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Garden Grove Housing Authority adopts biennial budget, cites steady HUD funding
Summary
The Garden Grove Housing Authority approved its proposed two-year budget for fiscal years 2026–27 after a presentation from Finance Director Patricia Song. The authority says federal HUD funding remains steady and its Housing Choice Voucher program currently serves about 2,200 families.
The Garden Grove Housing Authority on Thursday adopted its proposed biannual budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 following a presentation by Finance Director Patricia Song.
Song told commissioners the authority’s largest funding source is federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Housing Choice Voucher Program — commonly called Section 8 — currently supports more than 2,200 families. She said the authority’s annual HUD allocation is about $51,000,000, with roughly $42,000,000 used for voucher payments, about $4,800,000 for voucher portability, and about $4,500,000 budgeted for administrative costs supporting about 20 full‑time housing authority staff.
The presentation outlined the authority’s six stated goals: maximize existing assistance and improve the quality of assisted housing; expand the supply of affordable housing; improve participant access through interagency collaboration; prepare to reopen the Section 8 waiting list if federal funding allows; promote family self‑sufficiency; and maintain high‑performer status under HUD metrics. Song said the authority uses a two‑year budget cycle aligned with the city’s overall process and that, as of the presentation, HUD had confirmed no funding cuts for fiscal year 2026.
Commissioners and council representatives questioned administration limits and voucher counts. Song said the agency’s voucher allotment is larger than the number in active use — roughly “around 2,300” — but that two constraints limit placements: (1) the annual federal allocation and (2) local market rents, which reduce how many vouchers the allocation can cover. She also explained the portability program allows voucher holders to move to other jurisdictions and that such moves do not free up Garden Grove vouchers for local applicants.
The authority approved the budget by roll call (motion recorded as 9 yes votes). No public comments were made during the housing authority oral communications period.
Why it matters: The Section 8 program is the authority’s largest recurring expense and a major housing‑stability tool for low‑income families in Garden Grove. The authority’s ability to serve additional households depends on federal allocations and local rents.
