Mayor

Increasing Access to Housing Affordability

Mayor Richardson has made housing affordability a cornerstone of his administration. As housing costs continue to challenge residents across California, Richardson has led a proactive, equity driven approach in Long Beach to increase the housing supply, invest in affordable options, and support local families in building generational wealth. His administration’s strategy blends local innovation with regional leadership, aligning city policies with broader county and state efforts to meet housing demand while protecting vulnerable residents. These efforts and more have led to a remarkably stable average rent in Long Beach since late 2022.

Long Beach Housing Promise

The Long Beach Housing Promise, introduced by Mayor Rex Richardson and approved by the City Council in April 2023, is a citywide initiative focused on creating affordable housing options for students and families while expanding homelessnessprevention efforts. On November 9, 2023, Mayor Richardson formalized the initiative through a Memorandum of Understanding with leaders from California State University Long Beach, Long Beach City College, and the Long Beach Unified School District. This partnership marked a historic commitment to addressing housing insecurity through cross-sector collaboration.

First-Time Homebuyer Program

Under Mayor Richardson’s leadership, Long Beach expanded its First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program to help working families and individuals achieve the dream of homeownership. Relaunched in 2024 with enhanced funding and outreach, the program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible residents, prioritizing those historically locked out of the housing market. By focusing on increasing homeownership opportunities, the program supports wealth-building among Long Beach families, reflecting Mayor Richardson’s commitment to fostering economic equity and long-term neighborhood stability.

Senior Shallow Subsidies

Mayor Richardson has also championed targeted support for older adults through the Senior Shallow Subsidy Program. Initiated in 2024, this program offers modest rental assistance to low-income seniors, helping them afford rising housing costs while remaining in their homes and communities. Designed to prevent displacement and reduce senior homelessness, the program is part of the city’s broader strategy to address housing insecurity across all age groups. This effort underscores the Mayor’s focus on protecting vulnerable residents and ensuring that Long Beach remains a city where residents can thrive at every stage of life.

Backyard Builders

Launched in 2024, the Backyard Builders Program is an innovative initiative designed to boost affordable housing through the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), often called backyard homes. The city- funded loan program empowers Long Beach homeowners to build ADUs on their properties and rent them at affordable rates, often to voucher holders. The program aligns with state housing mandates and reflects Richardson’s approach to localized, resident-driven solutions to housing shortages and economic mobility.

LACAHSA (Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency)

Mayor Richardson serves as the Chair of LACAHSA, a regional housing finance agency created in 2022 through state legislation to address housing affordability and prevent homelessness in Los Angeles County. Under his leadership, LACAHSA has prioritized accelerating affordable housing development, innovating new strategies, providing emergency rental assistance, and supporting tenant protections for vulnerable residents. The agency is also focused on empowering local jurisdictions with technical assistance and by fostering partnership development for regional solutions. Mayor Richardson’s leadership at LACAHSA complements his previous role as Chair of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), where he advanced regional coordination on housing, transportation, and sustainability initiatives. Together, these positions strengthen his broader “Opportunity Beach” agenda, focused on equity, economic recovery, and livability in Long Beach.