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Jess Negrete 8.A. - Page 113 <br /> July 30, 2014 <br /> Page 3 <br /> codes for [AFFH] practices, nor a fair housing ordinance or resolution, are in place ..., suggesting that the <br /> current level of attention on fair housing may not be sufficient to affirmatively further fair housing.i <br /> The housing element provides a key opportunity to provide consistency with the City's AFFH obligations <br /> by considering policies that will prevent displacement and increase housing choice. <br /> • Implementation Program H -4 — Adequate sites to meet regional fair share of housing growth <br /> In recent years the City has lost over 400 floating homes, which were a very affordable, innovative form of <br /> housing for many low income workers and seniors. The City has an excellent opportunity to support the <br /> development of a thriving floating home community and provide hundreds of units of affordable housing, <br /> which is not easy in an area where housing production is so expensive. <br /> • Implementation Program H - 14 — Community Benefits Program: Partnership RWC. <br /> Committee members will be monitoring the Community Benefits Program process. We are concerned that <br /> there is no guarantee that affordable housing will be a significant component of the program even though <br /> "40% of new workers being required for low income jobs," "55% of renter households having a higher level <br /> of housing problems," and 40% of homeless shelter residents are minimum wage workers. Robust support <br /> of affordable housing production needs to be included as a part of every community benefit package in <br /> every future development agreement. <br /> • Implementation Program H-18 — Alternative Housing Models <br /> There is a concern that the City's statement that "bayfront areas that may accommodate floating <br /> communities," demonstrates the City's ambivalence regarding an innovative form of housing that is <br /> uniquely possible and historically important to Redwood City. In view of the assertion made elsewhere in <br /> the Housing Element that the City is largely built out, more proactive, supportive language is urged. <br /> • Implementation Program H -19 — Fair Housing Services - An important tool of the City's Fair Housing efforts <br /> is providing education to landlords and tenants to help them both meet their obligations under the law <br /> and to support clean, safe, sanitary housing in Redwood City. <br /> Unfortunately, this tool of providing education is not protecting displaced renters from dramatically <br /> escalating rents in formerly affordable apartment buildings. <br /> Thank you for your consideration. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Diana Reddy <br /> Member, Redwood City Local Housing Committee <br /> 5 Western Economic Services, LLC, 2012 San Mateo County Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (Al), Draft Report for Public <br /> Review (Nov. 13, 2012), p.152., available at https: / /housing.smcgov.org/ sites /housing.smcgov.org/files /AI DPRr.pdf. <br />