SAC MIN 1991-07-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bank, Hilton Housing Project and the Housing Rehabilitation Program. Ms. Jones-Thomas explained that the Housing and Human Concerns Committee makes recommendations to the City Council on the agencies to receive CDBG funds. She said that the largest program, the Housing Rehabiliation Program, provides home improvement loans to low income residents. The Housing Department distributes a list of units in San Mateo County of federally assisted rental housing for low/moderate income persons. Rent is based on 30% of a person's income. The majority of federal funds are targeted to low income (elderly renters/homeowners). Ms. Jones-Thomas said that $580,000 was received from the Federal government in fiscal year 90-91 and the Housing Department earned approximately $400,000 from loan repayments during this same period. Ms. Jones-Thomas explained that the Housing Department consists of two full time housing advisors, one half-time building inspector and one clerical support person. She mentioned that the housing advisors can also make home visits to those persons physically unable to come into their office to apply for loans. Ms. Jones-Thomas spoke about the Density Bonus Program which allows the City to increase the density by 25% on private development if 25% of the units are available to low income housing. She explained that 50% of the people utilizing the Housing Rehabilitation Program are seniors and about 30% of the rental units are occupied by seniors. The Housing Rehabiliation Program has been in existence since 1977 and makes low interest loans to qualified persons. Rates are currently at 4% in low income target areas and 6% in other areas of Redwood City. She noted that the Rental Rehabiliation Program will expire in October 1992. She said that the Housing and Human Concerns Committee is working on developing a 5 year Comprehensive Housing Affordable Housing Strategy (CHAHS) for HUD. Public hearings will be held once the CHAHS has been drafted. Ms. Jones-Thomas said that the Senior Affairs Commission can receive a copy of the draft document and be notified of the hearings. She challenged the Commission to review the 1990 census data when it becomes available to determine if it truly represents what we know to be senior needs. Ms. Jones-Thomas also gave the Commission an update on the Self-Evaluation Committee. She explained that a federal law was passed stating that all City recipients of federal funds must comply with Section 504 regulations, which state that disabled persons must have the same access to city facilities/services as all other persons. The Self-Evaluation Committee consists of 16 people including 3 staff members (1 building inspector, 1 from City Manager's Office and 1 from Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department), and 6 City support staff. The committee will be doing comprehensive assessments of all city facilities and will be looking at all the policies and practices of city programs, services, communication, transportation and facilities. Thirty eight facilities under city ownership have been identified and the committee will review each site and make recommendations to eliminate barriers for disabled persons. An architect is in the process of being hired who will work with the committee to develop drawings and cost estimates for those identified sites. The committee's final recommendations will go to the City Council and then onto HUD for review and funding. Several private facilities have also been identified with accessibility problems and the committee wants to send letters to the owners to hear about any plans they may have to rectify