In addition, LINC stands out as an innovator in financial packaging. The organization doesn’t work with a set of formulas as every project has different challenges, goals and objectives. “We’re not doing things by the book,“ said Johnson. “We’re actually writing the book as we go along.”

LINC’s contributions to the industry include educating California’s future planning and community development leaders. The organization has created and implemented affordable housing education programs for the University of Southern California – School of Architecture and has hosted an outreach project for the students of SCI-ARC.

LINC’s commitment to community partnership, industry innovation, and outreach has been recognized with awards from industry associations like the California Redevelopment Association and the National Council on Senior Housing. LINC is also the recipient of the Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship, which grants a three-year paid architect position to only four nonprofit development agencies across the country each year.

LINC’s Heritage
LINC’s work began in 1984 when visionaries in regional government realized that given the escalating price of land, certain segments of the population — retired teachers and service sector personnel, and young working families in both California’s urban and rural economies — would be left without housing options with no hope of owning or even renting a home.

Based on the belief that the stakeholders of the regional economy should actually live within the communities that they help to sustain, the Southern California Association of Governments formed a nonprofit organization named the Corporate Fund for Housing (CFH). They selected a board of directors comprised of government and business leaders that would see the way toward securing affordable homes for these vital members of California’s economy.

Building on the experience and relationship gained in its early developments, CFH responded to the demand of the state’s changing housing market by setting forward with an expanded mission, staff, and service area under a new name, LINC Housing Corporation. LINC is an acronym for Limited Income Communities.

Ongoing Commitment
“Fulfilling LINC’s mission means nothing less that raising the supply of affordable housing to meet California’s massive level of demand,” said Johnson. “In addition to continuing our work to provide affordable rental housing for seniors and families, our vision also includes transforming California’s rates of homeownership, traditionally among the lowest in the nation. We’re on track to develop single-family communities, offering underserved families the first opportunity to own their own home.”

LINC will continue to serve Californians with special needs in relation to housing including large families, single-parent families, frail elderly and farm worker. The organization is also developing new strategies to directly address the housing needs of California’s homeless, as well as people with developmental disabilities.

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