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Council directs feasibility study for $100 million housing trust fund after broad public support
Summary
Following extensive public comment, the council instructed staff to study options for establishing a $100 million annual housing trust fund and to return with recommendations, recording unanimous support at the vote.
After an extended public hearing with community advocates and service providers, the Los Angeles City Council on July 17 voted to authorize a feasibility study into establishing a $100 million annual Housing Trust Fund to support affordable and transitional housing.
Speakers from community organizations — including Concerned Citizens of Central Los Angeles, Hollywood Community Action Network, Esperanza Community Housing, East LA Community Corporation, Fannie Mae, and other nonprofit providers — urged the council to dedicate local resources to address widespread rental pressure, long waiting lists for subsidized housing and a shortage of units for very low-income households. Advocates described families paying 75 percent or more of income on rent and outlined developer and service-provider demand for steady funding.
Councilmember Pacheco, sponsor of the motion, framed the move as an effort to match other cities’ local commitments and to establish a stable local revenue stream that can be leveraged to attract state and federal funds. "We need to step up and really match and be a part of the solution to our affordable housing crisis," Pacheco said. Councilmembers emphasized a range of possible revenue sources — from linkage fees to hotel/transient occupancy fee increments and other tools — and asked that staff analyze options without specifying which fund would be used.
Councilmember Garcetti and other members stressed that $100 million is an initial goal and would not by itself solve the city’s housing shortfall; they urged pairing the fund with inclusionary zoning and other development tools. Several members pressed for coordination with business and redevelopment tools so the city can both incentivize and streamline affordable-housing development.
The motion passed on a recorded vote; the clerk announced "13 ayes." The action directs the Mayor's office, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and other relevant departments to produce a feasibility study and options paper identifying revenue sources, funding mechanics and implementation steps so the council can consider an appropriation plan in a future budget cycle.
