What is the Housing Authority of the County of San Diego (HACSD)?

    The Housing Authority of the County of San Diego (HACSD) is one of six Public Housing Authorities that serve San Diego County.

    Public Housing Authorities manage public housing units and administer rental assistance programs like Section 8 Vouchers to provide safe, affordable housing 

    What areas does HACSD serve?

    There are six housing authorities in the San Diego region that administer the HCV program locally. The Housing Authority of the County of San Diego’s (HACSD) jurisdiction includes 13 incorporated cities and the unincorporated areas.

    13 Incorporated Cities

     Chula VistaImperial BeachSantee 
     CoronadoLa Mesa  Solana Beach
     Del Mar  Lemon GroveVista
     El Cajon  Poway 
     EscondidoSan Marcos
     

    Unincorporated communities including, but not limited to:

     AlpineGuatayPotrero
     BonitaJacumbaRamona
     BonsallJamulSpring Valley
     Borrego SpringsJulianSanta Ysabel
     BoulevardLakesideTecate
     CampoLincoln AcresValley Center
     DescansoPalaWarner Springs
     DulzuraPauma Valley 
     FallbrookPine Valley

    What programs does HACSD oversee?

    • Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program helps low-income families with rental assistance.   
    • Project Based Voucher (PBV) Program is a housing assistance program where the rental subsidy is tied to a specific unit. The assistance stays with the unit even if the tenant moves out.
    • Public Housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families.
    • Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). 
    • HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) creates flexible programs that provide assistance to individual households to help them afford the housing costs of market-rate units. 

    What documents make up the Agency Plan?

    The Agency Plan is a document required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from local housing authorities. It describes a PHA's mission, goals, and plans. These focus on offering affordable housing and managing its programs. The plan serves as a resource for residents, voucher participants, and the public. 

    The Agency Plan usually has two parts: a 5-Year Plan and an Annual Plan. The 5-Year Plan lays out long-term goals. The Annual Plan focuses on specific policies and operations for the coming year. It ensures accountability and transparency regarding funding use and program operations. It includes tenant admissions and policies, property maintenance, resident services, and the use of capital funds. 

    The plan includes documents such as the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan. 

    What is the ACOP and HCV Administrative Plan?

    The Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP) is a HUD-required document. It explains how a Public Housing Agency manages its public housing program. It explains the rules for choosing tenants off the waitlist. It explains how rent is calculated and occupancy standards, which set the maximum number of people allowed to live in a rental unit. The ACOP helps applicants and residents understand their rights and responsibilities. It is updated regularly to match federal rules and policies.


    The Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan is a public document. It explains how a Public Housing Agency runs the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. It covers local policies on eligibility, the application steps, voucher issuance, income calculations, and housing quality standards. This plan ensures compliance with HUD regulations and federal/local fair housing laws. It is updated regularly to match federal rules and policies.

    What is the RAD/Section 18 Small PHA Blend conversion?

    The RAD/ Section 18 Small PHA Blend is an option that PHAs can utilize to convert public housing units to voucher based rental assistance. It allows a PHA with 250 or fewer public housing units to “blend” project-based voucher (PBV) assistance through a Rental Assistance Disposition (RAD) conversion with assistance from tenant protection vouchers (TPVs) awarded through a Section 18 disposition approval.

    Where can I learn more about HACSD's Agency Plans?

    You can learn more about the Agency Plans at HACSD's website Housing and Community Development Services

    How can I get involved?

    Community members can get involved by reviewing the Agency Plan documents and providing public comment during the designated comment period. Details on how to submit feedback and participate in meetings will be shared on this page.