Emergency Housing Voucher Program Update – September 2026
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) will be able to make Housing Assistance Payments behalf of Emergency Housing Voucher households for December in addition to October and November.
Although the federal government is still ending funding for the EHV program five years sooner than expected, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) notified SDHC that HUD is allocating additional funding that will allow SDHC to continue payments through December 2026.
There also have been recent discussions at the federal level about Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) possibly becoming available for EHV participants. However, no additional assistance through TPVs has been confirmed at this time.
Starting January 1, 2027, SDHC will not be able to continue to help you pay rental housing costs for EHV households. The EHV program will end due to a lack of federal funding.
Possible Transition to Project-Based Voucher Program
There may be a chance for existing SDHC EHV families to transfer to a Project-Based Voucher (PBV).
PBVs provide rental assistance that is tied to a specific rental housing unit. A current EHV household would be required to live in a PBV unit to receive rental assistance.
SDHC’s waiting list for PBVs now includes a preference for EHV families. This preference is only available to SDHC’s existing assisted EHV participants. It is not available to new EHV families who move into the City of San Diego from other jurisdictions or currently administered EHV participants from other jurisdictions. Please keep in mind that the number of PBV units that will be available before EHV funding ends will not be enough to serve most EHV families. This means only a small number of EHV families at risk of losing their vouchers may find housing with an SDHC PBV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Resources
SDHC’s priority is to ensure that EHV families remain connected to resources that can support their transition after their rental assistance ends.
- Visit sdhc.org/resources
- Resource Directory (English / Spanish)
- Additional Resource List
SDHC’s current EHV families may also call 619-578-7717 or email us at ehv@sdhc.org for more information about SDHC’s additional efforts to assist them during this transition period.
SDHC is also collaborating with Legal Aid Society of San Diego to assist EHV families. For more information, visit www.lassd.org/resource/ehv_program/ or call 1-877-534-2524.
