HomeMy WebLinkAboutButte County Housing Element Public Workshop February 5 SummaryButte County Housing Element Public Workshop – February 5, 2014
The County held a Housing Element public workshop on February 5, 2014, at 6 p.m. in the Butte County
Development Services Training Room. The meeting was noticed in the paper and on the County’s
website, and letters inviting service providers in the region were also sent out. There were three
participants at the meeting. The meeting started out with a brief presentation made by the consultant.
The presentation included a summary of Housing Element state law requirements, identification of new
laws that affect this Housing Element update, a summary of demographic information from the 2010
Census, and a timeline for the next step in the process for adoption of the 5th round Housing Element
update that is due to be adopted by June 2014.
Following the presentation was a roundtable discussion about needs throughout the county.
The three participants at the meeting were:
Thomas Tenorio, Executive Director of Community Action Agency of Butte County, Inc.
E. M. “Mo” West, Foothill West Associates
Edward Mayer, Executive Director Housing Authority of the County of Butte
Discussion items from the meeting:
Needs/programs identified by the group:
- There is a need for more senior housing (all types, from independent to assisted care and
memory care).
- Create/support housing project with supportive services included.
- Incorporate information from the 10-year plan to end homelessness (draft to be released in
March).
- Support the creation of equity pools (i.e., housing trust funds) to create affordable housing
(there is a group creating a North Valley Housing Trust Fund).
Community Action Agency
- With the loss of redevelopment funds, they aren’t able to secure funding for development.
- Pursuing acquisition/rehabilitation projects using the PACE Program and Cal Debit Limit
Allocation Bonds.
- Partnering with Fig Tree out of San Diego on rehab projects.
- Would like to partner with the County on a rehab program.
Housing Authority
- Elderly/disabled/low income are the groups most in need of housing.
- Butte County has highest per capita foster youth.
- Foster youth phasing out of foster care and onto the street in the county.
- Received a $20,000 grant from Sierra Council to complete a 10-year plan to end homelessness;
draft will be available in March 2014.
- Stressed that a common approach, between the County and all cities, on the homeless
population needs to be promoted.
- Chronic homelessness has grown, while the marginally homeless has decreased.
- Feds changing emphasis from emergency and transitional housing to “Housing First” model
- The Housing First model is working for veterans but lacking for the rest of the special needs
population, and it does not emphasize transitional housing.
- To make up the gap the North Valley Community Foundation (includes 3Core) is establishing the
North Valley Housing Trust Fund that will partner with banks to raise money, with matching
funds from the state for new affordable housing.
- Section 8 vouchers were reduced my government cuts over the last two years but are slowly
being reinstated.
Foothill – West Associates
- Need more housing with supportive services integrated into the project.
SB 244 Discussion
- Chapman could be a candidate.
- The Gridley Farm Labor Camp in the unincorporated County might be a candidate.