Low-Income Families Make Irvine Their Home

162 homes for low-income families were created in Irvine, California. In December 2005, construction was completed of 162-unit rental housing development, known as Montecito Vista Apartments. It is located on a 7.05-acre site near the intersection of I-5 and Culver Drive in the City of Irvine. Orange County, California is using HUD Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds to help address its rental housing needs.

The complex is focused on the housing needs of families. There are 84 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units and 78 three-bedroom, two-bathroom units. The two bedroom units are between 940 and 971 square feet. The three bedroom units are 1,080 square feet.

Energy-efficiency measures were used in the project to provide added cost-saving benefits to its residents. Amenities include a community building with a kitchen, library, computer-learning center and activity room. It also has a swimming pool, outdoor barbecues, fireplace and several laundry rooms.

The complex is next to a new park, high school. There is easy access to shopping and hiking and biking trails. Also next to the complex are high-end condominium developments.

Irvine is one of the nation's largest planned urban communities in the nation and home of the University of California at Irvine (UCI.) Irvine has one of the highest median rents in the nation. The average monthly rent is approximately $1,800. Its housing market is far beyond what is affordable for low- and middle-income families.

Using HOME, tax credits and local redevelopment funds, the County of Orange and the City of Irvine were able to reduce the rents to from $461 to $1,190 per month based on family size and family income.

The development also secured a ground lease from the Irvine Company. The owner of the project is Jamboree Housing Corporation (JHC), a nonprofit housing development company. JHC has ownership interest in 4,700 affordable rental units in California and has plans for an additional 1,500 units in the next two years. They have received a number of prestigious housing design awards.

For more information how your community can help provide housing for low- and middle-income families, please contact your local HUD Community Planning and Development office.

###