The Community Development Commission (CDC) of Mendocino County offers a diverse variety of rental assistance programs enriching the lives of low-income individuals, families, the elderly, homeless, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

A rental subsidy is provided to eligible households allowing a more sustainable, self-sufficient, safe, and decent living environment for residents of Mendocino County. Participants pay a portion of the monthly rent dependent on the household’s income and the Community Development Commission provides a housing subsidy for the remaining portion of rent.

Our rental assistance programs consist of tenant-based vouchers and project-based vouchers.

Tenant based vouchers allow eligible households to locate their own housing in the private rental market. Once housing is found, approved and leased by the voucher holder, a monthly rental subsidy begins. Below is a list of our tenant-based voucher programs.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the Community Development Commissions largest rental assistance program, providing rental subsidy to approximately 750 households. This program is available to eligible low-income individuals and families.

How to Apply: This waiting list is closed.

HCV Resource Links:

• About the Housing Choice Voucher Program
• Housing Choice Voucher Fact Sheet
• CDC Administrative Plan

The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program is designed for homeless Veterans receiving case management and/or clinical services which are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). CDC provides rental assistance to approximately 60 VASH households.

How to Apply: Mendocino County’s local Veteran’s Clinic screens homeless Veterans for this program. Eligible homeless Veterans who agree to participate in case management will be referred by the VA Clinic directly to the Community Development Commission for final eligibility determination.

If you believe you qualify for this program, you may contact Mendocino County’s Ukiah VA Clinic at 630 Kings Court Ukiah, CA 95482 or call (707) 468-7700.

VASH Resource Links:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD-VASH Vouchers
• CDC's Administrative Plan, Chapter 13

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is designed for eligible low-income individuals and families who meet one of the following eligibility categories:

• homeless,
• at-risk of homelessness,
• fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or
• recently homeless individuals or households who have a high risk of housing instability.

CDC provides rental assistance for 82 EHV households.

This waiting list is only open to individuals and families who meet the recently homeless definition defined below.

Recently Homeless Definition: Individuals and families who have previously been classified as homeless by a homeless service provider, but;

• Are not currently homeless as a result of homeless assistance (financial assistance or services), temporary rental assistance, or some type of other assistance, and
• Where the homeless service provider determines the loss of such assistance would result in a return to homelessness, or the family having a high risk of housing instability.

How to Apply: Mendocino County service providers (identified below) determine if the household is eligible to apply for the EHV program. If so, and this waiting list is open, the service provider may submit a referral directly to the Community Development Commission and the household will be placed on the EHV waiting list.

If you believe you may qualify for the recently homeless definition, contact your homeless service provider to further inquire about the EHV referral process.

Service Providers:

EHV Resource Links:

• https://www.hud.gov/ehv
• EHV Flier
• CDC Administration Plan, Chapter 29

The Family Unification Program (FUP) is designed for eligible low-income families in which Mendocino County’s Public Child Welfare Agency has determined the lack of adequate housing is a factor in removing a child, or children from the home, or allowing the child/children to return to the home. The Community Development Commission also has Youth Vouchers under this program for 18 – 24-year-old individuals who left foster care, and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

CDC provides rental assistance to approximately 20 households under the Family Unification Program.

How to Apply: Mendocino County Family and Children Services determine if a household meets the eligibility criteria for this program. If determined eligible, Family and Children Services will submit a referral directly to the Community Development Commission, and the household will be placed on the waiting list. CDC is not currently accepting referrals for the Family Unification program.

FUP Resource Links:

• About the Family Unification Program
• CDC Administration Plan, Chapter 28

The Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program is a collaborative program between the Community Development Commission and Mendocino County’s Homeless Service Providers, providing rental assistance to approximately 136 households. The program is designed to help homeless individuals with a disability and their families, giving preference to those who are chronically homeless and determined to be the most vulnerable and at-risk individuals in our community.

How to Apply: Applicants for the PSH program are selected from the Coordinated Entry System (CES). The CES is a network that connects County wide resources to support people experiencing homelessness. To access the CES you must first contact a homeless service provider for an intake interview and assessment. The Community Development Commission selects applicants for the PSH program directly from the Coordinated Entry System.

If you have a disability, contact one of the Homeless Service Providers listed below for an intake interview and asssessment.

The project-based voucher (PBV) rental assistance program is offered by the Community Development Commission for specific developments located within Mendocino County. A rental subsidy is attached to an identified unit and is provided to eligible low-income individuals and families when they lease a unit at the development. Below is a list of developments that offer project-based voucher rental assistance.

Additional information on our project-based voucher program can be found in the Project Based Voucher Administration Plan, Chapter 21

How to Apply: Sun House project-based voucher units are designed for senior Veterans who receive supportive services from the VA. Eligible households are identified by Mendocino County’s local VA. If a unit becomes available, the local VA will submit a referral directly to the Community Development Commission. If you are a homeless veteran contact the Ukiah VA Clinic at 630 Kings Court Ukiah, CA 95482 or you may call (707) 468-7700.

The Plateau is located in Fort Bragg, CA and is the most recent addition to CDC’s project-based voucher program. The Plateau is a complex consisting of 69 units with 20 of these units providing project-based voucher rental subsidy. These units are designated for eligible low-income individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

How to Apply: Applicants for The Plateau are selected from the Coordinated Entry System (CES). The CES is a network that connects County wide resources to support people experiencing homelessness. To access the CES you must first contact a homeless service provider for an intake interview and assessment. The Community Development Commission selects applicants for The Plateau directly from the Coordinated Entry System.

If you are homeless, contact one of the Homeless Service Providers listed below for a intake interview and assessment.

The Orr Creek Commons development offers 20 project-based voucher units located within the development. The project-based voucher units are specifically for eligible low-income individuals and families who meet one of the preferences identified below.

1. REDWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES (RCS) PREFERENCE

   • Households who receive eligible services from RCS.
   • If a household receives eligible services, RCS will provide the household with a preference verification letter. This letter must be attached to the application when it is submitted to CDC.
   • If you believe you may qualify for this preference contact Samantha Stafford with RCS at (707) 468-5536

2. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHSA) PREFERENCE

   • Households who qualify as a special needs population and are; homeless and eligible for services through the Department of Health and Human Services, or households who are receiving In Home Supportive Services (IHSS).
   • If determined eligible by HHSA, they will provide the household with a preference verification letter. This letter must be attached to the application when it is submitted to CDC.
   • If you believe you may qualify for this preference contact Lola Fiegi at (707) 467-5809.

The Orr Creek Commons Applications can be found on our Forms page.

The Community Development Commission owns and manages approximately 143 project based voucher units located throughout Mendocino County. Units are located in Ukiah, Willits, and Fort Bragg consisting of:

• 3, 4, and 5-bedroom units in Ukiah
• 1, and 2-bedroom units located at our senior site in Willits, and
• 2, 3, and 4-bedroom units in Fort Bragg.

This waiting list is open and available to eligible low-income households.

How to Apply: The application for these units and instructions on submitting the application can be found here.