The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program is a federally-funded program which enables income eligible individuals, families, senior citizens, disabled and handicapped persons to reside in privately-owned, decent, safe and sanitary housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.
A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. The unit must pass the program's housing quality standards and be maintained up to those standards as long as the Owner receives housing assistance payments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program. This unit may include the family's present residence as long as it meets the housing quality standard of the program.
When a family selects a housing unit, and the City of Torrance Public Housing Agency (PHA) approves the unit and lease, the family signs a lease with the Landlord for at least one year. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Torrance Housing Authority on behalf of the participating family. (The housing subsidy may not exceed the current payment standards.) The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
The City of Torrance PHA is not affiliated with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) South Office located at 19600 Hamilton Ave, Torrance, CA 90502. If you are trying to reach the HACLA South Office, please call (310) 225-6655.