As the cost of living continues to rise in Los Angeles County, finding an affordable home has become increasingly challenging.
More than 490,000 households across the county don’t have access to an affordable home, according to a 2024 report from the California Housing Partnership.
This is the unfortunate reality for many people on the Eastside. According to census tract data, neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and unincorporated East L.A. are considered low-income areas, with some households making 60% below the county’s Average Median Income, which was set at $98,000 in 2024. In addition, state and federal funding for housing production and preservation in L.A. County continues to decrease.
City and county leadership are trying to tackle the housing shortage and growing income disparity on the Eastside. In September, the L.A. City Council unanimously approved the Boyle Heights Community Plan, an updated zoning plan for the neighborhood that will provide incentives for mixed-income projects that include affordable housing, among other things. City and county agencies don’t manage or create housing developments but do provide funding to nonprofit organizations and developers to build and maintain public housing.
Boyle Heights Beat has compiled information to help you navigate the search and application process for affordable housing. Here’s what you need to know.
Who qualifies for affordable housing?
Income level is the key factor in determining eligibility for most affordable housing developments. Under state and federal affordability guidelines, developers must rent affordable rental units to tenants whose income is below the Average Median Income (AMI).
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes the median income for the L.A. County region; in 2024, the AMI was set at $98,000. If you make 30% to 80% less than the median income in your region, you may qualify for affordable housing assistance. Affordable housing projects in L.A. and L.A. County may have specific income limits serving low, very low, and extremely low-income populations.
Other eligibility factors are determined by the type of rental units which may include housing specifically for seniors, people with disabilities, homeless individuals, low-income artists, single-parent households, and more.
What programs are offered and what do you need to apply?
There are various affordable housing assistance programs.
Public Housing: This program offers government subsidies to keep your rent low. The Housing Authority of the City of L.A. (HACLA) oversees the management of 13 large public housing projects with a combined total of 6,300 units spread out throughout the county, including Boyle Heights. Those Eastside locations are Ramona Gardens, Estrada Courts, and Pico Gardens/ Las Casitas. Learn more here.
Section 8: This program assists low-income families, older adults, and disabled residents in accessing housing in L.A. County. Federal funds are used in the form of vouchers to pay money directly to landlords to lower the cost of rental units. Please note, the waitlist for this program can be quite long. Learn more here and here.
More programs: Assistance is also available for veterans, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, persons with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness.
In addition to these programs, several websites offer search registries for affordable housing across Los Angeles County. (See below).
To apply, individuals generally fill out a pre-application form for their desired housing. Developers who manage public housing apartments have their own applications so the process might differ depending on which project you’re applying to.
Rental application forms usually require a person to provide legal documents to prove their identity and income such as tax returns, bank statements, employment check stubs, and more. Applicants may also be required to participate in an interview before being approved.
Where can you search for affordable and supportive housing?
There are a couple of county and city-run databases that provide up-to-date listings of rental units, as well as nonprofit affordable housing developers. It’s important to note that all landlords operating in California are now required by law to accept Section 8.
The L.A. Housing Department regularly manages its Affordable and Accessible Housing Registry, a directory that compiles a list of available affordable rental housing projects. The registry includes pre-existing and new developments and also requires that all developments adopt policies that legally abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as federal and state fair housing laws. Applications can be found by clicking the “more property details” icon on the development of your choosing. Individuals can email LAHD at LAHD.publicinfo@lacity.org if they have questions about the registry.
The L.A. County Housing Resource Center, a partnership powered by multiple city and county agencies, offers a free rental search directory. The directory can be used to look for rental housing including affordable housing projects, private apartment rentals, senior housing, and more. Individuals can find information such as a landlord’s contact information and potentially an application link. For assistance, individuals can contact LACHRC at 1-877-428-8844. The Center’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Housing Authority of the City of L.A. (HACLA) is a local agency that administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs. A link to eligibility requirements and the application process is available here for Section 8 and here for public housing applicants. To request a copy of the application, email application.help@hacla.org or call the HACLA Customer Contact Center at (833) 422-5248.
East LA Community Corporation, a nonprofit affordable housing developer on the Eastside, has multiple properties that people can look up on their website. Most of the units are for individuals and households earning approximately 50% to 60% of AMI. Prospective tenants are encouraged to call 323-269-4214 for more information about available units.
How are you selected for a specific affordable housing project?
City and county agencies are not responsible for selecting applicants or maintaining a list of prospective tenants. The developer of an affordable housing project is responsible for the selection process although they must follow state and federal requirements for income limits.
Most affordable housing developments follow a procedure where all received applications are placed into a computer-generated lottery that chooses applicants, which are then compiled into a list that determines who is eligible for a rental unit. Prospective tenants are then contacted until all available units have been filled. Those who are not selected in the first round are kept on a waiting list and might be contacted if a spot opens up.
Which organizations or community groups host affordable housing-related workshops?
East LA Community Corporation (ELACC) hosts free quarterly workshops that teach prospective tenants how to navigate the housing process. You can also check their Instagram for more opportunities.
The California Housing Partnership, a non-profit housing think-tank that provides technical assistance to local and state agencies, offers quarterly housing finance trainings that are deep dives into multifamily affordable housing policies.
Fideicomiso Comunitario Tierra Libra, a grassroots community land trust that secures properties for affordable housing on the Eastside, hosts community events for residents interested in learning more about its work.
