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The Covina Redevelopment Agency Housing Division provides assistance to help residents find the appropriate resource for a variety of needs. Although the City/Agency does not provide many of the programs requested, information provided here will list agencies that do.
Help for Those Facing Homelessness
Click here
Help for Those Facing Home Foreclosure
Local telephone contact (626) 794-7191
Click here for additional resources and information.
Housing Rights Center click here for a list of resources for renters.
Housing Programs
Under California Redevelopment Law, 20 percent of the tax increment generated by the Agency’s project areas is to be placed into a set-aside fund and is to be utilized for qualifying housing related activities. The Housing Division oversees housing-related activities that benefit low to moderate income persons to help maintain, protect, and preserve the affordable housing stock in the City of Covina.
Rent Subsidy Programs
The Agency provides a rent subsidy program for senior citizens at the Village Green Senior Apartments, (152 E. Covina Boulevard., Covina, CA 91722), the Smith Senior Housing project, (223 N. Citrus Avenue, Covina, CA 91723), and at various locations throughout the City. New applications are not being taken for this program. In addition, a rent subsidy is provided for battered women and children through the YWCA WINGS program
Habitat for Humanity – Covina
The Ontiveros family will be the proud new owners of the first ever Habitat for Humanity home in Covina, California. The Pomona Valley affiliate of the “international, nonprofit” Habitat for Humanity housing ministry is responsible for making the Ontiveros’ dream and many others come true in communities such as Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Glendora, Rancho Cucamonga, etc., and now Covina.
Through their tireless efforts to secure affordable housing for low income residents, Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity has partnered with the Covina Redevelopment Agency and Housing Department to obtain the necessary land and permits and starter funds to begin construction.
Volunteers are greatly appreciated and in high demand. If you would like to volunteer, there are many construction and non-construction activities to participate in and more specific volunteer opportunities will soon be available on the website, http://www.habitatpv.org/index.html.
Although the project has been planned and received approval, Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity is still seeking sponsors and support. Please call (909) 596-7098 for more information on how you, your business, or foundation can help with this exciting project.
Rental Assistance - Section 8
Home Ownership Programs
The City of Covina participates in several special loan programs that offer down payment and/or closing cost assistance to the home buyer. Several of the programs place a "silent second" on the property.
"HOP" Program
The Home Ownership Program (HOP), operated by the County of Los Angeles, offers 0% interest loans to borrowers who have not owned a home in the last three years. Maximum loan amount is $80,000, or 20% of the purchase price, whichever is less.
The County of Los Angeles does not make loans. The homebuyer goes through the normal process of choosing a Realtor, finding a house and arranging financing with a participating lender. For more information about this program, call the "HOP" line at (323) 890-7281.
Some participating lenders in the program are:
| International Mortage |
(Roy Swan) |
(626) 339-9094 |
| CitiMortgage |
(Shellie Wejbe) |
(818) 662-2424 |
| Countrywide Home Loan, Inc. |
(Jean-Louis Rutnam) |
(626) 379-6029 |
| American Home Mortgage Corp. |
(Desiree Serrano) |
(909) 468-1600 |
| Wells Fargo Home Mortgage |
(Meredith Aceves) |
(323) 721-1715 |
| Guild Mortgage Company |
(Kathy Akuzawa) |
(909) 606-0641 |
A more detailed list of lenders can be obtained from the HOP office. Additional information can be obtained on this program by accessing the Los Angeles County Housing web site at www.lacdc.org, then under "programs" go to "First Time Buyers Programs" then the three Los Angeles County Homeownership programs. Mortgage Credit Certificate and Mortgage Revenue Bond programs may be available with the Home Ownership Program.
More Homeowner Information
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Landlord/Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
For information on landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, and to obtain a copy of the California Department of Consumer Affairs Guide, go to the California Department of Consumer Affairs website:
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
For assistance in mediating disputes between landlords and tenants, contact
Inland Valleys Justice Center
300 S. Park Avenue, Suite 745
Pomona, CA 91766
(909) 397-5780 www.ivjc.org
Discrimination
To report discrimination, contact the Southern California Housing Rights Center (formerly the Fair Housing Council of San Gabriel Valley) in Pasadena, or online at www.hrc-la.org, to see the times and dates for walk-in clinics.
(626) 791-0211
Los Angeles County Housing Resource Center
To obtain current information on available housing for rent, or to list (at no cost) available rental housing, see: http://housing.lacounty.gov
AB 987 Affordable Housing Database,
a Public Database of Affordable Units and Enforceability
In accordance with the provisions of AB 987, a worksheet describing existing new and substantially rehabilitated housing units that were either developed or otherwise assisted with Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Funds, has been prepared and posted for public review. Please see the file linked below.
Also, in accordance with the law, this database does not include any property used to confidentially house victims of domestic violence.
Please be aware that this is simply a listing of affordable housing that has been assisted with low- to moderate-income housing funds: it is not a listing of currently available housing. To determine whether there are vacancies at any of the rental locations, please contact the apartment sites directly.
Click here for the database
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Winter Shelter Information |
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Information provided by the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless on locations of winter shelters and pick-up locations.
New Housing Developments in the Downtown
Visitors to the downtown Covina area will notice two new housing developments under construction. One project, Vintage Walk Collection on Third Street and San Bernardino Road is being built by City Ventures Homebuilders. Thirty smart, stylish and very affordable new condominiums are to be sold in the mid-$200,000 range. Four floor plans are available from 1,122 square feet to 1,561 square feet.
The second project is the Citrus Walk project, a mixed-use development at the intersection of Italia Street and Citrus Avenue in the downtown Covina area. This project includes forty-nine condominium units. Two floorplans with 1,610 and 1,607 square feet are offered. In addition to the residential housing, 8,000 square feet of retail space will be built and leased on Citrus Avenue. Price range for the Citrus Walk residences is in the mid-$300,000s.
Both developments are transit-close, with the Metrolink station on Citrus Avenue just a few steps away. For more information and a virtual tour of the Vintage Walk Collection, see http://www.cityventures.com/covina.php. For more information on the Citrus Walk homes and retail space, see www.citruswalk.com
Affordable Housing Units to be Built in Covina
A total of eleven moderate-income affordable housing units will be built in the two downtown Covina projects discussed above. Vintage Walk Collection will have three affordable units, and the Citrus Walk project will have eight affordable units.
Qualifying families will have incomes that are in the moderate-income range, as determined by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). For example, to qualify to purchase the affordable units, a household of four people must have an income greater than $68,300 but less than $76,800. This income range will vary depending on the number of people in the household.
California law requires that the affordable housing remain affordable for forty-five years, and affordability covenants will be placed on the homes.
If your household falls into the qualifying income range, and you would like to buy one of the affordable homes, place your name on the waiting list which is being kept at the sales offices for each development. In the coming months, interested buyers will be income-qualified before moving to the next steps in the process to purchase the affordable homes.
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