Affordable Housing in Our Community: What You Need to Know

By: City of La Quinta Staff

Until they were dismantled by the State, cities such as La Quinta had Redevelopment Agencies (RDA) which provided funding and oversight of affordable housing development.

After the dissolution of RDAs, housing successors such as the La Quinta City Council which also acts as the La Quinta Housing Authority, assumed the housing obligations of the former RDA. The City’s five-member Housing Commission meets quarterly to review and make recommendations on all matters that ultimately go before the Housing Authority, except emergency issues.

The topic of affordable housing is one not easily understood and often stirs negative images brought on by misinformation. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about affordable housing that may help clear up misconceptions.

What is affordable housing and who is it for?

Those living in affordable housing units are working families and seniors whose income is one-third less than housing costs, which include rent and utilities, leaving them struggling to provide other basic needs including food, medical care and clothing for themselves and their families. A broad swath of La Quinta residents live in or need affordable housing.

How often is a tenant’s income reviewed to be sure it hasn’t surpassed the allowed income level? Annually.

Is the City of La Quinta obligated to provide affordable housing?

Yes. Both Federal and State governments require that the City – and all municipalities –provide housing for all income levels.

Who determines how many affordable housing units are needed in the City of La Quinta?

Every eight years the State Department of Housing reviews a municipality’s General Plan Housing Element and submits a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) which outlines a required number of new housing units as determined by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) based on population growth.

What is the City’s RHNA for the current planning period, October 2021 to October 2029?

Total allocation 1,530 units: 420 very lowincome; 269 low-income households; 297 moderate income households; 544 above moderate-income units.

What is the income range for an average family of four?

A family of four qualifies for affordable housing in Riverside County if the family’s income is at or under the County’s median income of $87,400, which is also La Quinta’s median income as of May 2022.

What is the rent range for affordable housing units?

For a 2-bedroom apartment, rent is typically $1,180 per month with a maximum income for all persons in the household of $78,650, while a 4-bedroom apartment is $1,416/month with a maximum income for all persons in the household of $94,400.

opportunities and public hearings.

With all that said, there is State housing law referred to as “No Net Loss” which requires cities to keep the number of identified sites for any level of housing throughout the housing planning period. This means that if a developer/property owner has a site that has been identified for any level of housing and they want to develop their site with a different number of housing units and/or income level, the City must identify another suitable site for what the housing plan called for within six months of the project approval. The City can compel the developer to help the City identify an alternate site.

What if the City does not meet its current RHNA numbers by October 2029?

The City is not required to build the housing units but is responsible for facilitating the development of housing for all income levels. If the State deems the City has not made a good faith effort

How would people know if they were looking at an affordable housing community?

Or would they? Is there anything about the developments that make them stand out as easily identifiable?

The City has made sure its affordable housing communities are developed to stand at par or above market rate and designed to complement the surrounding communities.

What are some of the hurdles that make it difficult to build affordable housing units?

At over $500,000 per unit, cost is the biggest hurdle to building affordable housing. To receive tax credits on affordable housing, developers must surpass minimum Title 24 energy efficiency and sustainability mandates. Rental income to the property owner is lower than marketable properties, so more cash equity is required at development to cover ongoing maintenance expenses. It is also important to find properties for affordable housing development that are near jobs, shopping, dining, schools and public transportation.

More information about affordable housing

How many units exist today in La Quinta?

There are 1,202 affordable housing units throughout the City of La Quinta.

Can the City require a private property owner/developer to provide affordable housing?

The City cannot require developers/ property owners to provide affordable housing. The State requires the City to plan for affordable housing (all income levels) in our housing element. As part of that process, we review different areas of the City and identify what potential sites within the City could accommodate the different levels of housing we are required to plan for, such as very low income, low income, moderate income and above moderate income housing. The housing element process is an open public process with workshops, comment to meet its RHNA requirement, the State can by law take control of public lands, including the parks, and develop those lands for affordable housing.

On May 16, the City Council, acting as the Housing Authority, received an update on La Quinta’s affordable housing program and properties. If you missed that meeting, view the video at LaQuinta.12milesout.com.

More information about affordable housing resources can also be found at LaQuintaCA.gov/residents/localresources/affordable-housing.