Attachment A
CURRENT AND PAST LOCAL HOUSING INITIATIVES
Glendale has already taken important steps to address many of renter needs. In recent years, the City of Glendale has pursued several housing stability initiatives to support tenants facing rent burdens. While federally funded long-term housing programs such as Section 8 continue to serve residents with the greatest need, the City has also piloted its own locally funded subsidy programs to address gaps in coverage or to respond to local emergencies. In addition to these direct assistance efforts, the City has made significant investments in the development of affordable housing to expand long- term housing options for low-income residents.
Key Financial and Rental Assistance Programs Include:
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
Monthly Housing Subsidy Program (MHSP)
Local Income Family Employment & Rental Assistance Program (LIFERAP) Low Income Student Rental Assistance Program (LISRAP)
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Affordable Housing Development
Summary of Existing and Past Programs
1. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program – Permanent The Section 8 program, administered locally by the Glendale Housing Authority, is a federal rental assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program provides long-term housing support to low-income households by subsidizing the portion of rent that exceeds what the tenant can reasonably afford, based on their income.
Program Details:
Number of Glendale Households Served: 2,673.
Duration: Permanent.
Eligibility: Determined through multiple preference points system that prioritizes Glendale residents who are extremely low-income, seniors, and persons with disabilities, etc.
Waitlist Status: Closed; opens infrequently and is oversubscribed (Approximately 1800 applicants remain from the 2001 waiting list). Limitations: The program does not provide emergency or short-term assistance.
Participants often wait years to be served.
Budget: Federally Funded; $49 Million Annual budget.
Assistance: $1500 average subsidy.
Section 8 remains Glendale’s most substantial and effective long-term housing assistance tool. The program enables approximately 2,700 low-income households annually to secure and retain stable housing by covering the portion of rent that exceeds what they can afford based on income. For many seniors, persons with disabilities, and extremely low-income families, participation in Section 8 is the difference between stable housing and potential homelessness. The long-term and consistent nature of the subsidy offers significant protection against displacement, especially in a high-cost rental market. However, due to high demand and limited federal funding, the program's reach is constrained. Many eligible households remain on a closed waitlist for years, unable to access assistance when they need it most. Section 8 remains a critical lifeline but cannot respond quickly to urgent eviction or affordability issues.
2. Monthly Housing Subsidy Program (MHSP) – Temporary
Approved in October 2019, MHSP was Glendale’s first City-funded recurring rent subsidy program. It provided $300 a month for 24 months to low-income, disabled, senior tenants. Funded by Measure S, the program aimed to assist 1,000 senior households and was later expanded to include an additional 600 participants drawn from a waitlist.
Program Details:
Total Served at Peak: 1,200 seniors.
Duration: Temporary, 3.5 years.
Eligibility: Glendale renters who are extremely low-income, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
Limitations: Fixed subsidy amount ($300/month) provided only partial relief for many participants and was not sufficient to keep pace with rent increases or prevent deeper financial strain for higher-need households. Budget: Local funded through Measure S, $14.9 million Total Budget, $13.2 million Direct Subsidy.
Assistance: $300 Monthly Subsidy. Total subsidy received per tenant $12,300.
The MHSP had a meaningful but modest impact on senior renters, many of whom relied primarily on fixed incomes such as Social Security. Nearly all participants reported that the subsidy helped them afford their rent and reduced their reliance on family or outside support. However, for many households, the fixed $300 monthly subsidy was not sufficient to address the full extent of their housing cost burden, especially in the face of rising rents. Survey responses indicated that a higher monthly subsidy—closer to $500 or $600—would have better addressed their needs. Additionally, participants used the assistance primarily for rent, but some also reported improvements in their ability to pay for essentials such as food and medication. A key lesson from the program is that while broad eligibility allows for widespread reach, a more targeted program with higher subsidy amounts for the most vulnerable households may have a deeper and more lasting impact.
3. Low Income Student Rental Assistance Program (LISRAP) - Temporary The Low-Income Student Rental Assistance Program (LISRAP) was launched in early 2024 through a $1.3 million allocation of Measure S funding approved by the City Council and Housing Authority. The program was developed in partnership with Glendale Community College (GCC) and is administered through the college’s Fresh Success Program. LISRAP is designed to support very low-income Glendale residents who are currently enrolled at GCC and either living alone or with family members.
The program combines monthly rental subsidies with access to wraparound support services, including case management, food assistance, academic support, and counseling—services already provided through GCC’s Fresh Success initiative. This structure is intended to stabilize students facing housing insecurity so they can focus on completing their education. LISRAP represents one of the City’s first targeted rental assistance programs for student populations and aims to provide meaningful, long-term support to high-risk student households.
Total Students Served: 141
Duration: Temporary, 3 years.
Eligibility: Glendale resident; Very Low income; 18 Years or older; GCC Student Limitations: The program is restricted to very low-income students currently enrolled at Glendale Community College and operated through a single campus- based initiative. As a result, the number of participants is limited, and the program does not serve other low-income student populations in Glendale who may also face housing insecurity.
Budget: Local funded through Measure S, $1.3 million.
Assistance: 12-month, 2-month and emergency hotel vouchers, depending on need.
The program not only helped stabilize housing for some of Glendale’s most vulnerable student households, including several who were previously homeless, but also had a measurable impact on academic success. Students receiving support achieved higher grades and course completion rates
4. Low-Income Family Employment & Rental Assistance Program (LIFERAP) – Temporary
The Low-Income Family Employment & Rental Assistance Program (LIFERAP) was also approved in early 2021 with a $1.32 million budget funded by Measure S additional funding in the amount of $150,000 was allocated from LISRAP in 2024. Operated by the Verdugo Jobs Center/Glendale Youth Alliance, LIFERAP offers a combined rental assistance and workforce development model designed to help low-income working families stabilize their housing while advancing toward self-sufficiency.
Eligible families must reside in Glendale, rent their current home, and have at least one dependent child under the age of 18. Participants commit to a 12-month engagement, during which they receive case management, develop savings plans, and set personal employment or education goals.
LIFERAP addresses both housing affordability and income stagnation by integrating rental assistance with customized employment services. By the end of the 12-month period, the program aims to position families for long-term stability through increased earnings and reduced reliance on public assistance. The program was initially designed as a two-year initiative serving 25 families per year. However, due to significant remaining funds, the program was extended for two additional years. Over the four program years, a total of 106 families received assistance: 25 families in 2021–22, 39 in 2022–23, 32 in 2023–24, and 10 in 2024–25, with the final year impacted by a limited budget.
Total Families Served: 106 Families Served.
Duration: Temporary, 12-months.
Eligibility: Eligible families must reside in Glendale, rent their current home, one adult working minimum of 32 hours a week and have at least one dependent child under the age of 18. Participants commit to a 12-month engagement. Limitations: The program is not universally accessible, excluding families that don’t have at least one adult working minimum of 32 hours a week, childless households, and those receiving CalWORKs benefits. Additionally, its structure requires a high level of participant commitment which may create barriers for families with limited time or capacity.
Budget: Local funded through Measure S, $1.32 million Total Budget for 4 years. Assistance: Average approximately $1,000 a month, $12,000 per family per year.
The program has been highly successful in helping families move toward financial stability and has received strong interest from the community. Staff report that it has proven to be an effective and impactful initiative.
5. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) – Temporary - Emergency In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Glendale implemented the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to provide immediate financial relief to renters at risk of eviction due to unpaid rent. Funded through federal and state COVID-19 relief dollars, ERAP was designed as a short-term program to stabilize tenancies during the economic disruption caused by the pandemic.
Eligible households received direct payments made to landlords on their behalf to cover rent. Priority was given to extremely low-income households and those facing imminent displacement. The program was administered with urgency to meet pressing needs and, at its peak, processed hundreds of applications in coordination with state systems and local outreach efforts.
Program Details:
Number of Glendale Households Served: 380
Duration: Emergency, 2 months’ rent
Eligibility: Glendale resident; renter; low-income; loss of income due to Covid-19 Limitations: ERAP was time-limited and tied to temporary pandemic funding sources, which have since expired. While the program helped prevent widespread eviction during a crisis, it does not serve as a model for ongoing rental assistance due to its emergency-specific design and reliance on one-time funds.
Budget: $750,000
Assistance: $1500
Although ERAP was developed in response to COVID-19, its outcomes underscore the ongoing need for emergency rental assistance programs. The program provided timely support to 380 Glendale households at risk of eviction, helping to stabilize housing during a period of sudden income loss. A similar model could be adapted to address non-pandemic emergencies such as job loss, medical issues, or no-fault evictions.
6. Affordable Housing Development
In addition to direct rental assistance programs, the City of Glendale has made significant investments in affordable housing development to address long-term housing needs. The City has supported the construction and rehabilitation of deed-restricted affordable units for extremely-low, low- and moderate-income households through public-private partnerships, inclusionary housing requirements, and strategic use of local, state, and federal funding.
Recent years have seen an expansion in both new construction and preservation efforts, with Measure S funding helping to subsidize affordable housing projects and support site acquisition and predevelopment. These investments are intended to increase the City’s affordable housing stock, reduce displacement pressure, and provide permanent housing opportunities for seniors, families, and individuals with special needs.
Number of Housing Units: 1,980 (Includes density bonus and currently in development). 1349 Workforce Housing Units.
Limitations: While affordable housing development is critical to long-term housing stability, it is capital-intensive, slow to deliver, and does not immediately address urgent needs.
Budget: Varies.
Assistance: Units with below market rents.