Los Angeles County to Prioritize Housing Vouchers for Wildfire Victims

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to approve a motion allocating 50 federal housing vouchers to residents displaced by the devastating January wildfires.

The emergency housing initiative, introduced as a motion by Board Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, specifically targets families earning less than half of the area’s median income.

The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) will amend its Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan to distribute the assistance, commonly known as Section 8, to eligible residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Many of the residents affected by these wildfires were renters who now face immense challenges securing a new home,” Barger said in a statement on Monday. “These vouchers will serve as a critical lifeline for displaced families struggling to create stability for their children and households.”

Supervisor Horvath highlighted the urgency of the situation, saying the devastating wildfires have left thousands of families without homes. Many of those families were already struggling to afford housing, she said.

“We must act swiftly to provide immediate relief and ensure impacted residents have access to stable, affordable housing,” Horvath said. “By prioritizing Housing Choice Vouchers for families who lost their homes, LA County is taking an essential step toward recovery, ensuring that no one is left behind as we rebuild.”

The vouchers, administered through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provide rental subsidies enabling low-income individuals to secure housing in the private market.

The LACDA has requested a regulatory waiver from HUD to expedite the process, planning to create a new local preference category for fire victims.

LACDA will promote the voucher program through its website and regional partners to ensure affected families are informed about the application opportunity.