Institute of Urban and Regional Development

This study examines California's nonprofit housing developers and the supports they need to address California's need to preserve and expand its supply of affordable housing. California's need for affordable housing is urgent. In 1990, over 2 million rental households (48% of all California renters) paid in excess of 30 percent of their income on housing. In 1995, 71% of very low income Californians paid more than 50% of their income on housing.

Not only is housing scarce for poor renters, but it is often unaffordable. Affordable housing is generally measured as housing costing no more than 30% of a household’s income. Although this is a generally acknowledged criterion, it is still important to note that this measure glosses over the variation among households. Thus, 30% of income for households with very low income doesn’t leave significant resources for other needs, while the same does not hold true for middle and upper middle income households.

In the face of this need, federal programs are scarcely funded or are being dismantled. The State of California has no urban programs and no policy for affordable housing other than Low Income Housing Tax Credits. California's nonprofits are operating against great odds in funding uncertainties and often face political antagonism as well.

This research analyzes the state of the nonprofit housing sector in California with particular focus on understanding both California-wide trends and challenges as well as regional variations which have important implications for local, state, and federal policies addressing affordable housing.

This report contains four major parts: a section on California's nonprofit housing developers, a report on San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits, a report on Southern California nonprofits, and a report on rural nonprofits.