Housing Assistance Program
The goal of the Housing Assistance program is to improve and increase
the supply of affordable housing for low and moderate income families
in the City of Whittier. The Housing Assistance Program is focused
on low and moderate income households and was established to reflect
a comprehensive approach to housing in Whittier. This program is
used to fund a large variety of housing programs using tax increment
revenue from all four of Whittier’s redevelopment project
areas, as well as, Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds
provided by the federal government.
In addition to assisting over 50 households per year in fixing up
their homes, past accomplishments of the Housing Assistance Program
include the completion of a six unit single family home project
on Penn Street and the rehabilitation of the 50-unit historic Hoover
Hotel.
On June 10, 2008, the City of Whittier adopted an Inclusionary Housing
Ordinance that requires new housing developments with seven or more
dwelling units to provide a portion of the new units to low- and
moderate income buyers or tenants. It is anticipated that the provisions
will produce a significant number of affordable units in Whittier
for generations to come.
Affordable Home Ownership Program (AHOP)
The Whittier Redevelopment Agency is pleased to announce
the new Affordable Home Ownership Program (Program). The Program
is essentially a silent second loan that allows moderate income
households to purchase a designated home at an affodrable first
mortgage amount that has been fixed by a predetermined formula set
by State Law. Affordable units are designated in certain new housing
development projects. Additional information, including eligibility
criteria and more Program details can be downloaded by clicking
here. If you are interested in the Program be sure to contact staff
(562) 464-3380 and request to be placed on the affordable housing
interest list.
Housing Rehabilitation Program
Whittier's Housing Rehabilitation program is charged with assisting
in the maintenance and improvement and rehabilitation and/or preservation
of low and moderate income housing. This is achieved by providing
low interest loans and/or deferred loans to eligible families. The
program was designed to provide loans that are intended to correct
housing deficiencies for low to moderate income homeowners who would
not be capable of receiving conventional home repair loans in the
private market. The loans are also intended to help arrest neighborhood
decline by providing financial incentives to improve housing in
targeted areas that contain a high level of blighted properties.
The City's financing assistance to homeowners is to be used for
improvements such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, windows, stucco,
painting, flooring, and other repairs to eliminate code violations,
incipient code violations and slum/blight conditions. The Housing
Rehabilitation program is funded by Community Development Block
Grant Funds (CDBG) and HOME Funds.
In addition to the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program, the City
offers several grant programs. The scope of work covered under the
grant programs is more limited and households must still qualify
as low or moderate income.
Goals of the Housing Rehabilitation Program:
- To improve the quality of Whittier's low and moderate income housing
stock through provision of non-interest bearing, low interest and/or
deferred home rehabilitation loans.
- To eliminate visual and economic blight.
- To encourage private investment in the community.
- To ensure development of real property to its highest and best
use.
- To promote the preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing
stock occupied by low and moderate income persons.
- To provide safe, decent and sanitary housing for low and moderate
income persons.
HOME Program
The HOME Program is designed by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to assist low and very low income families in
securing affordable housing. The Participating Jurisdiction (City)
is free to decide how to spend the funds within certain guidelines.
This program is distinct from the CDBG program in that it can only
be used for housing, not for economic development or social services.
Pursuant to the 5-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan,
HOME funds are proposed to be spent on owner-occupied rehabilitation
loans and new housing construction.
For more information on Housing Programs or for a copy of the current
annual Action Plan, call (562) 464-3380.
Housing Rights Center
The Housing Rights Center provides telephone and in-person counseling
for City of Whittier tenants and landlords regarding their respective
rights and responsibilities under California law. In addition, the
Housing Rights Center provides services in three other areas: 1)
discrimination complaint investigation, 2) enforcement and legal
services, and 3) education and outreach. Individuals may contact
the Housing Rights Center toll free at (800) 477-5977 or visit their
website at www.hrc-la.org.
The Housing Rights Center's mission is to actively support and promote
freedom of residence through education, advocacy, and litigation,
to the end that all persons have the opportunity to secure the housing
they desire and can afford, without regard to their race, color,
religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, familial
status, marital status, disability, ancestry, age, source of income
or other characteristics protected by law.
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