Download the Owner Assurance Program Claim Form here

Owners renting to a Housing Choice Voucher participant receive exclusive protection for their property.

The Owner Assurance Program can reimburse owners up to $5,000 for costs that exceed the security deposit related to:

• Tenant-caused damage
• Unpaid rent & utilities
• Vacancy loss due to lease termination
• Legal fees associated with lease termination

The Owner Assurance Program is available to all owners renting to Housing Choice Voucher participants in the County of Santa Cruz and the Cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista. Reimbursement is dependent on availability of funds.

Owners’ claims must meet the following conditions:

• Incurred expenses exceed the security deposit
• Owner attempted to collect damage expenses and/or unpaid rent balances from the tenant before filing a claim with the Housing Authority
• Owner has documentation of the incurred expenses
• Claim was submitted within 60 days of the tenant’s vacate date

To file a claim, fill out the Owner Assurance Program Claim Form and submit it to the Housing Authority for review. You may submit the claim by delivering it to the Housing Authority office or by sending it [email protected]

Please read the Owner Assurance Program Claim Form carefully to ensure you have included all the required supporting documentation.

Failure to provide all the required supporting documentation may result in delay or denial of the claim.

The Housing Authority may issue an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) to households that are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, and in a select number of other situations.

You will receive a one-time $2,000 bonus if you rent to an EHV participant in Santa Cruz County or San Benito County. You may also be eligible for a $500 reimbursement for unit repairs.

Please note that eligibility for the EHV Bonus Program is determined by the participant’s voucher type. Even if your prospective tenant is homeless, that does not guarantee they hold an EHV.

To verify the voucher type of your prospective tenant, please contact the Leasing Specialist at (831) 454-5917 or [email protected].

In collaboration with the Housing for Health Partnership, the Housing Authority issues special voucher types to select populations.

You will receive a one-time $2,000 bonus if you rent to a Housing Choice Voucher participant in Santa Cruz County who holds one of the following voucher types:

• Family Unification Program
• Family Unification Program – Youth
• Disabled & Medically Vulnerable Homeless Persons
• Welfare-to-Work Program
• Homeless Families with Minors
• Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing
• Shelter Plus Care
• Mainstream – CARES Act
• Stability Vouchers

Please note that the Lease-Up Bonus Program is only available for housing units in Santa Cruz County.

To verify the voucher type of your prospective tenant, please contact the Leasing Specialist at (831) 454-5917 or [email protected].