Housing Authority

Emergency Housing Voucher Resources

Important Notice: The U.S. Department of Housing of Urban Development has notified us that they are ending the Emergency Housing Voucher program.

As of March 2026, the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach (HACLB) has informed both program participants and landlords about the planned conclusion of the federal Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program in 2026. This update follows the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) March 2025 announcement that pandemic-era housing supports would end sooner than originally expected.

Background

In 2021, HUD created the EHV program. This program was part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which was passed to help communities deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

EHVs are housing vouchers given to local housing agencies, like the HACLB. These vouchers help people and families who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or trying to escape situations like domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. As of 2026, HACLB is helping 500 households through this program.

Program Status

The EHV program was originally expected to run until 2030, but new guidance from HUD in March 2025 shortened that timeline. Because of this change, HACLB does not have enough funding to keep the vouchers going and must follow the federal government’s decision to end the program. Right now, it’s expected that the remaining funds will run out by October 2026.

HUD has issued guidance to housing authorities on transitioning EHV households into the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, formerly known as Section 8. However, moving participants from the EHV program to the HCV program requires that the housing authority have sufficient HCV funding available. At this time, HACLB does not have the necessary funding and therefore cannot transition all EHV participants into the HCV program.

HACLB was approved for a HUD waiver that allowed us to place all EHV households on our HCV waitlist with a preference for participants displaced due to government action. If funding becomes available, we will pull households from the waitlist in order of the established preferences:

• Displaced due to Government Action
• Live/Work in Long Beach
• Elderly/Disabled
• Veteran

HACLB will continue coordinating with HUD, reviewing program funding levels on a monthly basis, and sharing updates with local service provider partners as new information becomes available.

The phase-out of this federal funding applies only to the EHV program and does not affect other rental assistance programs managed by HACLB.

EHV FAQs

• Why is the program ending before September 30, 2030?

  Because of historically high increases in contract rents, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has notified Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) that current Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) funding will not be sufficient to support participating families beyond calendar year 2026. HUD is working to identify strategies that will allow the remaining EHV funds to last as long as possible in order to continue assisting families who are currently housed.

• When exactly is the program ending?

  Due to a lack of continued federal funding, EHV rental assistance is estimated to end around October 2026. Funding levels will fluctuate based on the number of participants served and changes in housing assistance payment amounts so we do not have the exact date our EHV funding will be exhausted but are monitoring our funding closely and will update you as more information becomes available.

• Can I switch to another EHV program?

  No, this is a national issue and all housing authorities with EHV clients are impacted.

• Can I transfer over to another program?

  HUD has issued guidance to housing authorities on transitioning EHV households into the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, formerly known as Section 8. However, moving participants from the EHV program to the HCV program requires that the housing authority have sufficient HCV funding available. At this time, HACLB does not have the necessary funding and therefore cannot transition all EHV participants into the HCV program.

  HACLB was approved for a HUD waiver that allowed us to place all EHV households on our HCV waitlist with a preference for participants displaced due to government action. If funding becomes available, we will pull households from the waitlist in order of the established preferences:

  • Displaced due to Government Action
  • Live/Work in Long Beach
  • Elderly/Disabled
  • Veteran

• What will happen when the program officially ends?

  HACLB will no longer provide rental payments to landlords.

  You may choose to remain in the unit. If you choose to do so, you will be responsible for the entire rent amount.

  If you are unable to pay the full rent after your housing assistance ends, you should communicate with your landlord as soon as possible to discuss possible solutions.

• What resources do I have to keep my housing?

  Affordable Housing Resources can be found on the link below. This is a listing of privately owned affordable housing in Long Beach. Each facility maintains its own independent waiting list. Contact the facilities you are interested in.

  Visit our affordable housing webpage.

• What does it mean for me since I signed a year lease with my landlord?

  When the Housing Authority has fully exhausted EHV funding, the Housing Assistance Payments will stop.  The lease between tenant and landlord remains valid even if the subsidy ends.  You may choose to remain in the unit. If you choose to do so, you will be responsible for the entire rent amount.  If you are unable to pay the full rent after your housing assistance ends, you should communicate with your landlord as soon as possible to discuss possible solutions.

• Will stability vouchers also be subject to funding loss?

  Funding for Stability Vouchers is not affected by the loss of EHV funding.

• A February Long Beach Post Article stated that EHV funding would be ending at the beginning of August, but the letter sent out this week states housing is ending some time in October 2026.

   Due to a lack of continued federal funding, EHV rental assistance is estimated to end around October 2026. Funding levels will fluctuate based on the number of participants served and changes in housing assistance payment amounts so we do not have the exact date our EHV funding will be exhausted but are monitoring our funding closely and will update you as more information becomes available.