The RHNA methodology applies several factors to further the objectives of State Law and meet the goals of the Connect SoCal plan. The main determining factors in the methodology are:

1. Household Growth

2. Job Accessibility

3. Transit Accessibility

A certain number of jurisdictions have a higher calculated need based on this formula that is larger than their Connect SoCal Growth Forecast for household growth between 2020-2045. In those cases that occur in designated disadvantaged communities, there is a "residual."

The "residual" for those jurisdictions is taken off their calculation, and then the residuals are summed for the region. The regional residual is then distributed back to jurisdictions that meet three conditions: 1) They are in the top 50th percentile for transit accessibility; 2) top 50th percentile for job accessibility; and 3) less than 50% of their population is considered extremely disadvantaged.

After a RHNA total is calculated, a social equity adjustment is applied to determine the four income categories. The social equity adjustment is based on household income and access to resources. The resource indicator used is based on factors such as educational attainment, low-income job access, reading proficiency, and pollution levels. These same resource indicators are used to determine whether a jurisdiction is designated as disadvantaged under the RHNA methodology.

Click the image to view SCAG's approved RHNA Methodology

State housing law requires that every council of governments, including SCAG, adopt a RHNA methodology to distribute existing and projected housing need to every jurisdiction within the region.

The process to develop a draft RHNA methodology involved an extensive public input process.

• August 2019 - Four public hearings and a public information session

• September 2019 - Based on comments received, SCAG staff developed a recommended draft RHNA methodology

• November 2019 - The SCAG Regional Council approved the draft RHNA methodology to submit to HCD for their 60-day review and comment period
  

• January 2020 - HCD found that SCAG’s draft RHNA methodology furthered the five objectives of State housing law

• March 2020 - The SCAG Regional Council adopted the Final RHNA Methodology

• September 2020 - Based on the adopted methodology, SCAG distributed the draft RHNA allocation plan

• March 2021 - The RHNA allocation plan was adopted by the SCAG Regional Council

• July 2021 - The SCAG Regional Council amended the RHNA allocation plan

To learn more about the RHNA process, please visit the SCAG website at https://scag.ca.gov/rhna.