HCD Web News – April 5, 2013

HCD Web News is an electronic clipping service which features stories related to California and national housing and community development related issues. HCD staff compiles current news sources on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

April 5, 2013   

TODAY’S NEWS

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL: Elk Grove offering $2M in loans for affordable housing project

By Ben Van der Meer // The city of Elk Grove is looking for someone to build affordable housing, and has $2 million in loans to get the ball rolling. City officials posted a request for proposals for such projects Wednesday morning, with proposals due by May 1. The request does not specify the number of housing units to be built or a location …

HEALTHY CAL.ORG: Despite years of advocacy, some farmworker housing still deplorable

By Rosa Ramirez // …Advocates and industry leaders say farmworkers housing in California is uneven. The Central Valley, a 450-mile stretch of incredibly fertile and agriculturally rich land, has the largest number of the state’s farmworkers, of which the great majority are Hispanic immigrants. Their housing needs are vast. In poorer rural parts of Riverside County, illegal mobile parks without running water …

HCD’s Financial Assistance Programs Annual Report 2011-12

HCD awarded 408 loans and grants for over $419 million during FY 2011-12.  These funds are expected to help build, rehabilitate, or provide infrastructure for more than 5,900 rental and owner-occupied homes across the state.  Of these, more than 4,900 will be subject to contractual rent or cost limits to ensure they remain affordable to low and moderate-income households.    Other accomplishments include, but are not limited to, homeless shelter spaces, supportive and transitional housing for people who need assistance services as well as a place to live, migrant farmworker housing, and rent assistance vouchers.

The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Financial Assistance Programs Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2011-12, is available on the HCD website at:  http://www.hcd.ca.gov/fa/Annual_Report_11-12_FINAL_22_Feb_13.pdf.

 

National Low Income Housing Coalition: “Out of Reach” Report

Each year, Out of Reach demonstrates that large numbers of low income renters cannot afford the cost of living in the cities and towns where they work. This edition underscores the challenges facing the lowest income renters….  In California, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,341. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities – without paying more than 30% of income on housing – a household must earn $4,469 monthly or $53,627 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $25.78.

Link to California Statistics: http://nlihc.org/oor/2013/CA

Link to full report~ Out of Reach, 2013: http://nlihc.org/oor/2013

HCD Web News – March 8, 2013

HCD Web News is an electronic clipping service which features stories related to California and national housing and community development related issues. HCD staff compiles current news sources on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

March 8, 2013

TODAY’S NEWS

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

MODESTO BEE: Low-income housing projects in Turlock and Modesto taking names

By Marijke Rowland // The first wait list has been set and leasing should begin shortly for the new affordable housing complex Avena Bella in Turlock as construction continues on a similar complex in Modesto. Since its leasing office opened in October, developer EAH Housing’s 80-unit Turlock project has had more than 650 people sign the interest list for apartments. A lottery was held Thursday to create the wait list as the leasing process moves forward.

CONCENTRATE MEDIA: Affordable Housing: What Ann Arbor can learn from Santa Cruz, CA

By Natalie Burg [3/6/13] // In the early 2000s, the city of Santa Cruz, California had a problem. The naturally beautiful, progressive city, home of a premier research university, had become such a desirable place to live that housing prices skyrocketed beyond the reach of many… What a study identified was that though ADUs were legal in Santa Cruz, they weren’t necessarily easy to develop for homeowners – legally, anyway.

HCD Web News – February 22, 2013

HCD Web News is an electronic clipping service which features stories related to California and national housing and community development related issues. HCD staff compiles current news sources on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

February 22, 2013

TODAY’S NEWS

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: Bill’s $75 fee would add affordable housing

By Carolyn Said // Money for affordable housing in California has been slashed even as rising rents and dwindling incomes make the need more acute, advocates say.

SAN DIEGO-UNION TRIBUNE: Del Mar and fairgrounds may tackle housing together

By Lindsay Winkley [2/20/13] // DEL MAR — The city of Del Mar may be one step closer to solving its affordable housing woes, with city officials saying this week that they are working with the Del Mar Fairgrounds on a proposal that could potentially benefit both agencies. Council members passed a resolution, 4 to 1, committing to work together with the Fairboard to create affordable housing units as part of the fairgrounds’ upcoming master plan renovations…

Report: New Challenges and Opportunities for Inclusionary Housing

NHC’s CENTER FOR HOUSING POLICY ~ Highlights of California Mixed Use Developments

After the Downturn: New Challenges and Opportunities for Inclusionary Housing (February 2013)

The new report draws on interviews with practitioners, experts, and local administrative staff from across the U.S. to examine how inclusionary housing policies weathered the historic housing downturn of the past five years and what issues and new approaches have emerged during this time that impact inclusionary policies going forward.

Link to report< http://www.nhc.org/media/files/InclusionaryReport201302.pdf

New Affordable Green Housing in Chico, CA

HUD USER “EDGE” Magazine: Bidwell Park Apartments: Affordable Green Housing in Chico, California (In Practice ~ January 2013)

Chico, California was hit hard by the recession, experiencing an 11.2 percent unemployment rate, according to Mayor Anne Schwab. Nevertheless, the city recognized its housing problems and made positive efforts to address them, including a $3.5 million loan to help finance Bidwell Park Apartments, the newest affordable housing community in Chico.

Link to article: http://www.huduser.org/portal/pdredge/pdr_edge_inpractice_012513.html