Affordable housing in Irvine?

Yes, it exists, said the city’s Housing Manager Mark Asturias told a packed room at the Bethel Korean Church during a community forum held Thursday.

The meeting was the first of three community gathering scheduled this summer on the topic of affordable housing in Irvine.

Irvine has 3,650 units of housing considered affordable, Asturias said. The City Council has set a goal of adding to that stock until the total is 9,700, he said. However, that standard isn’t expected to be met until the city is built out.

In the meantime, Asturias gave details on a number of recently approved residential developments that will include some affordable housing units once built.

“I’ve never seen so many cameras in my life,” joked Mayor Steven Choi as attendees pulled out smartphones to shoot photographs of the information on the presentation screen.

Choi, who speaks Korean, acted as interpreter at the meeting.

The projects include units for people making salaries considered extremely low, low, very low and moderate. Many mix housing types, with a batch of affordable units included in a larger complex of residences at market price.

A two-person household with an income of up to $23,150 would be considered “extremely low”; $38,550, “very low”; $61,650, “low”; and $81,900, moderate.

Demand is high in Irvine for less pricy homes. Asturias said the last complex that included affordable housing had 104 units but received applications from 2,400 families.

Asturias also explained how to apply for affordable housing.

For new projects, once the interest lists are filled, people will be selected via lottery system. Winners will get to apply.

He suggested interested buyers contact the company that owns the housing, ask to be added to the interest list, and be prepared to show proof of financial qualification once contacted. Never agree to make a payment in order to join an interest list, he emphasized.

“We get a lot of calls saying, I paid so-and-so to get me in,” he said. “That’s not legal.”

Also, be sure to tell the company if you change your address, phone number or email address, he said.

There’s significant demand, he said. Irvine rents are rising more quickly than income.

Some seniors have come to City Hall and told city staffers that they are leaving Irvine because they can no longer afford to pay rent.

Some of the more than 500 additional units of affordable housing dotted throughout a variety of housing projects that were recently approved will be set aside for seniors.

More information about affordable housing is available at cityofirvine.org or by calling 949-724-7444.