LA Gets $99M Affordable Housing Infusion From State

The administration of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — who has made addressing the city’s homelessness crisis her political centerpiece — had some good news to share on Thursday: A state grant program has awarded the city $99 million for four affordable housing projects.

In a statement, Bass thanked “state partners,” and said the city “will continue to work urgently, across all levels of government, to secure the resources to bring more Angelenos inside and deliver more affordable housing.”

The new funding comes from the Strategic Growth Council, a state government entity that coordinates with various public agencies to address economic, health, transportation and other issues.

The council doled out the money as part of the latest round of its Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, which has consistently delivered money to the L.A. Housing Department. This year the program is giving the city $157 million, with $99 million of that dedicated to four new affordable housing projects in Downtown L.A., Koreatown, Crenshaw and Historic South Central, according to a release.

Those projects will total 466 units. The additional money from the grant is slated for city infrastructure and transportation improvements, including new bicycle infrastructure and 31 new electric buses.

The money infusion comes soon after the L.A. City Council voted to approve a $150 million spending plan for funds raised from Measure ULA, the city’s controversial new real estate transfer tax, with much of that spending earmarked for short-term tenant assistance, legal aid and other non-construction programs.

To date the city has received nearly $500 million from the AHSC grants for housing projects, according to the city’s release.