The Program offers below-market rents at several apartment complexes in Brea. The program is NOT first-come, first served. After you submit an application, your name will be placed on a waiting list which is prioritized based on a point system. Your place on the waiting list is dependent upon accumulated points which will be awarded to you for years of Brea residency, years of Brea employment, U.S. military service, and disability. Points are also awarded for the amount of time spent on the waiting list. Keep in mind that applicants who have more points than you do will be placed ahead of you on the waiting list even though they may have applied at a later date.
There are very specific income limits for each participating apartment complex which are listed in the rent tables on this website. Click on "How much are the rents?" in order to access the tables. If your income exceeds the limit, you are not eligible to participate in the program at that particular complex. You must be able to pass both a credit check and a criminal background check. Most apartments require your monthly income to be two to three times the amount of the monthly rent. The City has no control over the cost to move into a unit, therefore information regarding the security deposit and other charges will be provided to you by the apartment manager.
ACACIA APTS. (125, 131, 137, & 211 E. Acacia Street), BIRCH HILLS APTS. (255 Kraemer Circle), BIRCH STREET LOFT APTS. (215 S. Brea Boulevard & 260 W. Birch Street), BONTERRA APARTMENT HOMES (401 Discovery Lane), CALLIGRAPHY APARTMENT HOMES (350 W. Central Ave.), IMPERIAL PARK APTS. (350 & 430 W. Imperial Highway), POINTE APTS. (100 Pointe Drive), SOUTH WALNUT BUNGALOWS (302-314 S. Walnut Avenue), TOWN & COUNTRY APARTMENTS (800 S. Brea Boulevard), TAMARACK POINTE VILLAS (330 W. Central Avenue)
Yes, the following apartments maintain their own waiting lists and will need to be contacted by you individually if you wish to apply for their program. ORANGE VILLA SENIOR APARTMENTS (AGE 55 AND OVER, 137 N. Orange Avenue, 714-990-0334, small pets only), VINTAGE CANYON SENIOR APARTMENTS (AGE 62 AND OVER, 855 N. Brea Boulevard, 714-529-4261, small pets only), WALNUT VILLAGE APARTMENTS (620 S. Walnut Avenue, 714-529-7022, no pets), WILLIAMS SENIOR APARTMENTS (AGE 62 AND OVER, 212 S. Orange Avenue, 714 256-0384 or 714-420-5308, small pets only) NOTE: If you are interested in BREAL SENIOR APARTMENTS (111 N. Orange Avenue) and you are at least 65 years old and have lived in Brea for at least two years, call 714-671-4421 to obtain an application.
The City of Brea does not control the availability of units, therefore it is not possible to predict the wait time. It depends upon where you are on the waiting list when an opening becomes available – and there are NO openings until a tenant who is participating in a program moves out. Please note that when a program vacancy occurs for which you are qualified AND your name has reached the top of the waiting list, an apartment manager will be calling you.
Once your application has been submitted, there is nothing more for you to do except keep your address, phone number, etc. up to date. On an annual basis, you will receive an email reminder to review your application to be sure that the information is current. If more than a year passes without you logging in to review your application, your name will be removed from the waiting list. Make sure to click "SUBMIT" for the updates to register on the system. Accounts closed due to inactivity will not be reopened.
1) If there is only one person in your household, you may not rent anything larger than a one-bedroom unit. 2) Maximum occupancy of the apartment may not exceed two persons per bedroom plus one additional person (for example, three persons in a one-bedroom unit). 3) You are NOT required to live in the City of Brea when submitting an application.
For information about affordable housing in other Orange County cities, call the Orange County Housing Authority at 714-480-2700 or visit their website at www.ochousing.org.
The income limits vary according to the Program offered at each apartment complex and are listed in the rent tables on this website. In order to qualify for the Program, your income CANNOT exceed the amount listed in the table. Click on "How much are the rents?" in order to access the tables.
The City has no control over the minimum income required, as those requirements are set by the individual apartment owners. Typically, the requirement is that your income be three times the rent, but some apartment owners have a less stringent income requirement. Contact the apartment complex for this information.
The following apartments complexes do not accept pets: Acacia Apartments, Birch Hills Apartments, Birch Street Loft Apartments, Bonterra Apartments, South Walnut Bungalows, and Town & Country Apartments.
The complexes in Brea's Low & Moderate Income Rental Program which also accept Section 8 are as follows: Acacia Apts., Birch Hills Apts., Bonterra Apts., Calligraphy Apartment Homes, Imperial Park Apts., South Walnut Bungalows, and Town & Country Apts.
Your application must be updated and resubmitted once a year or your profile will be closed. An e-mail reminder will be sent prior to account closure. We will not re-activate your account if it is closed due to inactivity. To update your application, please click on the words "Update Application Information," which is located above your wait list position boxes and below "Welcome." Review all information, Save & Continue each page and click Submit.
If you forgot your password, please try to log-in at least once. After one failed log-in attempt, a "Forgot Password" link will appear below the login box. Please click the words "Forgot Password?" and follow the instructions to reset your password. An email from "City of BREA LIR Website" will be sent to your email. You will have 1 hour to finish resetting your password or the link will expire. You must click the password reset link in your email, do not simply go back to the website. Continue to follow the instructions provided in the email to finish resetting your password.