When To Apply For County Waitlist Lotteries At 7 Housing Complexes
Community Corner
When To Apply For County Waitlist Lotteries At 7 Housing Complexes Extremely low-income earners can apply for waitlist lotteries for one—and two-bedroom units at seven complexes, including one in Petaluma.SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Housing Authority is preparing to accept applications soon for waitlist lotteries for one- and two-bedroom Project-Based Vouchers at affordable housing complexes, including one in Petaluma.
The waitlists are for applicants who meet the qualifications for extremely low income at or below 30 percent of the area median income. Applicants must provide information regarding income and any preferences for which they may qualify. To qualify, a family of four's income must be $41,500 or less per year.
Applications will be accepted Nov. 1-30 for project-based voucher units at:
Income-eligible people who want to be included in one of the above-listed project-based voucher waitlist lotteries must do so during the application period, Nov. 1-30. On their application, they must indicate which waitlist they are applying for.
Applications will only be accepted after the Nov. 1 opening and are due no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, if submitted in person at the Housing Authority's offices or by 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, if submitted online.
Beginning Nov. 1, applications may be completed online at www.waitlistcheck.com/CA085 or in person at the Housing Authority's new office, 141 Stony Circle, Suite 210 in Santa Rosa. Offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
The one- and two-bedroom unit waitlists adhere to the Housing Authority's subsidy standards and reasonable accommodation policy , typically assigned to households of one to three people for a one-bedroom unit and two to four people for a two-bedroom unit. If an applicant's household does not meet the criteria for income or household size for these lists, they can apply to additional Project Based Voucher lotteries (various bedroom sizes and income limits throughout Sonoma County) which will be open in the coming months.
The Sonoma County Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed and is not anticipated to reopen until the end of 2025. Applying for a project-based voucher unit will not result in an applicant being placed on the general Housing Choice Voucher waitlist, the county said.
The Housing Authority reminded the public that fees-for-service or credit card numbers are never collected when a person applies for a Housing Choice Voucher or a Project-Based Voucher waitlist.
"Scammers often create fraudulent websites that look authentic and make such requests for payment," the county said. "Please be wary. Their names may say "Section 8," and they may show an Equal Housing Opportunity logo. Such sites will often take the applicant's money and sell their personal information."
If someone encounters a website that seems fraudulent, the county recommends that they file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .
The only legitimate website to apply to the Sonoma County Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher Lottery is www.waitlistcheck.com/CA085 .
