What is the City's Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA)?

Since 1969, the State of California has required that all local governments (cities, towns and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in our communities. The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determines the total housing need for each eight-year planning period. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) then determines how many new homes, and the affordability of those homes, each local government in the Bay Area must plan for in its Housing Element. 

As illustrated in the following table, the City’s total RHNA during the current 2015-2023 planning cycle is 1,088 units. The City has exceeded the RHNA for the low-income and above-moderate (market rate) income categories. However, the remaining very-low income allocation is 89 units and the remaining moderate-income allocation is 131 units.    

Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress Report (2015 – 2021)

Income Level

RHNA Unit Allocation

2015 – 2020

Units

2021

Units

Total Units

Permitted

RHNA Units Remaining

*Very Low

(31 – 50% AMI)

236

139

8

147

89

Low

(51 – 80% AMI)

160

567

119

686

0

Moderate

(81 – 120% AMI)

217

66

20

86

131

Above Moderate

(Above 120% AMI)

475

1,196

128

1,324

0

Total Units:

1,088

1,968

275

2,243

Remaining Units = 220

*The category “extremely low-income households” is a subset of “very low-income households,” and is defined as 30 percent or less (0 – 30%) of the area median income. 

The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (2023-2031) will identify where and how the City will accommodate Gilroy's assigned RHNA for the next eight-year planning cycle:

 

2023-2031 Regional Housing Needs Allocation 

RHNA Income Category

2023-2031 RHNA Unit Count

Very Low (31 – 50% AMI)

669

Low (51 – 80% AMI)

385

Moderate (81 – 120% AMI)

200

Above Moderate (Above 120% AMI)

519

Total Units:

1,773

Show All Answers

1. What is a Housing Element?
2. Why do we need a Housing Element?
3. Why should I participate in the update process?
4. What is the City's Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA)?
5. Is Gilroy required to build the housing assigned?
6. What is considered "low-income" in Gilroy?