Doing Wonders In Small Places Since 1986

WHCHC has been doing wonders in small places since 1986 in the 1.9 square mile City of West Hollywood.  Projects are designed as small to medium size affordable multi-family developments, fitting seamlessly into the neighborhoods where they are built.
 
A look back at the origins of WHCHC begins with the incorporation of the City of West Hollywood in 1984, where one of the most important issues driving the cityhood movement was concern about the affordability of housing.  Very much like today, the early 1980s saw the development of expensive condominiums replacing existing rental housing stock. 
 
The newly elected City Council enacted rent control, established the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.  The City then helped create a nonprofit housing development corporation to build and rehabilitate affordable housing, and WHCHC was incorporated in 1986.
 
Early projects included rehabilitated worker housing built in the early part of the 20th century; soon to follow were partial historic rehabilitation combined with new construction, and finally several projects of entirely newly constructed apartments. 
 
Using the income demographics of West Hollywood as a guide, senior housing became a primary focus, along with people living with HIV/AIDS.  Another focus of WHCHC was helping tenants to continue to live independently in their own homes.  A staff position was created that would coordinate and facilitate the connection to outside social services support needed by residents who were struggling to live independently.
 
WHCHC's Board and Staff take great pride in the unique architectural design of each project, with the objective to enhance the built environment.  With a portfolio of award-winning projects behind them, WHCHC has plans to expand beyond the borders of West Hollywood when possible into other communities in the Los Angeles basin.   
 
With statistics plainly showing that there are tens of thousands of people paying more than 50% of their income in rent, it is clear that the market rate housing market is broken and unable to provide the housing many people need.  One solution is to build more well-designed subsidized housing, especially along commercial corridors in mixed use developments where possible, close to public transportation and walkable shopping.