Housing Division
Housing Programs
A variety of housing opportunities in the city of Arcata is a primary goal of the City Council. The Housing Division has been successful in applying for and obtaining grant funding to provide affordable housing opportunities in Arcata. The Housing Division also collaborates with the Planning Division to assist developers of affordable and market rate housing projects.
Housing programs offered vary depending on grant funds that are available at the time. Current programs support the following:
- A range of housing choices, including affordable housing for individuals and groups;
- Infill development in vacant, brownfield, and underutilized land;
- Creation of residential units on upper floors of businesses;
Most housing programs are open to applicants who meet State income qualification guidelines. Income limits are determined by the CA Department of Housing and Community Development.
Affordable Housing in Arcata
Click here for a list of Affordable Housing resources in Arcata.
- Tenant Protection Programs
- Homebuyers Assistance
- Mobilehome Parks
- Housing Projects
- Housing Element
- Substandard Housing
COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act
The COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act – SB91 (Act) was signed into law January 29, 2021. The Act extends eviction protections to COVID-19 impacted tenants and establishes the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Eviction Moratorium Extended
The Act extends tenant protections included in the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020 (AB 3088) to June 30, 2021. These protections were originally set to expire on February 1, 2021. The Act includes the same eligibility and program rules as before including:
- Prevents evictions for nonpayment of rent by tenants experiencing a COVID-19 hardship.
- Available to any tenant who timely attests under penalty of perjury that he/she has not been able to pay full rent due to COVID-19-related circumstances.
- If a tenant pays at least 25 percent of his/her rent owed between September 2020 and June 2021, they are permanently protected from eviction for not paying their full rent during this period; however they will still owe their landlord all unpaid rent.
- Landlords may still proceed with certain other types of “just cause” evictions unrelated to a tenant’s failure to pay rent.
For more information, visit the State of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency website at https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/covidrelief/.
City of Arcata Temporary Restrictions on Evictions Due to Non-Payment of Rent During the COVID-19 Emergency
Questions about the City of Arcata's temporary restrictions on tenant evictions can be directed to the City Manager’s Office at CityMgr@CityofArcata.org or #707-822-5953.
Assistance for Qualified Homebuyers
The Homeownership Program provides assistance toward the purchase price and closing costs of affordable housing units that will be occupied by the homebuyers as their primary residence. This program provides gap financing for homebuyers who meet income qualification requirements. The gap financing is secondary to other lender financing, and is the difference between what a buyer qualifies for with conventional financing and the home purchase price.
- Applicants must have incomes at or below 80% of the County's area median income, adjusted for houshold size.
- Homes must be located within the Arcata city limits.
- The maximum purchase price is $295,000.
- Applicants must qualify for primary financing with another lender.
- Secondary City loans are made at 1.5% simple interest with payments deferred for 30 years.
Complete details about the Homebuyer Program are available in the Homebuyer Assistance Acquisition Only Guidelines.
Application Process
- Complete a Homeownership Program Pre-Application to be placed on the waitlist.
- Obtain Preapproval from a Primary Lender.
- When the Preapproval is received from a Primary Lender, a Full Application will be provided to the applicant to complete.
- Once an executed Purchase Contract is obtained, the application will be re-evaluated for program compliance.
- Each applicant must participate in Homebuyer Counseling.
- The potential homebuyer is given 90 days to find a qualified home and begin securing a primary loan for the housing unit.
Forms
Sewer Lateral Rehab Loans
The City of Arcata offers low-interest sewer lateral rehabilitation loans to qualified applicants. Please visit the Sewer Lateral Rehab Loans page for more details.
Temporary Moratorium on the Closure or Conversion of All Mobilehome Parks
On May 1, 2019, the City Council adopted Interim Ordinance No. 1517, an Urgency Measure of the City Council of the City of Arcata Adopted as an Interim Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on the Closure or Conversion of All Mobilehome Parks within the City of Arcata.
Mobilehome Rent Stabilization Ordinance
On Wednesday December 19, 2018, Ordinance No. 1487 amending Arcata mobilehome park regulations pertaining to space rent stabilization was heard by the City Council. More details can be found here.
Housing Projects
Click here to find out more about housing projects the City is involved with. You can also find property management contact information.
Housing Element
Meeting the housing needs of Arcata residents as well as the City’s share of regional housing needs remains an important goal for the City of Arcata. As the population of the state continues to grow and pressure on resources increases, Arcata is concerned with providing adequate housing opportunities while maintaining a high standard of living for all citizens in the community.
Recognizing the importance of providing adequate housing, the State of California has mandated a Housing Element within every General Plan since 1969.
Substandard Housing
Do you rent a property that is substandard or uninhabitable? Find out how the City may be able to assist you with our booklet Substandard Housing - A Guide for Renters. Just click the link below.