Written By: Elisa E. Vásquez and Monique King-Viehland

The Community Development Commission/Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (CDC/HACoLA) is a dynamic, innovative agency created in 1982 by the Board of Supervisors to generate affordable housing and economic redevelopment throughout Los Angeles County and participating cities. Funded primarily with federal grants, the CDC/HACoLA is an industry leader in sponsoring new solutions to housing and forming partnerships with private and public agencies.

As the second largest housing authority in Southern California, CDC/HACoLA receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, as well as other targeted and grant-funded rental subsidy programs. The CDC/HACoLA provides subsidized rental housing to more than 24,000 low-income individuals, families, and veterans through partnerships with approximately 13,000 property owners.

Additionally, CDC/HACoLA helps homeless individuals, families, and veterans find housing through the Homeless Incentive Program (HIP). HIP offers financial incentives to landlords to rent their available unit. Since the launch of the program in spring 2016, more than 800 people have been housed.

The CDC/HACoLA also maintains and manages 3,229 public and affordable housing units located on 68 sites throughout the County, with its three major public housing sites being Carmelitos, in North Long Beach (713 units); Nueva Maravilla, in unincorporated East Los Angeles (504 units); and Harbor Hills, in the City of Lomita (301 units).

Residents at the public housing sites have access to onsite Family Learning Centers and Family Resource Centers that provide assistance related to economic self-sufficiency, anti-crime youth initiatives, recreational activities, and community building.

Through its mission to Build Better Lives and Better Neighborhoods, the CDC/HACoLA also works with partnering cities, unincorporated areas, and businesses to promote community and economic development.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is designed to provide programs, services, and infrastructure improvements in low- and moderate-income areas. The County’s current CDBG program allocation of $21,822,789 makes it the largest Urban County CDBG Program in the nation. CDBG funds are used for expanding homeownership opportunities; eliminating slum and blight; employment training; business support and job creation; transportation services; services at libraries, community centers, adult day care, and after school care facilities; homeless housing assistance; and crime awareness programs.

Additionally, the CDC/HACoLA supports local economies in Los Angeles County by promoting business growth, and encouraging job creation and retention through neighborhood revitalization, business incubators, and commercial lending. Further, the CDC/HACoLA helps develop and rehabilitate affordable housing for renters, homeowners, and special needs populations by administering federal, state, and local financing programs available to private developers, income-eligible homeowners, and non-profit organizations.

SMART Funding is one of the CDC/HACoLA’s economic development programs, which offers competitive loan programs to small- and medium-sized businesses. By working directly with the CDC/HACoLA’s loan officers, businesses can access capital with low-interest and customizable loan terms. Since its inception in fall 2017, SMART Funding has provided $775,000 in business loans.

To learn more about CDC/HACoLA, please visit us at www.lacdc.org.