The Backyard Homes Project:
An Affordable Housing Initiative

How can Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) support the creation of more affordable housing units in the city for Section 8 voucher holders?

The Backyard Homes Project is a "one-stop shop" Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program that enables the average homeowner to become a provider of affordable housing. We support Northeast Los Angeles homeowners in building an ADU in exchange for renting their unit affordably to a Section 8 voucher holder for a minimum of 5 years.

Interested in applying? Please read through our one-pager, project roadmap and program booklet. This program is no longer accepting additional applications.

To learn more about our program and other ADU initiatives, check out the resources below:

For more information, please contact LA-Más at adu@mas.la.

Program Overview

The Backyard Homes Project is led by LA Más and our collective of non-profit and public partners — Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Restore Neighborhoods LA (RNLA), LA Family Housing, St. Joseph Center, Housing Rights Center and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

This incentive program offers homeowners optional financing, design, permitting, construction, and leasing support to build and rent a new ADU. The program was initiated open to all property owners in the City of Los Angeles, but is currently only open to homeowners with non-hillside residential properties in Northeast Los Angeles (Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, Elysian Valley, El Sereno, Garvanza, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Hermon, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills and Mount Washington). Homeowners must also commit to renting to a Section 8 voucher holder for a minimum of five years, as well as working with LA Más and RNLA for design, permitting, and construction. Eligible homeowners can participate in the program in two ways:

Option A: Financing, Design, Construction Support
Option B: Design + Construction Support

Homeowner Incentives

Free project management
Affordable design and construction services
Optional financing in the form of a permanent mortgage product
Landlord training and tenant support services
Possible signing bonus for new Section 8 landlords

*Affordable design services are made possible through a partnership with Nous Engineering, our structural engineer partner.

Program History

In May 2017, LA-Más was awarded a HUD Section 4 Capacity Building Grant for Community Development and Affordable Housing from the Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LA LISC). This grant supported LA-Más in laying the groundwork for The Backyard Homes Project. From 2017 to 2018, LA-Más held a series of focus groups and convened an advisory committee to inform the program – speaking to over 100 homeowners as well as housing, financing, and government experts. Check out our presentation here. In March 2020, The Backyard Homes Project shifted its geographic focus from the City of Los Angeles to Northeast Los Angeles.

With the support of Wells Fargo Foundation + Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC LA) + Parsons Foundation + HMC Designing Futures Foundation, LA Más is able to provide program management and design services.