Moving to Long Beach - Will they accept my CalFresh and Section 8 transfer?

i moved from riverside to long beach last year with section 8 and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!! long beach housing authority told me they werent accepting new portability requests for like 3 months when i first tried. had to keep calling and calling. finally got thru to someone who said they WERE accepting them but only for certain situations. they had some priority list. if ur elderly or disabled u might get priority. otherwise be prepared to wait. for calfresh it was actually pretty easy tho just had to fill out a change of address form and they transferred my case between counties.

Oh no, that's exactly what I was afraid of! I'm not elderly or disabled so I guess I'll be at the bottom of their priority list. Did you have to find temporary housing while waiting for your Section 8 to transfer? I can't afford market rent in Long Beach without my voucher.

The Long Beach Housing Authority does accept Section 8 portability transfers, but they're currently experiencing significant processing delays (about 60-90 days in most cases). You need to start by contacting your current PHA in Sacramento to initiate the portability request. Make sure you have a current recertification - if you're due for annual recertification soon, complete it before requesting the transfer.\n\nFor CalFresh, you'll need to report your address change to Sacramento County within 10 days of moving. They should transfer your case to LA County, but be aware there might be a reassessment of your benefits since LA County has different income thresholds and cost of living adjustments. Make sure to keep documentation of your current benefit amount.\n\nOnce you're in Long Beach, I recommend visiting the DPSS office in person at 2865 Atlantic Avenue for CalFresh issues - they're often more responsive than phone services.

This is really helpful advice! I had the same issues when I moved from Ventura to Long Beach. The trick with Section 8 is to be SUPER persistent and keep detailed notes of every conversation. I got my case expedited when I pointed out they had already exceeded their own stated timeline by 30 days. Write down names, dates, and what was promised!!!

moved to LB last yr & my section 8 took 4 months to transfer!!! my landlord almost evicted me cuz the payments were so late. calfresh was easier but they still messed up my benefits for 2 months. good luck!!

4 months?! I definitely can't afford to pay full rent for that long. Did you have to pay the difference while waiting for the transfer to complete? I'm terrified of ending up homeless because of bureaucratic delays.

I work with housing assistance clients and can share some accurate information. Long Beach Housing Authority is accepting Section 8 portability transfers, but they're operating under what's called

Thank you so much for this detailed information! I didn't know about the \

I used to work for a different housing authority and just want to say that even though Long Beach is technically accepting transfers, they might try to discourage you because they're over-allocated (more vouchers than funding). Stand your ground! They legally CANNOT refuse a transfer, they can only delay it. The portability rule is federal. If they tell you they're not accepting transfers, ask to speak to a supervisor immediately and cite the HUD portability regulations.

This is super important advice! When I transferred my Section 8 to Long Beach in 2024, they initially told me they weren't accepting transfers, but when I mentioned I knew my rights under portability regulations, suddenly they were able to

That's good to know! I'll definitely research the portability regulations before I call them so I can quote the specific rules if needed. I hate having to fight the system like this but my housing is too important to give up on.

idk about section 8 but my calfresh got all messed up when i moved counties last year they said i never turned in my paperwork but i did and then they sent stuff to my old address and i had to start all over it was a big mess so make sure u keep copies of EVERYTHING

Quick update on current Section 8 situation in Long Beach as of March 2025: They are currently processing portability requests from January, so roughly a 2-month backlog. Make sure when you submit your portability request from Sacramento that you specify your move is for employment purposes - that should put you in a higher priority category. Also request that Sacramento mark your file as \

Thank you for the updated info! I'll be moving in May, so it sounds like I need to get my portability request in ASAP. I'll definitely mention the employment reason and ask for the time-sensitive marking. For CalFresh, I'll wait until late April to notify them of my address change. Really appreciate all the help!

also dont forget that ur section 8 payment amount might change in long beach!!! mine went down almost $225 when i moved here cuz they said the payment standards were different. check what the payment standard is for your voucher size in long beach before u sign any lease!! i had to get a smaller place than i wanted cuz the payment didnt cover as much as i thought it would.

Just moved to Long Beach in February! Section 8 took 55 days to transfer for me coming from Fresno. Not terrible but still stressful. The best advice I can give is DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Every call, email, visit - write down who you spoke with and what they said. Long Beach housing authority kept

55 days is still a long time but better than some of the horror stories I'm hearing! Did you have to pay full rent during those 55 days? Or did your landlord agree to wait for the Section 8 payments? I'm trying to figure out how to budget for this transition period.

My new landlord was used to Section 8 and agreed to only have me pay my portion while waiting for the housing authority payment to catch up. BUT I had to get this in writing in my lease as a special provision. Most landlords won't do this, but if you can find one who regularly works with Section 8 tenants, they might be more understanding. I also had to show proof that my transfer was in process. Some landlords in Long Beach specifically advertise as Section 8 friendly - I found mine on a Facebook group for Section 8 housing in Long Beach.

Hey Omar! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago moving from Bakersfield to Long Beach. The Section 8 transfer was definitely stressful but doable. Here's what I learned: Start your portability request NOW - don't wait until you're ready to move. Long Beach HA is accepting transfers but they're super slow. I submitted mine in September and it was approved in November. The key is to call them every week for updates and keep pushing. They tried to tell me they weren't accepting new requests but when I mentioned I already had an approved voucher and knew about portability rights, they changed their tune. For CalFresh, it was actually pretty smooth - just make sure you report your move within 10 days and keep all your paperwork. The LA County office processed my transfer in about 2 weeks. Also, start looking for Section 8 friendly landlords now because finding housing in Long Beach is competitive. There are some Facebook groups specifically for Section 8 housing that were super helpful. Good luck with your move!

Just wanted to add another perspective - I moved to Long Beach from San Diego in late 2024 and had a completely different experience than some others here. My Section 8 transfer took exactly 45 days, which was right in line with what they told me to expect. The key things that helped me: 1) I called Long Beach HA BEFORE submitting my portability request to ask about their current processing times and any special requirements, 2) I made sure my annual recertification was completely up to date before requesting the transfer, and 3) I found a landlord who was experienced with Section 8 and willing to wait for the housing authority payments. For CalFresh, the transfer was seamless - I reported my move online and LA County picked up my case within a week. My benefit amount actually increased slightly due to higher cost of living adjustments in LA County. The most important thing is to start early and keep detailed records of every interaction. Don't let anyone discourage you - Long Beach IS accepting transfers, they're just slow about it. You've got this Omar!

Hey Omar! I just went through this exact same move from Sacramento to Long Beach in December 2024, so I can give you some very recent info. For Section 8 - YES, Long Beach HA is accepting portability transfers, but you're looking at about 60-75 days processing time right now. The trick is to get your Sacramento PHA to mark your request as "emergency" if you have any qualifying circumstances (job relocation, unsafe housing, medical needs, etc.). I got mine expedited to 42 days by emphasizing my job start date. For CalFresh, it was actually super smooth! I reported my address change through the online portal 2 weeks before moving, and LA County had my case transferred within 5 business days. My benefits actually went UP by about $40/month due to LA County's higher cost adjustments. Pro tip: Start calling Long Beach HA landlord services NOW to get a list of current Section 8 accepting properties. The market is tight but there are definitely options. Also, join "Long Beach Section 8 Housing" and "LA County Section 8 Rentals" Facebook groups - that's where I found my current place. Most importantly - start your portability paperwork THIS WEEK, not when you're ready to move. The earlier you start, the better chance you have of avoiding any gap in coverage. You got this! Feel free to ask if you need specific contact numbers or anything else!