Waythrough is an independent resource, not HACLB. We summarize public information to help you get oriented. For applications and the most current waiting-list status, always use the official links below.

The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach (HACLB) runs Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for the City of Long Beach, California. It is a voucher-only agency: HUD's PHA contact report lists Long Beach (CA068) with a program type of "Section 8," and HACLB's own program pages list vouchers, Shelter Plus Care, VASH and project-based voucher apartments, but no public housing of its own. That distinction matters more than it sounds, because the largest public housing community inside Long Beach city limits is not HACLB's at all, and its waiting lists are open right now while HACLB's are closed. This page summarizes what HACLB itself publishes about its waiting-list status, contact information and how to apply, explains the Carmelitos exception, and links to the official pages for anything time-sensitive.

Quick Facts

Serves: the City of Long Beach, California
Phone: (562) 570-6985
Official site: www.longbeach.gov/haclb/
Apply: HACLB application page
Status last checked: August 25, 2026

Waiting-List Status

Waiting lists open and close frequently, so treat the status below as a starting point and confirm on the official site before you rely on it.

  • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): Closed — Closed with no reopening scheduled (checked August 25, 2026). HACLB's notice reads: "The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach's waiting list is currently closed, and no openings are scheduled at this time." Its application page adds: "At this time, our waiting lists are closed. When the lists reopen, we will share more information on our website and social media." That page also offers a mailing list you can join so HACLB can tell you directly when the lists reopen.
  • Carmelitos public housing, in Long Beach but run by Los Angeles County: Open until September 16, 2026 — This is not an HACLB list, and HACLB's own site does not mention it, but it is public housing inside Long Beach. The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) opened 16 site-based waiting lists on August 17, 2026 at 8:00 a.m., closing September 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., and two of them are Carmelitos Senior (155 units, Long Beach) and Carmelitos Family (558 units, Long Beach). LACDA warns that smaller sites close earlier, "once 1,000 applications are received, or on September 16, 2026." Register at harp.lacda.org or call (626) 586-1522, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (checked August 25, 2026).
  • Los Angeles County Development Authority Section 8: Closed — LACDA's registration portal states plainly: "This is not for the waiting list for the Section 8 Program, which remains closed." Its multifamily program waiting lists are closed as well (checked August 25, 2026).
  • Privately owned affordable apartments in Long Beach: Varies building by building — HACLB publishes a listing of privately owned affordable housing and says "Each facility maintains its own independent waiting list" and "You may register on as many waiting lists as you wish." You apply to each building directly; HACLB does not take those applications and cannot tell you your position on them.

Programs HACLB Runs

  • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
  • Shelter Plus Care and homeless assistance
  • Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
  • Project Based Voucher apartments
  • Family Self-Sufficiency
  • Emergency Housing Voucher (HUD has notified HACLB that it is ending this program)

How to Apply

Apply directly through the authority's official application page: www.longbeach.gov/haclb/apply/. If you have already applied, call (562) 570-6985 to verify your position and keep your contact information current — if the authority cannot reach you when your name comes up, you can be dropped from the list.

New to the process? Our step-by-step guide to applying for Section 8 walks through the whole thing, and how to find your PHA helps you locate the right authority.

Other Authorities Serving This Area

  • The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) is a separate agency, and Long Beach sits outside most of its territory on purpose. LACDA says it "serves the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County (areas that are not part of a city) and 62 incorporated cities," and it names Long Beach as one of 18 cities in the county that run their own public housing agency. Main line (626) 262-4511.
  • The one exception is Carmelitos, and it is a large one. LACDA states that it "has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Long Beach Housing Authority to permit residents of the City of Long Beach to be classified as in-jurisdiction applicants for housing at the Carmelitos Public Housing development only." Carmelitos is in Long Beach and its two open lists cover 155 senior units and 558 family units. Because HACLB does not link to it, most Long Beach applicants never hear about it.
  • HUD is ending the Emergency Housing Voucher program. HACLB's home page states: "The U.S. Department of Housing of Urban Development has notified us that they are ending the Emergency Housing Voucher program." HACLB had been allocated 582 of these vouchers through the American Rescue Plan Act. If you hold one, call HACLB at (562) 570-6985 and ask what the wind-down means for your household rather than waiting for a letter.
  • HACLB is appointment-only. Its office at 1500 Hughes Way, Suite C-300 is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and it asks you to "schedule an appointment in advance by calling (562) 570-6985." A drop box is available Monday through Friday, 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the waiting-list mailbox is HA-WaitingList@longbeach.gov.

More Local Resources

For the full picture of affordable housing in this area — emergency shelter, rental assistance, tenant rights, and legal aid — see our Long Beach housing resources page and our CA state resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Long Beach Section 8 waiting list open?

No. As of August 25, 2026 the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach states that its "waiting list is currently closed, and no openings are scheduled at this time." There is no announced reopening date. HACLB says it will share the news on its website and social media when the lists reopen, and its application page offers a mailing list you can join. Confirm at longbeach.gov/haclb/apply or call (562) 570-6985 before you rely on this.

Does Long Beach have public housing?

Not through HACLB. HUD's PHA contact report lists the City of Long Beach Housing Authority (CA068) with a program type of "Section 8," and HACLB's program pages list only voucher-based programs. But Carmelitos, a large public housing community inside Long Beach, is owned by the Los Angeles County Development Authority, and its senior and family waiting lists are open from August 17 to September 16, 2026. If you want public housing in Long Beach, that is the application to make.

Can I apply for Carmelitos if I live in Long Beach?

Yes, and you are treated as a local applicant. LACDA states that it "has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Long Beach Housing Authority to permit residents of the City of Long Beach to be classified as in-jurisdiction applicants for housing at the Carmelitos Public Housing development only." Register online at harp.lacda.org or call (626) 586-1522 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Registration closes September 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., and LACDA says smaller sites may close sooner once 1,000 applications are received.

What number should I call at the Long Beach Housing Authority?

(562) 570-6985. That is the number on HACLB's contact page and the one HUD lists for CA068, and HACLB asks you to use it to book an appointment before visiting. Several teams have their own direct lines: moves and portability (562) 570-5242, rent increases and owner questions (562) 570-5372, and inspections (562) 570-5340. Note that the (562) 570-4500 number that appears on the housing authority landing page belongs to the city's homelessness and housing services, not to HACLB itself.

I have an Emergency Housing Voucher. What happens now?

HACLB has published that "The U.S. Department of Housing of Urban Development has notified us that they are ending the Emergency Housing Voucher program," and points readers to longbeach.gov/ehv for details. HACLB received 582 EHVs under the American Rescue Plan Act. HACLB has not published a household-level timeline, so call (562) 570-6985 and ask specifically what the end of the program means for your assistance and your lease, and get the answer in writing.

How will I find out when HACLB reopens its list?

HACLB says it will announce it on its website and social media, and its application page offers a mailing list sign-up. Because the reopening is not scheduled, it is worth setting your own reminder to check longbeach.gov/haclb every few weeks rather than waiting to see it. In the meantime, the Carmelitos lists are open through September 16, 2026, and the privately owned affordable buildings on HACLB's list each keep their own waiting list you can join at any time.

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