- Redevelopment Division – Affordable Housing Projects
- First-Time Homebuyer Program
- Housing Enhancement Loan Programs
- Affordable Housing Collaborative Program
- Executive Loan Committee
- Application for Agency Assistance
- Other Affordable Housing Resource Information
- Contacts/Links
- AB 987 Summary Database (PDF: 27K)
- Affordable Housing Brochure (PDF: 1.3M)
- Affordable Housing Fact Sheet – 2009/2010 (PDF: 235K)
A fundamental purpose of redevelopment is to expand the supply of low- and moderate-income housing. California Health and Safety Code Section 33334.6 states that the "provision of housing is itself a fundamental purpose of the Community Redevelopment Law and that a general inadequate statewide supply of decent, safe, and sanitary housing affordable to persons and families of low or moderate income threatens the accomplishment of the primary purposes of the Community Redevelopment Law, including job creation, attracting new private investments, and creating physical, economic, social and environmental conditions to remove and prevent the recurrence of blight."
The Redevelopment Agency must annually deposit at least 20% of the gross tax increment received into a Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Fund (LMIHF) and at least 15% of all housing created within a redevelopment project area must be affordable to low- and moderate-income households, with 40% of those units available at affordable housing costs to very low-income households.
The Redevelopment Agency (with the San Diego City Council serving as its Board) is committed to addressing the serious issue of affordable housing in San Diego and is taking a proactive role through the effective use of its authority, scope, and financial resources to augment affordable housing development.
Redevelopment Division – Affordable Housing Projects
Completed Developments
For Sale
- Casitas de las Florecitas (PDF: 61K)
- La Boheme (PDF: 78K)
- Renaissance Townhomes (PDF: 54K)
- Veterans Village (PDF: 72K)
- San Diego Youth & Community Services (PDF: 19K)
Rentals
- Urban Village Townhomes (PDF: 74K)
- City Heights Square (PDF: 63K)
- Talmadge Senior Village (PDF: 56K)
- Auburn Park (PDF: 56K)
- Gateway Family Apartments (PDF: 70K)
- Renaissance Seniors (PDF: 54K)
- Mercado Family Apartments (PDF: 37K)
- Village of Morena Vista (PDF: 65K)
- Metro Villas (PDF: 95K)
- Los Vientos Family Apartments
- La Entrada Family Apartments
- Boulevard Apartments
First-Time Homebuyer Program
- Home in the Heights Flyer (PDF: 321K)
- Home in the Heights Program Area Map (PDF: 431K)
- Home in the Heights Program Guidelines (PDF: 108K)
Increased homeowner occupancy has been identified as an important factor for achieving the redevelopment objectives of improving neighborhood stability, encouraging private investment, and improving the local housing stock.
Accordingly, the Redevelopment Agency created the Home in the Heights Homebuyer Assistance Program in the City Heights area. The goal of the program is to make first-time homeownership more accessible and affordable to persons seeking to reside within City Heights (refer to the program area map above) by making available subordinate loans (i.e., silent second mortgage loans) evidenced by a promissory note and secured by a deed of trust recorded against the subject property.
Participants with a household income that is 100% or less of the San Diego area median income may qualify for a silent second mortgage loan amount of up to $30,000 from the Redevelopment Agency. The term of the loan is twenty years. Principal and interest are forgivable over the 20-year period, provided the participant remains the owner of and continuously lives in the home and does not refinance the first mortgage debt without permission from the Redevelopment Agency. Additional information regarding the program may be obtained by accessing the program guidelines above, which were adopted by the Redevelopment Agency via Resolution No. R-04240 on March 14, 2008.
In addition, Home in the Heights provides for education to first-time homebuyer participants on the financial responsibilities and considerations of homeownership.
Home in the Heights is administered by Community HousingWorks on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency. For additional information on the program or to apply for a loan, contact:
Community HousingWorks
4305 University Avenue, Suite 550
San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 282-6647 ext. 5465
info@chworks.org
Se habla español.
Housing Enhancement Loan Programs
- HELP Informational Brochure (English) (PDF: 298K)
- HELP Informational Brochure (Spanish) (PDF: 320K)
- HELP Press Release – September 8, 2009 (English) (PDF: 81K)
- HELP Press Release – September 8, 2009 (Spanish) (PDF: 53K)
The Housing Enhancement Loan Programs (HELP) were created to increase, improve, and preserve the supply of housing occupied by persons and families of low and moderate income. HELP provides forgivable loans to assist residents enhance the homes that they own. In turn, these home improvements result in many benefits to the community, including:
- Improving, promoting, and preserving positive neighborhood characteristics;
- Promoting varied housing opportunities;
- Improving and enhancing the housing stock;
- Remediating health and safety issues; and
- Supporting and promoting the growth and vitality of the business environment.
Where in the City are these loans available?
HELP loans are available to qualified homeowners living in these areas:
- City Heights HELP Area (PDF: 579K)
- College Grove HELP Area (PDF: 666K)
- Crossroads HELP Area (PDF: 782K)
- Grantville HELP Area (PDF: 547K)
- Linda Vista HELP Area (PDF: 678K)
- North Park HELP Area (PDF: 640K)
- San Ysidro HELP Area (PDF: 489K)
- Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) HELP Area (PDF: 535K)
Who and what improvements are eligible for the loans?
Homeowners must meet certain income requirements and be willing to have a deed restriction recorded on their properties over the period of the forgivable loan. HELP loans may be used to make a variety of interior and exterior improvements to homes and their landscaping.
Examples of eligible improvements include painting, lighting, windows, doors, stucco, tile, fencing, sidewalks, drought-resistant landscaping, roofs, flooring, carpet, lead paint abatement, electrical, cabinets, sprinklers, sod, water heaters, wall heaters, plumbing, sinks, showers, walkways, and garage doors.
Examples of ineligible improvements include non-permanent fixtures, security systems, personal property, equipment, and any other improvements deemed by the Redevelopment Agency to be inconsistent with redevelopment purposes and objectives.
The Redevelopment Agency has approved program guidelines for each of the above areas where HELP loans are available. The following program guidelines describe in detail, according to area, the eligible participants, the eligible properties, the eligible improvements, and the loan terms:
- City Heights HELP Guidelines (PDF: 486K)
- College Grove HELP Guidelines (PDF: 393K)
- Crossroads HELP Guidelines (PDF: 711K)
- Grantville HELP Guidelines (PDF: 423K)
- Linda Vista HELP Guidelines (PDF: 433K)
- North Park HELP Guidelines (PDF: 400K)
- San Ysidro HELP Guidelines (PDF: 584K)
- SEDC HELP Guidelines (PDF: 393K)
Where can I go to get more information or to apply for a loan?
HELP is administered by the San Diego Housing Commission on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency. For additional information on the programs or to apply for a loan, contact:
San Diego Housing Commission
Housing Rehabilitation Programs
1122 Broadway, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 578-7521
http://www.sdhc.org/hahelpfix1.shtml
Do you have pictures of homes that have been enhanced using HELP funds?
Here are examples of homes that have been enhanced using HELP funds:

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After
Affordable Housing Collaborative Program
Background
In November 2001, the City of San Diego assembled the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy Collaborative (the "Collaborative"), which consists of the Redevelopment Agency (the Redevelopment Division of the City Planning & Community Investment Department, Centre City Development Corporation, and Southeastern Economic Development Corporation) and the San Diego Housing Commission. The Collaborative was formed to work together to make the best use of their combined resources.
On August 6, 2002, the City Council declared a Housing State of Emergency in the City of San Diego and subsequently approved the Collaborative proposal to leverage the Redevelopment Agency's Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Fund (LMIHF) to create a $55 million pool of secured assets to assist in developing affordable housing units Citywide. The Agency has committed the entirety of this $55 million to eleven (11) projects, resulting in 722 affordable units and 1055 affordable bedrooms.
In July 2007, the Redevelopment Agency authorized lines of credit in four of the Redevelopment Division's project areas. As a result, $34 million was dedicated to an affordable housing "Opportunity Fund" to continue to assist with the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households.
- Status of Opportunity Funds (PDF: 26K)
The Redevelopment Division continues to accept applications from developers in order to provide assistance in the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing opportunities within its eleven (11) designated redevelopment Project Areas.
Follow the link below for a chart illustrating the application review process:
- Agency Review Flow Chart (PDF: 34K)
Follow the link below for a status summary of the projects assisted through the Affordable Housing Collaborative Program:
Executive Loan Committee
The Executive Loan Committee reviews all Agency subsidy recommendations for projects using the Affordable Housing Opportunity Funds before they are presented to the Agency Board (City Council) for approval. The meetings of the Executive Loan Committee are held as needed on the fourth Thursday of each month from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and are held in the Large Conference Room at 1200 Third Avenue, 14th Floor.
Current members of the committee are:
- Cruz Gonzalez
Board Member
Southeastern Economic Development Corporation
- Sal Salas
Board Member
San Diego Housing Commission
- William Shaw
Board Member
Centre City Development Corporation
- William Anderson
Assistant Executive Director
City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency
Executive Loan Committee Agenda
- November 19, 2009 (PDF: 82K)
- October 22, 2009 (PDF: 82K)
- September 24, 2009 (PDF: 82K)
- August 27, 2009 (PDF: 82K)
- July 23, 2009 (PDF: 82K)
- June 25, 2009 (PDF: 128K)
- May 28, 2009 (PDF: 81K)
Executive Loan Committee Minutes
- 2009 Minutes
- April 22, 2009 (PDF: 129K)
- January 23, 2009 (PDF: 128K)
- 2008 Minutes
- October 23, 2008 (PDF: 110K)
- October 9, 2008 (PDF: 104K)
- August 28, 2008 (PDF: 105K)
- June 26, 2008 (PDF: 336K)
- June 11, 2008 (PDF: 67K)
- February 28, 2008 (PDF: 67K)
- 2007 Minutes
- December 20, 2007 (PDF: 28K)
- September 13, 2007 (PDF: 18K)
- June 15, 2007 (PDF: 10K)
- June 13, 2007 (PDF: 11K)
- May 24, 2007 (PDF: 11K)
- May 11, 2007 (PDF: 16K)
- April 26, 2007 (PDF: 10K)
- 2006 Minutes
- December 14, 2006 (PDF: 27K)
- July 27, 2006 (PDF: 25K)
- April 27, 2006 (PDF: 37K)
- January 12, 2006 (PDF: 28K)
- 2005 Minutes
- December 16, 2005 (PDF: 13K)
- September 22, 2005 (PDF: 10K)
- July 28, 2005 (PDF: 12K)
- June 23, 2005 (PDF: 12K)
- May 26, 2005 (PDF: 10K)
- May 18, 2005 (PDF: 10K)
- May 10, 2005 (PDF: 19K)
- February 24, 2005 (PDF: 10K)
- January 27, 2005 (PDF: 11K)
- 2004 Minutes
- December 16, 2004 (PDF: 10K)
- September 23, 2004 (PDF: 9K)
- August 19, 2004 (PDF: 12K)
- July 22, 2004 (PDF: 13K)
- June 24, 2004 (PDF: 8K)
- March 25, 2004 (PDF: 10K)
- January 29, 2004 (PDF: 10K)
- 2003 Minutes
- November 20, 2003 (PDF:10K)
- May 29, 2003 (PDF: 9K)
Application for Agency Assistance
- Expenditure of Low/Moderate-Income Housing Fund – Policy Guidelines (PDF: 35K)
- Agency Transaction Guidelines – FY 2010 (PDF: 118K)
- Due Diligence Checklist (PDF: 18K)
- Universal Design Requirements (PDF: 279K)
- 2009 Income Limits (PDF: 8K)
- 2009 Rent/Sales Price Limits( PDF: 182K)
- 2009 Maximum Rents for Pipeline/Proposed Projects (PDF: 49K)
- Project Area Maps
- Barrio Logan Project Area Map (PDF: 223K)
- Central Imperial Project Area Map (PDF: 1Mb)
- Centre City Project Area Map (PDF: 604K)
- City Heights Project Area Map (PDF: 2.2Mb)
- College Project Area Map (PDF: 319K)
- College Grove Project Area Map (PDF: 264K)
- Crossroads Project Area Map (PDF: 1.8Mb)
- Gateway Center Project Area Map (PDF: 160K)
- Grantville Project Area Map (PDF: 1.4Mb)
- Horton Plaza Project Area Map (PDF: 138K)
- Linda Vista Project Area Map (PDF: 184K)
- Mount Hope Project Area Map (PDF: 271K)
- North Bay Project Area Map (PDF: 2.8Mb)
- North Park Project Area Map (PDF: 770K)
- NTC Project Area Map (PDF: 354K)
- San Ysidro Project Area Map( PDF: 506K)
- Southcrest Project Area Map (PDF 318K)
Other Affordable Housing Resource Information
- Affordable Housing Programs in San Diego (PDF: 42K): The City of San Diego — through its Housing Commission and Redevelopment Agency — offers a number of programs to help San Diegans afford rental and for-sale housing. These include first-time homebuyers programs, rental assistance, publicly owned apartments, and affordable housing created in partnerships with developers.
- City of San Diego Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (PDF: 37K): San Diego Housing Commission report outlining a recommendation to create an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in the City of San Diego, which was approved by the City Council in August 2002.
- Housing Resources Directory 2008–2010 (PDF: 2.2M)
- San Diego County Housing Resource Websites (PDF: 26K)
- City of San Diego Affordable Housing Task Force: In June 2003, the Task Force made recommendations to improve affordable housing options and strategies in the City of San Diego. Recommendations included financial strategies, housing production goals and current regulatory impediments.
Contacts/Links
City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency
Michele St. Bernard,
Affordable Housing Project Manager
1200 Third Avenue, 14th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-6531
E-mail: mstbernard@sandiego.gov
Centre City Development Corporation
401 'B' Street, 4th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 235-2200
Southeastern Economic Development Corporation
4393 Imperial Avenue, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92113
(619) 527-7345
San Diego Housing Commission
1122 Broadway, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101-5612
(619) 231-9400
E-mail: sdhcinfo@sdhc.org
