CHC Housing News

County of Monterey Job Openings

Alli Warren — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:20:25 -0700

The County of Monterey has two job openings: Housing Project Analyst III and Housing Program Manager.

Please review the attached documents for more information.

November 2008 CHC Newsletter - Vol. 3, Issue 11

Alli Warren — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:44:34 -0700

Inside this newsletter...

Summary of CHC Policy Strategy Roundtable in Los Angeles

On Thursday, October 16, approximately 40 members of CHC’s Board of Directors and Board of Governors met in downtown Los Angeles to learn how CHC can contribute to prospective changes to TCAC regulations, hear about the status of establishing a Permanent Source for State financing of affordable housing, and get updates on proposed changes to State HCD’s Infill and TOD Programs.

CHC Member Project Profile: HKIT's Giant Road Family Apartments

CHC supporting member HKIT Architects have developed Giant Road Family Apartments, a $27 million project which provides quality affordable rental housing and innovative resident services to low-income families and individuals.

To read more, please download the attachment below...

CHC Comments on Proposed Changes to State HCD Infill and TOD Programs

Alli Warren — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:52:45 -0700

Please download the attached document to read CHC's comments on HCD's proposed Infill & TOD changes.

October 2008 CHC Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 10

Alli Warren — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:06:29 -0600

Inside this newsletter...

Special Report: Century Housing’s Tim O’Connell on Policy Outcomes

In March 2008, a delegation of CHC members visited 16 members of the State Senate and Assembly to brief them on 22 specific bills and CHC’s overall Policy Platform. (To review the Policy Platform, see http://www.calhsng.org/main/files/CHC Policy Platform.pdf.)

Of course, the BIG issue of the year was the Budget, which was later than ever before in history and even after all the sturm und drang, left everyone dreading next year, when the whole drama promises to play itself out yet again. There were few expectations that there would be any housing ornaments on this year’s Charlie Brown Christmas Tree of a Budget. But what eventually came out of the sausage grinder of Legislative hearings and gubernatorial blue-penciling was particularly disappointing. After years of successfully defending the miniscule General Fund commitment of $4 million Emergency Housing Assistance Program operations fund, the Governor struck it from the final Budget with a stroke of the blue pencil.
In addition, $343,000 was taken from the migrant workers housing program (offset by federal funds and not unexpected). Finally, $761,000 was removed from the employee housing program which primarily assists farmworkers. This may be offset somewhat by reimbursements in the coming year.

Now that the Budget has finally been adopted, the Governor is taking action on the bills that were approved by the Legislature. A summary of the latest status on the bills CHC focused upon on Lobby Day is included below.

CHC Member Project Profile: National CORE’s Citrus Grove

CHC Membership organization National Community Renaissance (National CORE) has completed a striking renovation of low-cost condominiums originally built in 1969. Through a partnership with the City of Rialto, National CORE conducted a $37 million rehabilitation of the deteriorating condominiums known as Citrus Grove in the Willow Winchester neighborhood. The completed project features 152 newly-refurbished affordable housing apartments offering a safe and healthy living environment for residents.

To read more, please download the attachment below...

CHC Urges Governor to SIgn SB585

Alli Warren — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:10:34 -0600

CHC contacted Governor Schwarzenegger to request his signature on Senate Bill (SB) 585, a measure that will permit the bifurcation of State and Federal low-income housing tax credits increasing the value of the California credits for taxpayers with State tax liabilities.

Please see the attachment to read the entirety of CHC's policy letter.

CHC Urges Governor to Sign SB375

Alli Warren — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:19:49 -0600

Following our September Newsletter feature on Senate President-Elect Darrell Steinberg’s land use measure known as SB375, the bill was passed in the legislature this week and is now headed to the Governor. CHC has sent the attached letter urging Governor Schwarzenegger to sign this landmark bill into law.

Please also find in the attachments a copy of Senator Steinberg’s Press Release as well as an August 2008 Memo from the bill’s sponsors clarifies SB375’s provisions. Finally, we’d also recommend that you download the KQED Public Radio piece aired on September 3rd where Senator Steinberg is interviewed on this topic: http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R809030900.

The significance of SB375’s passage is that for the first time stakeholders often at odds – environmental groups, builders and developers, local government – have come together to align the local land use planning, transportation planning, and housing element processes in order to encourage more environmentally-sustainable development patterns. Over the next two years, as we work to establish a state housing trust fund and the California Air Resources Board determines regional carbon reduction targets, we hope to see the full promise of SB375 come to fruition.

With your active participation, CHC looks forward to very much being involved in these developments.

September 2008 CHC Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 9

Alli Warren — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:47:29 -0600

Inside this newsletter...

Executive Director Report: CHC Supports HCD Director's Permanent Source Effort, CA Legislation to Address Foreclosure-Credit Crisis at Hand

Permanent Source Discussions -- In early August, members of CHC’s Board of Directors and Board of Governors convened a special roundtable discussion in Sacramento to hear from HCD Director (and CHC BOD Member) Lynn Jacobs regarding her efforts to explore establishing a state housing trust fund (aka a ‘permanent source').

Constructive Compromise Makes SB375 The Most Promising Land Use Reform Measure in Decades

Over the past two years, CHC has actively supported SB303, the land use planning bill introduced by Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego) and the CA Building Industry Association (CBIA) on the grounds that it would bring much needed certainty to local zoning and planning processes to help clear away barriers for more housing development. Despite a number of constructive amendments last year, remaining concern on the part of environmentalists and local government advocates effectively stalled the bill.

CHC Member Project Profile: USA Properties Fund's Terracina at Springlake

Since 1981, CHC underwriter USA Properties Fund has worked to develop high quality affordable family and senior communities throughout California. In January 2008, USA Properties opened Terracina, the first inclusionary rental community in a new growth area known as Springlake in Yolo County.

To read more, please download the attachment below...

Santa Cruz Housing Authority Seeks Executive Director

Alli Warren — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:41:39 -0600

Situated at the northern tip of the picturesque Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz
County with a population of 254,538 residents, is located 65 miles south of
San Francisco, 35 miles north of Monterey, and 35 miles southwest of San
Jose and the Silicon Valley.

The Housing Authority is an independent agency governed by a seven member
Board of Commissioners. The Agency employs 64.5 FTE staff with an annual
operating budget of $54 million.

The ideal candidate will bring a balance of effective administrative and
leadership strengths along with a commitment and passion for housing. The
ability to empathize with the social, economic, health, and support needs of
the agency¹s clients, and have a proven track record in administering
successful housing programs, managing budgets and effectively working with
government entities are essential. A professional background, which
includes at least four years of management and a total of seven years in a
housing related environment, along with an educational background that
includes a BA/BS degree are required. An MA/MS and a Public Housing Manager
certification are preferred.

To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, please forward a
letter of interest, resume with current salary, and five work related
references to Paul Kimura or Gary Rogers by October 10, 2008. Annual salary
up to $130,000 DOQ with an excellent benefits package. A formal job
announcement is available on our website at http://www.averyassoc.net/jobs.

For further information, please call Gary Rogers at 541-330-8353 or Paul
Kimura at 408-399-4424.

CHC Urges Legislators to Spare Redevelopment Funding as Budget Deficit Solution

Alli Warren — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:32:17 -0600

As State Legislators look for a way out of the budget impasse, CHC is urging our representatives to reject any proposals to take redevelopment funding. Redevelopment agencies throughout the state leverage their tax increment funding with unprecedented Prop 1C TOD and infill support in order to create critical incentives for building new affordable housing near jobs and transit. (For a copy of CHC’s letter, please click this link to our Policy Update page)

CA Redevelopment Association Executive Director (and CHC Board of Director member) John Shirey issued a ‘Legislative Alert’ on August 12 stating, “There are also strong indications that a take of at least $200 million in redevelopment funds will be part of the package. It is unclear whether the take will be one-time or ongoing…It is not enough for legislators to state they do not support takes of redevelopment funds; they must also make it clear to legislative leaders they will not support a budget that harms local government, including redevelopment.”

Please see the attachment for an example of what was sent to California legislators in anticipation of a possible Sunday 8/17 State budget vote.

Land Use Planning Progress: SB375 Update

Alli Warren — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:25:08 -0600

Land Use Planning Progress – as you know, CHC has actively supported Sen. Ducheny’s sensible land use reform bill SB303 over the past two years agreeing whole-heartedly that greater certainty in the planning, entitlement, and project-approval processes is essential if we are to markedly increase housing production across California. Substantial progress has taken place lately in merging the intent of SB303 with SB375, the land-use planning bill that for the first time would establish carbon reduction standards as part of a comprehensive land-use reform. As explained in the attached CBIA Memorandum on SB 375: “In addition to linking regional transportation planning with local land use planning, [SB375 would now] align both of those activities with the state-mandated housing element process and provide significant regulatory reform to develop projects that are proposed within areas consistent with a ‘sustainable communities strategy’. Please also download the Sacramento Bee’s August 7 Editorial entitled, “A Breakthrough on Regional Plans”.

Background -- Senate President pro tem-elect Darrel Steinberg introduced SB375 last year to establish carbon reduction objectives for California’s landmark ‘Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006’ (AB32) by creating a state-based land-use planning and decision-making process. In its original form SB375 was a non-started for builders, developers, and local government – all of whom actively opposed the bill in 2007. Senator Ducheny and SB303 sponsor CBIA have worked together with the League of California Cities over the past 6 months to negotiate a series of constructive amendments to SB375 geared toward ensuring greater certainty in the development process while ensuring incentive-based improvement to development patterns. These amendments are summarized in the attached CBIA Memorandum; please also download the Sacramento Bee’s August 7 Editorial entitled, “A Breakthrough on Regional Plans”.

SB375 is currently being amended to reflect the progress summarized in the attached memorandum. We will notify CHC members of the new language and action steps in the near future.