Affordable Housing Boyle Heights is a vibrant and dynamic community; it is also an inner-city community with a history of social and economic disinvestment. Most of the Residents of Boyle Heights are: Low-income Monolingual Immigrants Tenants and Members of families As a result they have been marginalized in the decision-making processes about development in their own neighborhood, and are at risk for fraud and predatory lending practices. Boyle Heights is losing affordable housing at an alarming rate: In the 1990's alone, over 973 units of housing were demolished in the region to make way for major redevelopment project. Planned and ongoing redevelopment efforts will culminate in a net loss of an additional 500-550 units over the next few years. Another result of these unprecedented levels of reinvestment, is gentrification and the displacement it causes. All these factors are forcing current residents to relocate outside of the community or struggle to afford more expensive housing. Safeguarding existing affordable housing and developing new housing in this region, efforts at the core of ELACC's mission, will ensure that the community landscape will not be altered to the detriment of its low-income residents. The Facts about LA's Lack of Affordable Housing In 2004, the median income calculated by HUD for the City of LA was $53,100. The home that the median income family could afford to purchase is priced between $200,000 and $250,000. The average working family would need to earn between $22-$28 dollars an hour ($46,500-$57,700/yr) to afford a home in LA. In April 2006, the LA Times announced that the county's median sales price is now up to half a million dollars. Rents jumped 7% in 2005, making the average $1500 97% of the regions apartments are occupied A minimum-wage worker would have to work 116 hours a week to afford an average-price apartment in LA. Through its Affordable Housing Program, ELACC strives to address the lack of affordable housing in its target area, to reduce slum housing conditions, and to retain rental stock that is section 8 designated. ELACC's Affordable Housing Program combats the lack of quality, decent, affordable housing in this area by building new housing and rehabbing existing properties. The Real Estate Development Department also works collaboratively with the Homeownership Education Department to provide tenants and home purchasers with the financial tools to access its housing resources. The activities of the Community Organizing Department compliment ELACC's real estate development efforts by working to impact local housing policies in order to preserve and create affordable housing options in the region. In addition, the Community Wellness Department provides Tenant Services for residents living in ELACC apartments.