Affordable Housing History 

Affordable housing development in the United States has evolved as a response to rising housing costs, displacement, and income inequality. It is shaped by public policy, nonprofit development, and private partnerships aimed at ensuring low- and moderate-income households can access stable housing. In cities like San Francisco, affordable housing is closely tied to issues of racial equity, immigration history, and neighborhood preservation, particularly in long-standing communities such as Chinatown.

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Key terminology in the field includes concepts like Area Median Income (AMI), which determines eligibility and rent levels; subsidy, which refers to financial support that fills gaps in project funding; and permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable units with social services. Other foundational terms include entitlement (government approvals required to build), preservation (maintaining existing affordable housing stock), and displacement (the forced relocation of residents due to rising costs or redevelopment).

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• AMI — Area Median Income​

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• LIHTC — Low Income Housing Tax Credit

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• NOFA — Notice of Funding Availability

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• MOHCD — Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development

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• TCAC — Tax Credit Allocation Committee

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• CDLAC — California Debt Limit Allocation Committee

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• HUD — Housing and Urban Development

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• SUD — Special Use District

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• LOSP — Local Operating Subsidy Program

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• DAH — Direct Access to Housing

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• RFP — Request for Proposal

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• RFI — Request for Information

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• QA/QC — Quality Assurance/Quality Control

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Understanding both the history and terminology of affordable housing provides a foundation for navigating development work, policy discussions, and community impact. It highlights how housing is not only a physical structure, but also a long-term social and economic system shaped by equity and access.