Since the 1970's much of the affordable rental housing in the City of Los Angeles received financing from various federal, state and local programs.  These programs provide favorable financing for developments that provide affordable housing units and affordable rents for a mandated time period (affordability period).  At the end of this affordability period, property owners have the option to opt-out of the affordable housing programs after meeting certain requirements.  Rent restrictions for affordable units began to expire in the mid-1990's.

In response to the growing risk of losing affordable rental housing units, the Mayor and the City Council instructed the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) to develop a comprehensive program to preserve the City's affordable housing units. In 2004, the City Council approved the Affordable Housing Preservation Program (AHPP).  The AHPP is part of the Policy and Planning Unit of the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). The program was designed to preserve affordable housing in the City by enforcing notice requirements, facilitating preservation transactions, monitoring the affordable housing portfolio and conducting outreach to property owners, tenants and stakeholders. 

The Program is managed by a Project Coordinator, Project Assistant, Management Analyst and two outreach and technical assistance contractors.