period.
-You must complete the Adding Someone to Your Household form and follow the steps listed on the checklist.
-You must have the Housing Authority's approval before allowing someone to move into your Section 8 household.

Yes. Most of our contact with you will be by mail. Much of the correspondence will be time sensitive (meaning there will be an appointment date or a deadline to return paperwork) that could jeopardize your housing assistance if you do not meet the deadline. Therefore, it will be necessary to notify the Housing Authority when you have a change in how you receive your mail. It is also very important to notify the Housing Authority of any changes to your telephone number so we may get a message to you immediately if necessary.

Yes. Within 10 business days you must notify the Housing Authority in writing of the birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody of a child. You must:
-Complete the Adding Someone to Your Household form
-Provide birth certificate
-Provide Social Security Card
-Provide current school registration if the person you are adding is a student
-Declaration of Citizenship form must be completed and signed
-Provide adoption paperwork if adoption
-Provide court paperwork if change in custody of a child

To add someone to your household, you must:

-Provide the Housing Authority with a copy of your landlord's written permission to add that person to your household
-Complete the Adding Someone to Your Household form
-Request Housing Authority approval to add any other family member as an occupant of your unit
-Provide birth certificate
-Provide Social Security Card and/or alien registration card
-Provide Driver's License or state identification card if 18 or older
-Provide current documentation of all income sources for each person you are adding including children
-Provide bank statements or proof of other asset income for each person you are adding including children
-Provide current school registration if the person you are adding is a student
-Declaration of Citizenship form must be completed and signed for each person you are adding including children
-Return Authorization for the Release of Information/Privacy Act Notice signed by each adult you are adding
-Return Authorization for the Release of Information form signed by each adult you are adding
-Return 'Add Someone' brochure signed by each adult you are adding to your household
You must have the Housing Authority's approval before allowing someone to move into your Section 8 household.

Assets include:
-Amounts in savings and checking accounts
-Stocks, bonds, savings certificates, money market funds and other investment accounts
-Equity in real property
-Cash value of trusts that may be withdrawn by the family
-IRA, Keogh, and retirement savings accounts
-Lump sum receipts such as inheritances, capital gains, lottery winnings, and insurance settlements
-Personal property held as investment i.e. gems, jewelry, coin collections, antique cars
-Cash value of life insurance policies
-Assets disposed of for less than fair market value during the two years before certification or recertification and should be reported at the time of certification or annual recertification or within 30 days of receipt of lump sum.

All changes must be reported in writing on a VHA/SCHA authorized form. You must notify the Housing Authority of any change in your household composition within 10 business days of the change. You must notify the Housing Authority if someone is no longer a part of your household. You must complete the Report of Change in Income/Family Composition form and provide necessary documentation to prove that person is no longer a part of you Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) household i.e. copy of lease where they have moved, copy of mail forwarding order stamped by the post office, and/or business mail (pay stubs, credit card bills) with the new address.

Changes in income must be reported in writing on a'Report of Change in Income/Family Composition form within 30 days of the date the change occurs. Documentation to verify the change must be attached to the Report of Change in Income/Family Composition form. Required documentation could be:
-Income - recent check stub or letter from employer or name, address, and telephone number of employer
-Unemployment - recent printout from EDD or check stub
-Welfare - recent printout or current Notice of Action
-Social Security/Supplemental Social Security - letter from Social Security Administration
-Child/Spousal Support - copy of check or DA printout or letter or court documents or website printout

How to Find a Place to Live (document link)

A Good Place to Live! (document link)

Landlord Manager's Guide (document link)

If prior to moving in the repairs are not completed, you must look for another home.

If during an annual inspection repairs are necessary and the repairs have not been made in the time allowed: If the landlord is responsible a letter will be sent notifying the landlord that housing assistance payments to the owner will be stopped. If the family is responsible Section 8 assistance will be terminated.

If the inspection fails prior to moving into a new unit it is required that all repairs must be made and the house or apartment must be re-inspected before any lease is signed. If the owner cannot, or will not, repairs are not completed, you must look for another home.
If during an annual inspection the unit fails the VHA/SCHA will follow-up within 30 days of the date the unit failed (24 hours for life threatening violations) to verify that all repairs have been made.
If landlord repairs are not made within a reasonable time, payment to the landlord will stop.
If tenant repairs are not made within a reasonable time, Section 8 assistance will be terminated.
A re-inspection may be done to verify that all repairs have been made.

The VHA/SCHA inspects for the following key aspects of housing quality:

Sanitary facilities, food preparation and garbage disposal
Space and security
Heating
Lighting and electricity
Structure and materials
Interior air quality
Water supply
Lead-based paint
Access
Site and neighborhood
Sanitary conditions
Smoke detectors
Plumbing to ensure no leaks
Tripping hazards

VHA/SCHA inspects and approves units before the lease is signed. Properties are also inspected once a year to make sure the property meets basic health and safety standards. Landlords are invited and''encouraged to attend.

The Vacaville Housing Authority (VHA) and Solano County Housing Authority (SCH)'will schedule an on-site inspection to make sure the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS). HQS help to ensure that your home will be safe, decent and sanitary.

Yes. Applications may be submitted through a participating lender for one of the City's'down payment assistance loan programs.'Visit Loan Programs page for additional information (https://cityofvacaville-redesign.prod.govaccess.org/government/housing-and-community-services/loan-programs).

Yes. The unit must:

-Be under construction or already existing
-Be either a single family home, or a single dwelling unit in a condominium
-Pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. In addition to the HQS inspection, the family must arrange and pay for an inspection to be conducted by a licensed home inspector and submit a copy of that inspection to the Housing Authority

The family must:

-Comply with all Homeownership Family Obligations
-Complete an Annual Recertification of income and family composition
-Participate in any additional Homeownership Counseling as required by the Housing Authority.
-Be in the VHA/SCHA jurisdiction for at least one year.

Yes. Instead of using the voucher subsidy to help with rent, the homeownership option allows the first-time homeowner to use the voucher subsidy to pay a portion of the mortgage payment to the lender for the home you chose to purchase

The Homeownership Program will assist eligible participants:

For 15 years if the mortgage is 20 years or longer; 10 years if less than 20 years. (These maximums do not apply to eligible elderly or disabled families.) , or
Until the family is no longer eligible for a Mortgage Assistance Payment based on the household income, or
Until the family no longer participates in the Homeownership Program.
As long as the family continues to comply with all family obligations while they are receiving Mortgage Assistance Payments.
For more information, please refer to the Homeownership Brochure.

HUD requires a minimum down payment of 3% or more of the purchase price with at least 1% of the down payment coming from the family's own personal resources.

The participant will be issued a Homeownership Program Voucher authorizing them to search for a suitable home to purchase. They will also sign the Homeownership Family Obligations and attend a briefing session to further explain the program and responsibilities of the participant. The voucher allows six months for the participant to search for suitable housing and financing. They will work with their realtor, lenders, and the Housing Authority during that time. The participant must never sign a sales agreement until it is approved by the Housing Authority.

Section 8 participants who are working, elderly or disabled can be eligible for the program if they:

-Are a first-time homeowner
-Are a Housing Choice Voucher Program participant for at least one year in the Housing Authourity's jurisdiction
-Complete a Homebuyer Education Learning Program (H.E.L.P.) training or other Housing Authority approved first time homebuyer education program
-Successfully complete a credit repair workshop (if necessary)
-Do not have an outstanding debt with any Housing Authority
-Have not previously defaulted on a mortgage while participating in a Section 8 Homeownership Program
-Are not in violation of the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program Family Obligations
-Do not have an ownership interest in any other residence.