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Affordable Housing in Merced: LIHTC Impact on University City
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Merced, California, home to the University of California, Merced campus, has a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory of 1,123 total units, with 933 designated as low-income units. This represents approximately 3.2% of the city's estimated 35,085 housing units. The city has received $7,110,478 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program, distributed across approximately 21 projects. This equates to an average of $338,594 in federal funding per project, or $6,331 per unit. Merced's allocation accounts for 0.23% of California's total LIHTC funding.
The development of LIHTC funded affordable housing in Merced spans over 26 years, beginning in 1987 with the SCA Homes project and continuing through at least 2013 with the Gateway Terrace project. The 1990s were particularly active, with three projects completed in 1990 alone: Glenhaven Park, Haven Park Partners III, and Haven Park Partners IV. The LIHTC funded housing stock in Merced includes a variety of unit types, comprising 106 one-bedroom units, 153 two-bedroom units, 176 three-bedroom units, and 74 four-bedroom units.
Woodbridge Place, completed in 2012, is a notable project targeting the "At-Risk" population, potentially addressing the needs of residents facing housing insecurity or homelessness. This project demonstrates Merced's efforts to provide housing solutions for vulnerable populations.
Merced's population has grown from 83,668 in 2019 to 91,572 in 2022, an increase of about 9.4%. Concurrently, the median income rose from $50,309 in 2019 to $64,160 in 2022, a 27.5% increase. The city's racial composition has also changed, with the Hispanic population increasing from 58% in 2019 to 64% in 2022, while the White population decreased from 24% to 19%. The Asian population decreased from 13% to 8%, and the Black population remained stable at approximately 5%.
The LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory in Merced, while modest compared to the overall housing stock, represents a significant investment in addressing the city's affordable housing needs. The city has consistently developed affordable housing projects over nearly three decades, focusing on family-sized units. Recent demographic trends, including population growth and increasing median income, suggest a potential need for continued affordable housing development to ensure housing accessibility for all residents.
