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Finding affordable housing / shelters

1. Emergency Shelters (Short-Term Housing)

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If you need immediate safe housing:

  • Call 2-1-1 (or visit https://211ca.org/ ) — free, 24/7, multilingual referral service for shelters, food, and other services.
     

  • Contact refugee resettlement agencies — they often have temporary housing partnerships:

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1. International Rescue Committee (IRC):

2. Catholic Charities: Find Local Office

 

  • Immigration Services – Main Office

Please call our office at (213) 251-3411 Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm, or leave a message after hours and your call will be returned the next business day.

1530 James M. Wood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: (213) 251-3411

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  • Immigration & Refugee Services Satellite Office (Curacao Building)

1625 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 501

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: (213) 251-3476

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  • Immigration & Refugee Services Satellite Office (Inglewood)

St. Margaret’s Center

10217 Inglewood Avenue

Lennox, CA 90304

Phone: (213) 672-2202
 

3. HIAS Refugee Services: https://hias.org/resettlement-partners/ 

HIAS partners in california:

Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay (Concord) –

925-927-2000

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Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Long Beach and Orange County – 562-427-7916

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Jewish Family Service of San Diego –

858-637-3030

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Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley (Los Gatos)  –

408-556-0600

 

4. Check Homeless Shelters Directory: https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/state/california 

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5. More resettlement agencies that are in California: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Refugee/Lists/RAs_Listing.pdf
 

 

2. Transitional Housing (Weeks to Months)

Temporary housing 

 

3. Affordable & Long-Term Housing

 

4. Section 8

 
What Section 8 Is:
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Section 8 is the Housing Choice Voucher Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
It helps low-income individuals and families — including refugees — pay for safe, decent, and sanitary housing in the private rental market.

Instead of living in government-owned housing, you find your own apartment or house, and Section 8 helps pay part of the rent directly to your landlord.

 

How It Works
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  1. Apply through your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) — each county or city has its own application. Find your local PHA: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/PHA_Contact_Report_CA.pdf
     

  2. If approved, you receive a voucher.
     

  3. You search for housing that:
     

    • Accepts Section 8
       

    • Meets HUD’s health and safety standards
       

  4. You pay about 30% of your monthly income toward rent, and Section 8 covers the rest (up to a set limit).
     

  5. You can choose an apartment, townhouse, or single-family home.
     

Who Qualifies
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Eligibility depends on:

  • Income — usually below 50% of your area’s median income.
     

  • Immigration status — Refugees should apply with document proving their refugee status
     

  • Background check — PHAs may deny applicants for certain criminal activity.
     

 

Tips for Refugees

  • Many affordable housing programs have waitlists — apply as early as possible.
     

  • If you’re on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or RMA, you may qualify for priority assistance.
     

  • Keep documents ready:
     

    • Immigration status proof (I-94, refugee travel document, green card)
       

    • Income proof (pay stubs, benefits letters)
       

    • ID and Social Security Number (if available)

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