Affordable Housing Resources
Plain-English guides to how affordable housing works in California — the programs, the income rules, and the steps to find and apply for an income-restricted apartment.
LIHTC is the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit — the largest source of affordable rental housing in the U.S. Learn how the 9% and 4% credits work and who qualifies.
TCAC is the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee — the state agency that administers the LIHTC program and awards tax credits to affordable housing developers.
LIHTC and TCAC aren't competing programs. LIHTC is the federal tax credit that funds affordable housing; TCAC is the California agency that administers it. Here's how they fit together.
Area Median Income (AMI) sets affordable housing eligibility. Learn what 30%, 50%, 60%, and 80% AMI mean, how limits vary by county and household size, and how they set your rent.
To qualify for affordable housing in California, your income must be at or below the property's AMI limit. Learn the income rules, other eligibility factors, and what to prepare.
A step-by-step guide to applying for affordable housing in California: check your income, search listings by city, contact property managers, join waitlists, and submit your application.
Search affordable apartments · Check your income eligibility · Browse developers by city