Housing News
CBP In the News
Los Angeles County Poverty Rate Fell in 2007, Census Data Show
Uneven trends are also affecting families at the middle and bottom of the economic ladder, where median incomes fell from 2006 to 2007, according to a study by the California Budget Project, a nonpartisan research group. "It took six years for low- and middle-income Californians to regain ground lost from the 2001 recession. But those gains were too little, too late," said Jean Ross, the research group's executive director. Los Angeles Times, August 27, 2008
CBP In the News
Median Income Slips in California
The median household income in California in 2007, adjusted for inflation, was lower than at its peak in 2000, noted Jean Ross, director of the liberal California Budget Project in Sacramento. "This is bad news for California," Ross said. "You would expect that at the end of a six-year expansion, incomes would have moved higher. Instead, we're going into the next downturn from a lower point than where we started at the beginning of the decade." San Francisco Chronicle, August 27, 2008
CBP In the News
Gender Gap in U.S. Pay Narrows
A slowing economy could significantly worsen the picture for 2008. "We're concerned that the data we're seeing today reflect a high-water mark," said Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, a think tank that focuses on low-income Californians. "The indicators for 2008 suggest that a year from now the income and poverty data will be much grimmer for California." San Jose Mercury News, August 27, 2008
CBP In the News
Household Income Stagnating in County
A number of economists said that after adjusting for inflation, the median salary was lower last year than it was in 2000, before the recession of 2001. "2007 was probably as good as it's going to get for a while, and these numbers show it wasn't very good," said Jean Ross, director of the California Budget Project in Sacramento. San Diego Union-Tribune, August 26, 2008
2007 Incomes Declined, Poverty Increased (pdf)
Newly released Census Bureau data show that Californians lost ground in 2007, marking a reversal of trends from 2006.
The 250 Sq. Ft. Condo
Technically these are SROs- Single Room Occupancy units, but it's a spanking new building, cafe below, in the vibrant SoMa district, starting at only $279,000. The catch: some units are only 250 sq.ft.
SB 375 Gains Support From Housing Advocates
Senator Darrell Steinberg sponsor of SB 375, one of the most far-reaching land-use measures considered by the legislature in the past decade
LA City Council Unanimously Adopts Housing Element Plan
City Councilmember Ed Reyes
LA City Council Unanimously Adopts Housing Element Containing Strategies for Mixed-Income, Preservation and Funding the Housing Trust Fund
All About Medi-Cal
The Medi-Cal experts at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) have updated their Overview of the Medi-Cal Program, a great starting point for research on Medi-Cal issues. The 2008 update includes new chapters on Medi-Cal for children, women and immigrants. For those new to the Medi-Cal world, the guide provides a glossary of common Medi-Cal terms to help advocates get familiar with the unique language of Medi-Cal.
Mixed-Use Faces Mixed Reviews in Fullerton
In Fullerton, CA, a dense new mixed-use building is facing criticism from neighbors and residents. 'All of a sudden we get one of these mixed-use buildings, [and] it's like a fort got dropped out of the sky,' says one neighbor.
Rural Housing Summit 2008 - Registration
Registration for the 2008 Rural Housing Summit "Stabilizing Communities in Critical Times" is now open. Please visit the RHS webpage to register. If you have any questions or need assistance with registration please contact Cristina Trujillo at (916) 443-4448.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP# 7496)
ANNEXATION CONSULTING FOR THE JORDAN DOWNS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ# 7495)
COMMUNITY BASED MASTER PLAN FOR A MIXED USE, MIXED INCOME REDEVELOPMENT OF JORDAN DOWNS PUBLIC HOUSING AND ADJACENT AREAS
New Federal Housing Legislation Expected To Help California?s Struggling Cities
The recently signed Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, (H.R. 3221), is expected to help California's housing market. There is $3.9 billion designated for local governments for foreclosure and abandoned home assistance. H.R. 3221 also includes provisions to create further underwriting opportunities for mortgages that are in danger of being foreclosed upon, establishment of a national Housing Trust Fund, and several other service oriented provisions that fund housing programs for specific need populations.
Summary of Housing and Economic Recovery Act
Following up on an earlier post by Mona Tawatao, we’ve added a link to a a helpful summary of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (prepared by the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association). You can always find a link to the summary in the Foreclosure section of the Housing Law | Issues page, under “Federal Laws.”
DataPlace: Beta and Beyond
As long time fans of DataPlace, currently setting the web-platform gold standard for community-oriented GIS mapping, may we suggest this Thursday’s (August 14) KnowledgePlex Expert Chat featuring What’s New At DataPlace: Beta and Beyond. The new DataPlace Beta site is up for public viewing. Enjoy, and have some GIS fun.
League Board Unanimously Supports SB 375
Legislation Moves off Suspense
Earlier this week, the League board of directors voted unanimously to support SB 375, as amended. The League's final support of SB 375 (Steinberg), a bill with significant land use and transportation policy implications, was the result of many months of negotiations by the League, various stakeholders, and Sen. Steinberg (D-Sacramento), the bill's author. Sacramento Mayor and League First Vice President Heather Fargo joined Sen. Steinberg and others at a news conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 6, to announce the League's support of the bill with amendments.
Request For Proposala ( RFP# 7496)
ANNEXATION CONSULTING FOR THE JORDAN DOWNS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles invites proposals from qualified firms interested in providing Annexation Consulting Services for the Jordan Downs Redevelopment Project. Services include but are not limited to the annexation of a 21.08 acre parcel and adjacent parcels of land from the County of Los Angeles to the City of Los Angeles. Copies of the RFP may be obtained beginning August 8, 2008 online at www.hacla.org or by calling (213) 252-5405. Proposals will be accepted until 10:00 A.M., Pacific Time, September 12, 2008.
Rural Housing Summit - Stabilizing Communities in Critical Times
Asilomar Conference Center
800 Asilomar Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
The Rural Housing Summit brings together housing and planning professionals and advocates to examine rural issues and develop a strategic action plan for the upcoming year and beyond. Participants will explore and identify opportunities to improve the living conditions of rural California families. Topics to be explored include: For more info please contact
cristina@calruralhousing.org
Digesting the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
By now, based on the amount of press coverage the foreclosure-related provisions of the huge and historic Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221, signed into law on July 30) have received, we know that the Act brings forth FHA reform, nearly $4 billion to stabilize neighborhoods affected by foreclosure and $180 M for foreclosure prevention counseling, among many other things. And, we are celebrating the momentous creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a national permanent source for the production, preservation and maintenance of affordable housing, 90 percent of which will go toward rental housing mostly for those at the extremely low income and poverty levels. We cannot thank the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) enough for leading the long-fought campaign to establish this fund. For a very useful summary of these and all the other parts of H.R. 3221, visit Boston-based Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association’s website. Provisions of particular interest include: Exemption of PHAs with 550 units and under from annual plan requirement (not so good); requirement that State LIHTC administrating agencies provide HUD with project-specific demographic information on race, income, age, use of Section 8, etc.; provision permitting students formerly in foster care to reside in LIHTC units; provision harmonizing bond rules with LIHTC rules; repeal of the ban on combining Section 8 moderate rehab with LIHTC; and waiver of the income recertification requirements for developments that are 100 percent LIHTC.
One more thing. . .NLIHC is hosting a conference call on August 19 at 2 pm EST on the features of the Trust Fund and next steps to ensure proper implementation. The info: Call in 866-878-4191, Code 9671875.
