The City of Los Angeles could begin tracking its affordable housing stock through a public website, per a motion submitted by 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar.
The motion calls for creating a new website where the Planning Department and Housing and Community Investment Department (HCID) would track the gains and losses of affordable units over time through quarterly and annual updates, as well as cumulative data.
HCID, which currently oversees the City's affordable housing stock, reports that between 2009 and 2015, roughly 468 covenants were recorded. Out of that grand total, 384 covenants - or 82 percent of the total figure - were created through market-rate developments setting aside 2,831 affordable units. This amounts to 935 very-low income units, 1,537 low income units, 335 moderate income units, and 24 units of workforce housing.
HCID also monitors units covered by the rent stabilization ordinance, which caps rent increases and provides additional protections for tenants. Currently, 630,000 units are covered by the ordinance.
Huizar's motion comes as Los Angeles voters consider Measure S, which would restrict individual developments from pursuing zone changes, variances and other amendments to the City's general plan. Councilmembers frequently negotiate on-site affordable housing as part of a condition for granting such requests.
- Tracking Affordable Housing Units in Los Angeles City (City of Los Angeles)