The Anaheim City Council approved program guidelines and an allocation plan for the Anaheim Local Housing Trust Fund on a 7-0 vote, directing staff to hold $4,500,000 in a reserve account for later allocation.

The trust was created after the Disneyland Forward development agreement committed $30 million for housing; the city received the first $15 million and an additional $1 million from HUD that staff described as immediately available. City staff told the council the funds would be used across three program areas: production of income-restricted rental housing, a first-time homebuyer down-payment assistance program, and a housing stability pool for eviction prevention and rapid rehousing.

City housing staff said the trust guidelines designate the City Council as the governing body and the Housing and Community Development Department as the administrator and monitor. "The committed funds are to be provided in two parts, $15,000,000 in 2025 and another $15,000,000 in five years," staff said during their presentation, and added the first $15 million has been remitted and is available for deposit.

Staff proposed allocating the bulk of available funds to a production bucket to help finance and leverage affordable rental development. The recommended programs included a Build More Homes production program, a First-Time Homebuyer program offering a $50,000 deferred second loan, and a Housing Stability program with emergency assistance capped at $5,000 per household. Staff noted the first-time buyer program would be available citywide and carry a 3% simple interest rate on the deferred loan, with repayment due on sale, refinance when cash is pulled out, or payoff.

During the deliberation several council members pressed staff to balance short-term impact and longer-term production. A number of council members asked for scheduled check-ins so the council could revisit allocations after program launch; councilmembers also noted the trust should be combined with other state and federal sources when possible. Following discussion the councilmember who moved approval also moved to set $4,500,000 in the trust aside in a reserve account and to approve the guidelines and allocation plan. That motion passed 7-0.

Council members and staff said they would return with monitoring reports and recommended adjustments as programs launch and demand is measured. Staff also committed to outreach to lenders, non‑profits and employer partners to coordinate counseling and to maximize paired funding opportunities.

The new trust fund is intended to be a continuing source of local gap financing and targeted assistance; staff said funds will be awarded as loans where appropriate, combined with other financing sources for development projects, and administered with annual public reporting to the council.