Acutely Low, Extremely Low, Very Low, Low Income — What Do These Terms Mean?

You are reading a listing for an affordable apartment and it says "reserved for households earning up to 50% of AMI." What does that mean in real money? Here is the plain-English translation of the income categories you will see all over Los Angeles affordable housing listings.

First: what AMI is

AMI stands for Area Median Income — the midpoint income for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, adjusted by household size (a larger household has a higher income limit). The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes these figures every year, and affordable housing programs use them to decide who qualifies. The percentages below are relative to that AMI figure.

The four categories

• Acutely Low Income: up to roughly 15% of AMI. This is a newer Los Angeles-specific category, created to prioritize the lowest-income households in City programs.

• Extremely Low Income: up to about 30% of AMI.

• Very Low Income: up to about 50% of AMI.

• Low Income: up to about 80% of AMI.

The exact dollar amounts change each year and scale with household size, so check the current HUD or LA Housing Department figures for your household when you apply.

Why this matters for your application

• If your income is above a listing's limit, you do not qualify for that unit — applying wastes your time.

• If your income is far below the range, some listings will not work either, because the rent must be affordable at your income level.

• Matching your household to the right income band is the single fastest way to shorten your search.

Not sure which category your household falls into? LA Housing Connect checks your eligibility for free and points you to the listings you actually qualify for. Reach out on our Contact page.