As a progressive and diverse urban community with approximately 470,000 residents, housing is of the utmost importance for the City of Long Beach. All residents, including working families, older adults, veterans and individuals with special needs deserve a safe, comfortable place to call home and grow roots within the city. The City offers a variety of resources to help provide housing opportunities to residents at various income levels. 

Projects typically begin when the City, through The Long Beach Community Investment Company, makes funding available through a competitive Notice of Funding Availability, or NOFA. Developers then identify a potential project and identify all the funding needed to finance the project. Learn more about how supported affordable housing projects are funded. View A Decade of Affordable Housing publication to learn more about the City's efforts and see below for additional information.

WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

Affordable housing is generally defined as housing for which an occupant pays no more than about 30% of their gross income for housing costs, including utilities. Income-restricted affordable housing developments are financed with special federal, state and local funding programs, which have favorable loan terms that allow the developer/owner to charge lower affordable rents to qualified lower-income households.

DO I QUALIFY?

The City provides financial assistance for affordable housing developments in Long Beach. Each of these projects has different income and affordability requirements, and the eligibility criteria and application process vary based on the type of funding that was used to develop the project.

Income limits are published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on an annual basis based on median income by county.  Income limits can be found on the HCD website. 

HOW DO I APPLY?

The City is committed to developing and maintaining a variety of affordable housing options. The list below is available to help guide residents in their search for housing within the city. For specific information regarding eligibility requirements and availability, please contact the independent facility directly. Each facility maintains its own independent waitlist.

• Affordable Rental Housing Developments for Families, Older Adults, Individuals with Disabilities and Individuals Experiencing Homelessness. View the Affordable Rental Housing List 2023.