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Whittier's LIHTC-Funded Affordable Housing: A Decade of Development
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Whittier, California, has a notable Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The city's LIHTC program has contributed 301 total units, with 280 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 84,503 and an estimated 32,377 housing units, LIHTC-funded affordable housing covers approximately 0.93% of the city's estimated housing inventory.
Whittier has received $2,547,938 in project tax credits for affordable housing through the LIHTC program. With approximately 5 projects, this translates to an average of $509,588 in federal funding per project. When distributed across all 301 units, it amounts to about $8,465 per unit in federal funding. Whittier holds 0.08% of California's total LIHTC funding, indicating its participation in the state's affordable housing initiatives.
The city's involvement with LIHTC-funded affordable housing spans from 2001 to 2015. The Hoover Hotel, completed in 2001, marks the beginning of this era, while William Penn Manor, finished in 2014, represents one of the more recent additions. This 14-year period demonstrates Whittier's long-term commitment to affordable housing development.
The 2010s saw the most significant affordable housing activity, with projects like Mosaic Gardens At Whittier (2012), Whittier Senior Housing (2014), and William Penn Manor (2015) being completed. The LIHTC-funded housing in Whittier includes a diverse mix of unit types. Out of the 301 total units, there are 123 efficiencies, 116 one-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, and 7 three-bedroom units, catering to various household sizes and needs.
Over the past decade, Whittier's population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 85,000 and 87,000 residents. The median income has shown a general upward trend, rising from $61,795 in 2013 to $91,457 in 2022. This increase in median income might suggest a growing need for affordable housing options for lower-income residents. Racial demographics have remained fairly consistent, with the Hispanic population being the largest group, comprising around 66-69% of the population throughout the decade. The white population has seen a slight decline from 26% in 2013 to 20% in 2022, while other racial groups have maintained relatively stable percentages.
Whittier's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, while modest in comparison to the overall housing stock, represents a consistent effort to provide low-income housing options. The city has leveraged federal funding to create a diverse range of unit types, potentially addressing various housing needs within the community. The steady population and increasing median income over the past decade suggest an ongoing need for affordable housing options, particularly as income disparities may be widening. The racial composition of Whittier, with a significant Hispanic population, may also influence the specific needs and design of affordable housing projects in the future.
