2024-104 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Households Face Long Wait Times for Vouchers and Potential Housing Loss When an Emergency Housing Program Ends
Published: March 19, 2026
Audit Recommendations Disclosure
When an audit is completed and a report is issued, auditees must provide the State Auditor with information regarding their progress in implementing recommendations from our reports at three intervals from the release of the report: 60 days, six months, and one year. Additionally, Senate Bill 1452 (Chapter 452, Statutes of 2006), requires auditees who have not implemented recommendations after one year, to report to us and to the Legislature why they have not implemented them or to state when they intend to implement them. Below is a listing of each recommendation the State Auditor made in the report referenced and a link to the most recent response from the auditee addressing their progress in implementing the recommendation and the State Auditor’s assessment of auditee’s response based on our review of the supporting documentation.
Recommendations to the Legislature
| Recommendation | Current State Auditor Assessment Status |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 1 To ensure that affected households, other stakeholders, and the public clearly understand the potential impacts of the end of EHV, the Legislature should consider requiring each housing agency in the State that administers EHV to publish a transition plan that clearly outlines when and how it will transition affected households to HCV, as well as when it expects to run out of its EHV funding. | No action taken |
| Recommendation 2 To mitigate the risk that households throughout the State may become homeless after EHV ends, the Legislature could either establish a temporary state program to provide direct assistance to impacted households or could allocate additional funding to existing state programs that address housing insecurity, such as the CalWORKs Housing Support Program, specifically for the purpose of providing assistance to households affected by the end of EHV. | No action taken |
Recommendation to the Orange County Housing Authority
| Recommendation | Current State Auditor Assessment Status |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 3 If Orange determines that it either will not or may not be able to transition all of its EHV households to the HCV program, it should immediately notify impacted EHV households and provide them with the expected date that their housing assistance will end. It should also immediately notify its stakeholders and the public. | Fully implemented |
Recommendations to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
| Recommendation | Current State Auditor Assessment Status |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 4 If Sacramento determines that it either will not or may not be able to transition all of its EHV households to the HCV program, it should immediately notify impacted EHV households and provide them with the expected date that their housing assistance will end. It should also immediately notify its stakeholders and the public. | Fully implemented |
| Recommendation 7 To address its expected inability to promptly transition its EHV households to the HCV program before the EHV program ends, Sacramento should immediately work with its authorizing agencies and CoC to identify potential sources of funds that could provide timely housing assistance to these individuals and families. | Fully implemented |
Recommendations to the Housing Authority of the County of Riverside
| Recommendation | Current State Auditor Assessment Status |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 5 To ensure compliance with federal requirements and to serve as a resource for applicants who have disabilities, Riverside should immediately designate a section 504 coordinator. | Fully implemented |
| Recommendation 6 To ensure that its administration of its HCV waiting list aligns with its administrative plan and that it does not inappropriately remove households from its waiting list, Riverside should, by September 2026, update its communications to applicants to accurately reflect the deadlines it has established regarding how long applicants may take to respond to communications from the housing agency. | Fully implemented |
Recommendations to the Legislature
Recommendation 1
To ensure that affected households, other stakeholders, and the public clearly understand the potential impacts of the end of EHV, the Legislature should consider requiring each housing agency in the State that administers EHV to publish a transition plan that clearly outlines when and how it will transition affected households to HCV, as well as when it expects to run out of its EHV funding.
Agency response status:
Not fully implemented
State Auditor assessment status:
No action taken
60-Day Agency Response
As of 5/18/26, the Legislature has not taken any action in the 2025/26 Legislative Session to address this specific recommendation.
Recommendation 2
To mitigate the risk that households throughout the State may become homeless after EHV ends, the Legislature could either establish a temporary state program to provide direct assistance to impacted households or could allocate additional funding to existing state programs that address housing insecurity, such as the CalWORKs Housing Support Program, specifically for the purpose of providing assistance to households affected by the end of EHV.
Agency response status:
Not fully implemented
State Auditor assessment status:
No action taken
60-Day Agency Response
As of 5/18/26, the Legislature has not taken any action in the 2025/26 Legislative Session to address this specific recommendation.
Recommendation to the Orange County Housing Authority
Recommendation 3
If Orange determines that it either will not or may not be able to transition all of its EHV households to the HCV program, it should immediately notify impacted EHV households and provide them with the expected date that their housing assistance will end. It should also immediately notify its stakeholders and the public.
Agency response status:
Fully implemented
Date of implementation:
March 2026
State Auditor assessment status:
Fully implemented
60-Day Agency Response
This recommendation requires OCHA to immediately notify impacted EHV households if we will not, or may not, be able to transition them to the HCV program, and to provide an estimated date when their assistance would end. OCHA fully supports and is prepared to implement this requirement.
At this time, however, the circumstances that would trigger these notifications do not exist. Based on current funding projections, OCHA does not expect any EHV households to lose assistance due to a lack of available funding, and therefore no such notices are required or anticipated.
Although no action is currently necessary, OCHA has implemented the underlying commitment by publicly communicating our funding outlook through our website, community partners, and direct outreach to EHV voucher holders as they are scheduled to transition to the HCV program. OCHA will continue to meet the State’s requirement and will promptly notify EHV households, stakeholders, and the public if conditions change in a way that would trigger this action.
We have previously provided our letters and FAQ related to this recommendation.
Recommendations to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
Recommendation 4
If Sacramento determines that it either will not or may not be able to transition all of its EHV households to the HCV program, it should immediately notify impacted EHV households and provide them with the expected date that their housing assistance will end. It should also immediately notify its stakeholders and the public.
Agency response status:
Fully implemented
Date of implementation:
May 2026
State Auditor assessment status:
Fully implemented
60-Day Agency Response
SHRA has taken multiple proactive steps to assist & notify EHV households, stakeholders, & the public regarding the uncertainty of EHV funding:
- SHRA obtained a waiver from HUD allowing all EHV households to be added to both the HCV & Public Housing waiting lists.
- In March 2026, SHRA mailed letters & sent emails to all EHV households notifying them of the funding uncertainty, informing them that they had been added to the top of the HCV waiting list, & providing information regarding upcoming public forums.
- The SHRA HCV Director held two public forums on April 14, 2026, and April 28, 2026, to provide updates on EHV funding, answer questions, and inform EHV households, stakeholders, and the public about the status of the program, including anticipated timelines for the exhaustion of EHV funding
- SHRA has instructed all EHV households to regularly monitor the SHRA EHV webpage for ongoing updates, program information, and future announcements regarding the status of their housing assistance.
- HCV Director Cheyenne Caraway met with Sacramento City and Sacramento County staff on May 14, 2026, to discuss EHV funding and potential impacts to participating households.
- HCV Director Cheyenne Caraway is scheduled to present the EHV program and funding update at the public SHRA Commission meeting on June 3, 2026.
- SHRA plans to host additional EHV forums in June 2026, led by the HCV Director and/or staff, to continue providing households with updated information regarding EHV funding.
- SHRA has continuously monitored funding updates from HUD regarding the availability of additional EHV funding resources. These efforts are intended to ensure transparency, provide timely communication to impacted households and stakeholders, and help households prepare for any potential changes to their housing assistance.
Recommendation 7
To address its expected inability to promptly transition its EHV households to the HCV program before the EHV program ends, Sacramento should immediately work with its authorizing agencies and CoC to identify potential sources of funds that could provide timely housing assistance to these individuals and families.
Agency response status:
Fully implemented
Date of implementation:
May 2025
State Auditor assessment status:
Fully implemented
60-Day Agency Response
SHRA began coordinating with its authorizing agencies and the Continuum of Care (CoC) upon identifying the potential inability to transition all EHV households to the HCV program before EHV funding is exhausted. SHRA has taken the following actions to identify potential funding sources and alternative housing assistance options for impacted households:
- SHRA began meeting with its authorizing agencies and the CoC in September 2025 to discuss the anticipated EHV funding shortfall and identify potential funding sources and resources for affected households.
- SHRA HCV Director MaryLiz Paulson provided presentations to governing boards in November 2025 regarding the status of EHV funding and the potential impacts to participating households.
- SHRA closely monitored HUD communications and anticipated additional guidance regarding potential supplemental funding opportunities. HUD subsequently issued additional information through PIH Notice 2026-12 on May 6, 2026.
- SHRA obtained HUD waivers allowing all EHV households to be added to the HCV waitlist and the Public Housing waiting lists, providing households with access to additional potential housing opportunities.
- SHRA continues to monitor HUD funding updates related to the availability of additional EHV and HCV funding resources and will continue providing timely updates to EHV households, stakeholders, and the public regarding any new developments or funding opportunities.
Recommendations to the Housing Authority of the County of Riverside
Recommendation 5
To ensure compliance with federal requirements and to serve as a resource for applicants who have disabilities, Riverside should immediately designate a section 504 coordinator.
Agency response status:
Fully implemented
Date of implementation:
Aug. 2026
State Auditor assessment status:
Fully implemented
60-Day Agency Response
Riverside is currently unable to provide a response due to a software update.
6-Month Agency Response
This recommendation has been fully implemented. We have designated 2 staff members to serve as our agency’s Section 504 Coordinator. Both staff members are a part of our executive management team. Tawnie Spicer is a supervisor and Erlan Gonzalez is a Program Manager. Both possess the necessary skills and knowledge in order to quickly resolve and address any issues that arise and will work collaboratively our agency meets compliance with federal requirements to serve as a resource for applicants and program participants who have disabilities.
Recommendation 6
To ensure that its administration of its HCV waiting list aligns with its administrative plan and that it does not inappropriately remove households from its waiting list, Riverside should, by September 2026, update its communications to applicants to accurately reflect the deadlines it has established regarding how long applicants may take to respond to communications from the housing agency.
Agency response status:
Fully implemented
Date of implementation:
July 2026
State Auditor assessment status:
Fully implemented
60-Day Agency Response
Riverside is unable to provide a response due to a software update.
6-Month Agency Response
We transitioned to a new software program and in this new software program and in the updated letter, we are giving applicants 45 days to respond either by logging into the applicant portal to “Save My Spot” or by signing the returning the letter to us. The letters are mailed out by USPS and sent by email for those that have listed an email address on their waiting list registration.
