What Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz does

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz (HACSC) is a county-level Public Housing Authority established under California state law and governed by the County of Santa Cruz, designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer federal housing assistance programs. It serves low-income individuals and families across Santa Cruz County and the Cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista, operating federally funded programs including the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), Emergency Housing Vouchers, Project Based Vouchers, and USDA Farmworker Housing. HACSC also administers the Family Self-Sufficiency program (5-year financial independence track), Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership, Mortgage Credit Certificates, Homebuyer Programs, and a Security Deposit Program. The customer base spans low-income households, seniors and persons with disabilities, farmworker families, homeless individuals (via coordinated entry with 2-1-1 and Housing for Health), foster youth (Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities), and participating private landlords.

HACSC's technology stack is built on the SecureCafe portal platform, hosting three role-based portals (Applicant, Resident, Landlord) for applications, recertifications, rent calculations, and document submissions. Additional digital infrastructure includes a Section 8 Rent Calculator (rule-based, income-driven), the Affordable Housing Alerts (AHA) email notification system via SimplyCast, Constant Contact for the Housing Authority Updates newsletter, and Zoom/On24 for virtual workshops. The organization operates a physical footprint of two offices: headquarters at 2160 41st Avenue in Capitola and a satellite in Hollister, with bilingual English/Spanish service delivery as a baseline capability.

The business model is a publicly funded hybrid rather than a commercial revenue model. Primary funding flows from HUD federal allocations supporting Housing Assistance Payments to landlords and administrative fees; secondary funding comes from tenant rent contributions calculated at 30% of monthly adjusted income (with the Housing Authority paying the difference between tenant contribution and the lesser of gross rent or payment standard). Services are delivered free of charge to eligible applicants, with no application or participation fees. Marketing and distribution are direct-to-resident via the website (hacosantacruz.org), email, community events, and partnerships with referral organizations.

Name

Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz

Legal name

Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz

Website

https://hacosantacruz.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz is a HUD-designated government housing authority administering Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Project Based Vouchers, Emergency Housing Vouchers, and USDA Farmworker Housing programs for low-income residents of Santa Cruz County and the Cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Assistance

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fair Housing, Compliance & Housing Program Oversight (FSALAKAN), Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE)

Keywords

• Affordable housing assistance
• Housing choice vouchers
• Rental assistance programs
• Public housing services
• Federal housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Capitola

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. HUD Federal Funding: Primary funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to operate Housing Choice Voucher programs, Project Based Voucher programs, and other federal housing assistance initiatives
2. Tenant Rent Payments: Residents receiving housing assistance pay a portion of their income (typically 30% of adjusted monthly income) toward rent, with the Housing Authority paying the difference to landlords

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz (HACSC) is a public government agency that administers HUD-funded rental assistance programs for low-income households in Santa Cruz County and the Cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista. Its core offering is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, supplemented by Emergency Housing Vouchers, Project Based Vouchers, USDA Farmworker Housing, homeownership programs, security deposit assistance, and self-sufficiency services delivered through online portals and bilingual (English/Spanish) community outreach.

Product overview

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz operates a comprehensive affordable housing assistance system centered on the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program as its core product, supplemented by specialized programs including Emergency Housing Vouchers, Project Based Vouchers, and USDA Farmworker Housing. The organization offers complementary support services including the Family Self-Sufficiency Program for financial independence, homeownership programs (including the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program, Mortgage Credit Certificate Program, and Homebuyer Programs), a Security Deposit Program, and educational initiatives like the New Horizons Scholarship and HOMEwork tutoring program. Digital services include online portals for applicants, residents, and landlords, along with a Section 8 Rent Calculator. Additional resources such as The Opportunity Factory provide career development support, creating a holistic approach to housing stability and economic mobility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Primary rental assistance program providing vouchers to low-income households to subsidize housing costs in the private market, administered under HUD guidelines.
• Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) Special rental assistance for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or with other urgent housing needs, provided through HUD emergency funding.
• Project Based Voucher Program Rental assistance attached to specific housing units within affordable housing developments rather than to individual tenants, supporting project-based affordable housing supply.
• USDA Farmworker Housing Housing assistance specifically designed for agricultural workers and their families, including seasonal and migrant farmworkers, provided through USDA funding.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Five-year program helping Housing Choice Voucher participants build savings accounts and achieve financial independence through goal-setting, employment support, and case management.
• Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program Allows eligible Housing Choice Voucher recipients to apply their rental assistance toward monthly mortgage payments in order to purchase a home.
• Homebuyer Programs Programs helping low-income families achieve homeownership, including down payment assistance and affordable financing options.
• Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program Tax credit program providing federal mortgage interest deductions to qualified first-time homebuyers to lower the cost of homeownership.
• Security Deposit Program Financial assistance helping eligible renters cover security deposit requirements in order to obtain rental housing.
• New Horizons Scholarship Scholarship program providing grants of at least $1,000 to housing assistance recipients pursuing higher education or vocational training at partner institutions such as Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and Gavilan College.
• The Opportunity Factory Career development program providing resume help, interview coaching, and job readiness support for housing assistance recipients.
• HOMEwork Online Student Tutoring Free online tutoring program for K-12 students receiving rental assistance, delivered in partnership with StudentNest.com, offering live one-on-one sessions in core subjects with bilingual tutors.
• Dollars & Sense Financial Wellness Workshop Free online financial wellness workshop series covering spending, saving, borrowing, and planning, available in English and Spanish.
• Online Portals (Applicant, Resident, Landlord) SecureCafe-based web portals allowing applicants to apply, residents to manage their housing assistance (recertifications, documents, payments), and landlords to handle Housing Choice Voucher-related tasks.
• Section 8 Rent Calculator Online calculator helping applicants, residents, and landlords determine rental assistance amounts based on tenant income, ZIP code payment standards, and utility allowances.
• Merrill Road Apartments Affordable rental housing property operated by the Housing Authority for eligible low-income residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• New Horizons Scholarship awards of at least $1,000 to housing assistance recipients pursuing higher education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLPsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 February 2026Legal expertise partnership for the annual Landlord Workshop. Attorneys from Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP provide live Q&A sessions covering rental rules, court procedures, and property owner issues.
• StudentNestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with StudentNest.com to provide HOMEwork, a free online tutoring program for K-12 students receiving rental assistance. StudentNest connects students with experienced, bilingual tutors for personalized 1-on-1 live tutoring sessions across all core subjects.
• Housing for Health (H4H) - Santa Cruz County Human Services DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the H4H Division of the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department to coordinate housing resources, including shelter availability and affordable housing openings. H4H Connectors provide time-limited supportive services.
• Local Educational InstitutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local colleges and universities including Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, Gavilan College, and others to support the New Horizons Scholarship program and provide educational pathways for housing assistance recipients.
• MidPen HousingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for the St. Stephens Senior Housing project, a Project Based Voucher development for low-income seniors. MidPen is developing the property while HACSC provides rental assistance.
• Community Organizations NetworksupportingOthersPartnerships with numerous local organizations including Encompass Community Services, Community Bridges, Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, Housing Matters, and others to provide comprehensive support services including childcare, healthcare, legal aid, financial assistance, and homeless services.
• California Department of Civil RightssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest speaker partnership for the Housing Discrimination Forum, providing expertise on fair housing rights and protections under California civil rights law.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Federal regulator and primary funder of HACSC's HCV, PBV, and EHV programs; defines the rules, payment standards, and compliance regime all California PHAs operate within.
• California Department of Housing and Community Development: State-level agency administering California's affordable housing finance, multifamily programs, and housing policy - broader portfolio that includes but is not limited to local PHA functions.

Direct peers

• Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara: Adjacent Northern California county PHA administering HCV, PBV, and public housing programs for low-income residents - directly comparable in mandate, HUD funding model, and programmatic mix to HACSC.
• Monterey County Housing Authority: Adjacent California coastal PHA running Section 8, farmworker housing, and affordable housing programs with substantial overlap in agricultural-worker population and HUD mandate.
• Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco: City-and-county PHA delivering HCV, public housing, and supportive housing in a high-cost California market under the same HUD regulatory framework as HACSC.
• Housing Authority City of Los Angeles (HACLA): Largest California PHA; operates HCV, public housing, and Section 8 across LA - same statutory role and HUD funding streams as HACSC though at materially larger scale.
• Housing Authority of the County of Alameda: Bay Area county PHA operating the same federal housing programs (Section 8, PBV, public housing) under HUD oversight; structurally and operationally analogous to HACSC.
• San Mateo County Housing Authority: Coastal California county PHA administering Housing Choice Vouchers and related HUD-funded programs - similar geography, demographics, and high-cost housing-market pressures as HACSC.

Others

• Eden Housing: Bay Area nonprofit developer and manager of affordable rental properties; serves the same low-income population as HACSC but through owned/managed housing stock rather than federal vouchers.
• MidPen Housing: Nonprofit affordable housing developer and HACSC's development partner on St. Stephens Senior Housing - comparable mission of expanding affordable housing but operates as developer, not voucher administrator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santa-cruz-county-housing-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz