Story by Leighton Kwok
Staff Writer

Photo by Mac Shropshire
Staff Photographer

The South Pasadena City Council voted to approve the Local Housing Allocation Pilot Rental Assistance Program in a 5-0 vote during the Wednesday, Oct. 15 meeting.

The program was approved by the council on June 4, 2025 and is to be officially enacted late 2025 or early 2026. The Local Housing Allocation Pilot Rental Assistance Program is funded by the Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program (PLHA) in an effort to make South Pasadena more appealing to new families looking for a city to rent a home in.

Local Housing Allocation Pilot Rental Assistance Program allows individuals who have recently experienced job loss, receive income limits on assistance, or have an annual salary 30 percent lower than the average income of families in the surrounding areas.

The city will allow seven to 10 lower-income families in South Pasadena to receive 40 percent of their monthly rent covered for a maximum of six months, eligible to 1,200 families. The city hopes to reduce the amount of economic stress and to continue the possibility of affordable housing in South Pasadena. 

The council decided to make applications on a first-come, first-served basis, making financial aid based on urgent needs. The new plan will support different household sizes and can be issued for a maximum of six months.

Local Housing Allocation Pilot Rental Assistance Program builds off of California’s already established affordable housing services, like CalHome or CalWorks. Additionally, supporting families looking to buy houses and the South Pasadena-specific plan directly affects and improves economic situations for families.

PLHA is working to create a budget amendment, sign reimbursement agreements, and connect with external support organizations. Now, given the council’s approval, the planning stages will continue for this program.