Anaheim takes first step in consideration of hotelier plan to fund affordable housing for workers

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2025) - Hotels in and around Anaheim's theme parks and convention center could fund affordable housing for hospitality workers with initial action at Anaheim's City Council meeting on Tuesday.

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution of intent that starts a process of considering proposed changes to the Anaheim Tourism and Improvement District, known as ATID.

ATID is a district of 93 hotels that funds tourism and improvements in The Anaheim Resort through an assessment, or 2 percent additional charge, on hotel stays.

"This is an incredible opportunity for the workers of the resort district," Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said.

"Hoteliers came to us more than two years ago," said Council Member Norma Campos Kurtz, who represents The Anaheim Resort and played a leading role on the proposal. "They said, 'How do we do more for our employees? Some can't afford to live in Anaheim or have to choose between fixing their car and paying rent.' I heard everyone express support for workforce housing."

With initial approval on Tuesday, a process is set to play out through December.

During that time, hotels that make up ATID will get a chance to vote on the proposed changes. If a majority weighted by their ATID contributions votes in favor, the process would continue to move forward.

Final changes, if adopted, would be in place for at least 30 years.

The proposed changes:

• Broaden ATID's governing rules to include workforce housing as an area of funding along with tourism marketing and transportation and other improvements.
• Direct 9 percent of ATID assessments to fund affordable housing for hospitality workers through the Anaheim Local Housing Trust Fund, the city's recently launched fund for affordable housing communities, emergency rent assistance and first-time homebuyer support.
• Create an ATID Housing Committee to make recommendations on workforce housing.
• Update ATID boundaries to include the Viv Hotel, Anaheim, and any future hotels along a stretch of Anaheim Boulevard, taking the number of ATID hotels from 93 to 94.

Workforce housing funding

About $3 million in yearly funding would go to workforce housing under the proposal, starting in February.

Hotels and motels in The Anaheim Resort and Platinum Triangle around Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center assess themselves 2 percent of hotel stays, on top of the city of Anaheim's 15 percent hotel-stay tax.

The overall 2 percent assessment on ATID hotels would not change.

ATID revenue for 2025 is projected at $32 million, with 75 percent, or about $24 million, going toward tourism marketing. The remainder, 25 percent, or $8 million, goes to transit and transportation improvements.

Nine percent of ATID funding this year would be $2.9 million and would grow as ATID's overall revenue grows.

Percentages for tourism marketing and improvements won't change, though they will see an adjustment in balances as some ATID funding gets allocated to workforce housing.

Housing trust fund

If approved, ATID workforce housing funding would go into the city's Anaheim Local Housing Trust Fund. An ATID Area Worker Housing Program subaccount would be created for the money.

Anaheim's housing trust fund was created in 2024 and formalized in May.

The fund is at $16 million - $15 million in funding received in May from Walt Disney Co. for affordable housing and $1 million from existing federal funding.

The housing trust fund was created to finance affordable communities, provide down payments for first-time homebuyers and help those at risk of eviction.

Nearly $10 million in funding is set to go toward the building of affordable housing communities in Anaheim, which already is home to nearly 40 affordable communities with more than 4,000 apartments.

Affordable communities look like typical apartment communities with all homes set aside for those at various income levels near and below Orange County's current median income of $136,600 for a family of four.

Low-income residents at affordable communities pay rents based on what they can afford, typically about a third of their income.

The housing trust is also set to fund a citywide homebuyer assistance program, providing a $50,000 loan toward down payments for first-time homebuyers making $200,000 or less.

In addition, the housing trust is set to provide $1 million in rent assistance to an estimated 200 households facing the risk of eviction.

Grants of up to $5,000 would be provided as emergency assistance in cases where eviction is pending.

Funding breakdown

ATID workforce housing funding could go to all three areas - the building of affordable housing, emergency rent assistance and first-time homebuying - based on recommendations from a five-member ATID Housing Committee.

Any ATID funding would be for those who work at Anaheim hotels and motels and overseen by an ATID Housing Committee.

Other changes

The proposal includes other changes, including incorporating timeshares, which are not currently part of ATID assessments. The change would apply to timeshares built after any potential adoption and stands to expand revenue coming into ATID.

Other proposed changes include funding for special events, development studies, directional signs and other improvements to better the look of The Anaheim Resort, a 1,000-acre district including Disneyland Resort theme parks, Anaheim Convention Center, hotels, restaurants, shops, offices and other uses.

Transportation, which has always been part of ATID funding, could be updated to include any potential transit system linking ARTIC, Anaheim's train and bus hub near Angel Stadium of Anaheim, to the theme parks, convention center and hotels of The Anaheim Resort.

Anaheim is in early stages of looking at types of emerging transit technology that could potentially link the city's two main visitor areas. There are no projects imminent with ongoing initial study underway.

Timeline

Proposed ATID changes require a series of actions by the city, as the overseeing government agency.

With Tuesday's initial approval, the Council's resolution of intent starts a process that will play out through December.

• October: public comment, questions before the City Council

About ATID

ATID, an independent district with a governing board and overseen by the city, was formed by the Anaheim City Council in 2010 to take over tourism promotion and improvements previously overseen and funded by the city.

Prior to 2010, Anaheim spent $6 million yearly to fund the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, which was renamed Visit Anaheim in 2015.

ATID replaced city funding of Visit Anaheim with hotelier funding via self-assessment, freeing city spending for community services.

Visit Anaheim, which markets Anaheim to conventions, events and visitors, serves as ATID operations manager.

ATID assessments are considered public money for a specific, restricted use and collected by Anaheim but are not available to the city for spending.

Additional resources

Anaheim Local Housing Trust Fund

Anaheim Resort Fact Sheet

Anaheim affordable housing fact sheet

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