Nonprofit Nears 10,000 Affordable and Supportive Homes in 100 Communities
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2024) – In 2024, Linc Housing marks its 40th year building and supporting communities for people underserved by the marketplace. Since its founding in 1984, the nonprofit organization has helped develop nearly 10,000 affordable and supportive homes in 96 communities throughout California. With more than 13,500 residents statewide, Linc continues its expansion with 2,316 more homes at 21 new developments in the pipeline, including 772 apartments for people who have experienced homelessness.
“For four decades, our vision has remained steadfast – creating homes and communities for thousands of residents who need an affordable and stable place to live, providing the foundation for social and economic success,” said Rebecca F. Clark, Linc Housing CEO. “We believe affordable housing is a platform for broader community development, encompassing workforce training, education, youth programs, health services, and more. Our goal is to amplify the impact of housing and support services in the neighborhoods and communities Linc serves.”
When Linc first started in 1984, it mainly partnered with other developers to create housing, primarily for seniors on fixed incomes. In 1988, Linc began to acquire properties, and then in 1989, the nonprofit broke ground on its first developments. After focusing on senior housing for many years, Linc soon expanded its work to serve low-income, working families. In 2004, Linc launched its resident services program to provide support for those living at Linc’s properties. After-school programs, financial literacy and job readiness workshops, exercise classes, and social activities are now a regular part of life for Linc residents.
In 2011, Linc’s work evolved to include housing and services for special needs populations when Seasons at Compton opened. The new model provided homes for low-income and fixed-income seniors, including seniors with developmental and physical disabilities and those who had experienced homelessness. Soon, The Palace in Long Beach and Mosaic Gardens at Huntington Park joined the portfolio, adding homes for transition-age youth who had aged out of the foster care system.
With the rise in homelessness in the region, Linc expanded its work to include individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. Serving this segment of the population required Linc to find new sources of funding and new partners to help provide the supportive services to ensure residents are successful and stable in their new homes. Over time, Linc grew its case management team and now provides most of the supportive services for residents living at Linc’s communities. In partnership with Los Angeles County, Linc provides 1,153 apartments with wraparound supportive services for people who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.
“In the past five years, Linc staff has nearly doubled in size – much of that growth attributed to our resident services and intensive case management teams,” said Suny Lay Chang, Linc president and chief operating officer. “As we look forward, our pipeline is the strongest it’s ever been. We’re expanding our financial toolset and modes of construction so we can bring additional housing to the marketplace more quickly and efficiently.”
In addition to constructing new buildings from the ground up, Linc started four Project Homekey communities in 2023, contributing nearly 400 homes to the program’s 15,000 apartments for people who have been homeless. With Project Homekey funding, Linc is converting four existing structures into permanent housing.
Another bright spot in Linc’s evolution is its partnership with The California Endowment to create the Robert K. Ross Center for Hope & Healing, a two-acre mixed use campus with 124 affordable and supportive homes and a community center for the neighborhood. This new development joins Spark at Midtown in Long Beach, Springhaven in Willowbrook, HiFi Collective in Los Angeles and Fairview Heights in Inglewood as examples of Linc’s work to bring both homes and community resources to neighborhoods.
“Every day, we see the positive impact of stable housing and a supportive community,” said Clark. “We look forward to the next decade and beyond with our continued commitment to build communities where our residents thrive with fulfilling and healthy lives, regardless of their past experiences and challenges.”


