Low Income & Subsidized Housing in Santa Cruz, CA
There are 33 subsidized and income-restricted properties in Santa Cruz with roughly 2,031 assisted units — including 21 project-based Section 8 buildings, 0 public housing developments, and 20 LIHTC tax-credit communities, according to HUD administrative data. Reported tenant-paid rents across these buildings range from about $353 to $875 per month.
33
assisted properties
2,031
subsidized units
$614
typical rent
—
median wait
Map of subsidized housing in Santa Cruz
Complete directory of subsidized housing in Santa Cruz
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Village Apts LIHTC | 206 | — | — |
| Elizabeth Oaks Apts. PB Section 8 | 126 | $817 | — |
| La Posada PB Section 8 | 122 | $593 | — |
| Pacific Avenue Apts LIHTC | 112 | — | — |
| Casa Del Rio Apartments / Santa Cruz Riverfront Ap LIHTCPB Section 8 | 103 | — | — |
| Tannery Artist Lofts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 100 | — | — |
| Neary Lagoon Cooperative LIHTCPB Section 8 | 95 | — | — |
| Seaside Apartments PB Section 8 | 84 | $639 | — |
| San Lorenzo Park Apts PB Section 8 | 77 | $554 | — |
| East Cliff Village Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 75 | $455 | — |
| Santa Cruz Riverfront PB Section 8 | 70 | $875 | — |
| Sycamore Street Commons and La Playa Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 68 | — | — |
| 525 Cedar LIHTCPB Section 8 | 65 | — | — |
| Garfield Park Village PB Section 8 | 65 | $608 | — |
| Ocean Street Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 63 | — | — |
| Sycamore Street Commons LIHTC | 60 | — | — |
| Bienestar Plaza LIHTCPB Section 8 | 57 | — | — |
| Mission Gardens LIHTCPB Section 8 | 50 | — | — |
| Mission Gardens Iv PB Section 8 | 50 | $806 | — |
| Nueva Vista LIHTC | 48 | — | — |
| El Centro LIHTC | 44 | — | — |
| Water Street Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 41 | — | — |
| St. Stephens Senior Housing LIHTC | 40 | — | — |
| Gault Street Senior §202 Senior | 36 | $548 | — |
| Arbor Cove PB Section 8 | 35 | $536 | — |
| Riverwalk Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 21 | — | — |
| Riverwalk Apts LIHTC | 21 | — | — |
| Casa Linda, Inc. §811 | 20 | $432 | — |
| Garfield Park Village LIHTCPB Section 8 | 19 | $472 | — |
| Monarch, Inc. §811 | 18 | $363 | — |
| Stepping Out Housing PB Section 8 | 18 | $353 | — |
| Grace Commons, Inc. §811 | 14 | $374 | — |
| La Playa LIHTC | 8 | — | — |
Section 8 apartments in Santa Cruz (project-based)
These buildings carry HUD Section 8 contracts attached to the units — apply at each management office rather than through the voucher waitlist. How project-based Section 8 works →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Oaks Apts. PB Section 8 | 126 | $817 | — |
| La Posada PB Section 8 | 122 | $593 | — |
| Casa Del Rio Apartments / Santa Cruz Riverfront Ap LIHTCPB Section 8 | 103 | — | — |
| Tannery Artist Lofts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 100 | — | — |
| Neary Lagoon Cooperative LIHTCPB Section 8 | 95 | — | — |
| Seaside Apartments PB Section 8 | 84 | $639 | — |
| San Lorenzo Park Apts PB Section 8 | 77 | $554 | — |
| East Cliff Village Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 75 | $455 | — |
| Santa Cruz Riverfront PB Section 8 | 70 | $875 | — |
| Sycamore Street Commons and La Playa Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 68 | — | — |
| 525 Cedar LIHTCPB Section 8 | 65 | — | — |
| Garfield Park Village PB Section 8 | 65 | $608 | — |
| Ocean Street Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 63 | — | — |
| Bienestar Plaza LIHTCPB Section 8 | 57 | — | — |
| Mission Gardens LIHTCPB Section 8 | 50 | — | — |
LIHTC & affordable tax-credit apartments in Santa Cruz
Tax-credit units rent below market rate for households within income bands (often 30–60% of Area Median Income). Understanding LIHTC →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Village Apts LIHTC | 206 | — | — |
| Pacific Avenue Apts LIHTC | 112 | — | — |
| Sycamore Street Commons LIHTC | 60 | — | — |
| Nueva Vista LIHTC | 48 | — | — |
| El Centro LIHTC | 44 | — | — |
| St. Stephens Senior Housing LIHTC | 40 | — | — |
| Riverwalk Apts LIHTC | 21 | — | — |
| La Playa LIHTC | 8 | — | — |
How to apply for subsidized housing in Santa Cruz
- Apply to buildings directly. Project-based Section 8, public housing, §202/§811 and LIHTC properties run their own waitlists — contact each office using the details on its page.
- Join voucher waitlists. Your regional housing authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers; ask about current openings and preferences. Step-by-step application guide →
- Document everything. ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates, and income proof speed up both paths.
- Stay reachable. Update your address everywhere — missed mail is the top reason applicants lose spots.
Nearby cities with low income housing
- Aptos, CA
- Freedom, CA
- Watsonville, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
Data: HUD Picture of Subsidized Households & LIHTC database (2024 vintage). Figures are administrative averages — confirm current availability with each property.