Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) | Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz

Tenant-based Rental Assistance

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the Housing Authority Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) to continue relief from the COVID-19 pandemic impacts. Eligibility for these EHVs was limited to individuals and families who are (1) homeless; (2) at risk of homelessness; (3) fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; or (4) recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability.

September 2025 Update:

When the program was created, the funding originally appropriated by Congress was anticipated by HUD to last through September 30, 2030. However, the funding is running out sooner than planned, due to program costs that were higher than expected. HUD has informed housing authorities that no additional funds will be provided, and that the program will end. The White House and Congress are not currently proposing to provide additional funds to the Program. Unless additional funding is provided, EHV rental assistance will end in December 2026.

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz wants to connect everyone in EHV to another affordable housing solution before December 2026. However, we cannot guarantee continued assistance for everyone after that date.

EHV-assisted households have all been sent an EHV Notice letter explaining what the Housing Authority is doing to assist current EHV Program participants:

Prioritization for HCV Program Openings: EHV households have been added to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting list and will get priority for any HCV or similar program openings.
Prioritization for Vacant Housing Authority-owned Housing Units: When vacancies occur in Housing Authority owned or managed properties, we will contact EHV households with information about the vacancy and offer eligible EHV households the opportunity to move into the unit.
Prioritization for Available Non-Housing Authority PBV Housing Units: When there is an available Project Based Voucher (PBV) unit opportunity for you, the Housing Authority will send eligible EHV households a letter with information about the opportunity to apply for the PBV housing unit(s).
Collaborating with the County of Santa Cruz Housing for Health Division and Affordable Housing Providers: The Housing Authority will continue working with the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department, Housing for Health Division, to identify additional housing solutions. We are contacting all affordable housing providers and asking if they will prioritize EHV households for any available affordable housing programs or units in their buildings.

Although the Housing Authority cannot guarantee we can connect all EHV households with another affordable housing solution before the program funding ends, we will continue working tirelessly towards this goal.

Current EHV Program participants may call the Housing Authority with any questions or concerns they may have about their housing and rental assistance. Housing Authority staff, ready to assist with EHV questions, can be reached directly at (831) 454-5955.