Increasing Access to Housing Affordability

Mayor Rex Richardson has made housing affordability a cornerstone of his administration, advancing policies that expand housing supply, support homeownership, and protect vulnerable residents.

Over the past three years, Long Beach has approved more than 5,000 housing units, the most in any three-year period since the 1980s. In 2025 alone, the city completed 1,200 new homes and approved 747 accessory dwelling units, giving Long Beach one of the highest per-capita ADU production rates in California.

These efforts are helping stabilize the housing market. Among the fourteen largest California cities, Long Beach has experienced the third-lowest rent increase over the past three years, reflecting the city’s strategy of increasing supply while investing in affordability and prevention.

Long Beach Housing Promise

The Long Beach Housing Promise represents a coordinated, citywide effort to address housing insecurity by bringing together education, government, and community partners around a shared goal: ensuring that students and families have access to safe, affordable, and stable housing. Introduced in April 2023, the initiative reflects a long-term vision that connects housing stability to educational success, workforce development, and economic opportunity.

Through a formal partnership with California State University Long Beach, Long Beach City College, and the Long Beach Unified School District, the Housing Promise establishes a cross-sector model that aligns resources, accelerates housing development, and supports students both in and out of the classroom. Since its launch, the initiative has already led to the approval of 1,470 new student-serving beds, with additional projects in development to meet growing demand.

Key Projects

La Playa Hall at CSULB

• 424 new student beds, plus redistribution of 404 affordable beds
• Family-supportive housing options
• On-site mental health services and student support spaces
• Opening Fall 2026

North Long Beach Student Housing & Higher Education Complex

• Affordable student housing near the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library
• Units priced at roughly half of market rate
• Includes classrooms, study space, and family-supportive design
• Expands access in the 90805 ZIP code, where many students support dependents

LBCC Liberal Arts Campus Housing

• 431 beds across studio, single, and shared units
• Study, lounge, and community spaces
• First on-campus housing in LBCC history

5150 E. Pacific Coast Highway (Adaptive Reuse Project)

• Conversion of existing office tower into 149 residential suites for nearly 600 students
• Mix of unit types, shared housing options, and new open space
• Reduces commuting demand and activates a key corridor

For more information on the Long Beach Housing Promise, visit: longbeach.gov/housingpromise

LACAHSA (Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency)

Mayor Richardson’s leadership extends beyond Long Beach through his role as Chair of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), where he is helping to advance regional solutions that match the scale of the housing crisis. By leveraging new financing tools, partnerships, and innovative policy approaches, LACAHSA is working to accelerate housing production and expand access to affordable homes across Los Angeles County.

Under his leadership:

• Over $500 million in housing and prevention funding approved
• Agency scaled from no staff to a fully operational team
• New financing tools and programs launched across Los Angeles County

Key Initiatives

Social Bond Program

• $200–250 million initial issuance (2026)
• Scalable model for long-term affordable housing investment

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

• Over $1.5 billion in project proposals received
• Approximately $250 million to be awarded in first round

RenterAid Program

• $40M+ countywide investment in rental assistance, legal aid, and eviction prevention
• Designed to increase efficiency and expand reach across participating cities

Community Land Trusts & Homeownership Programs

• Supports permanently affordable housing models
• Expands pathways to shared equity homeownership

Technical Assistance Program

• Provides cities with planning and development support
• Helps scale innovative housing solutions

Expanding Pathways to Homeownership

Under Mayor Richardson’s leadership, Long Beach expanded its First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, helping working families achieve homeownership.

Relaunched in 2024, the program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible residents, prioritizing those historically excluded from homeownership. For residents like Ernesto Reyes, a $25,000 grant made it possible to purchase a downtown Long Beach condo—turning the dream of homeownership into reality.

First-Time Homebuyer Program

Under Mayor Richardson’s leadership, Long Beach expanded its First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, helping working families achieve homeownership.

Relaunched in 2024, the program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible residents, prioritizing those historically excluded from homeownership.

Senior Shallow Subsidy Program

The Senior Shallow Subsidy Program, launching in Spring 2026 provides rental assistance to low-income seniors facing rising housing costs.

By helping seniors remain in their homes and communities, the program prevents displacement and reduces the risk of senior homelessness while supporting housing stability for older residents.

Backyard Builders Program

Launched in 2024, the Backyard Builders Program helps homeowners build accessory dwelling units (ADUs), expanding Long Beach’s affordable housing supply.

• Expands affordable rental options
• Supports housing for voucher holders
• 747 ADUs approved in 2025 alone

Carmelitos Social Housing

Carmelitos represents a unique opportunity to reimagine public housing in Long Beach through a modern, mixed-income “social housing” model. This approach draws from successful international examples and adapts them to the local context, creating communities that are not only affordable, but also vibrant, connected, and resource-rich.

The City is working closely with regional partners and residents to shape a long-term vision for the site that expands access to housing, services, and economic opportunity. Through a robust community engagement process, residents will help define what this future neighborhood looks like, from housing design to amenities and public space.

Community Land Trust

The Long Beach Community Land Trust (CLT) is creating permanent affordability while opening new pathways to homeownership for residents. By separating land ownership from housing ownership, the CLT model ensures that homes remain affordable for future generations while allowing residents to build equity.

• Seed funding approved in 2021
• Organization launched in 2023
• First property entering CLT pipeline in 2026