Sacramento Housing Alliance

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SHA in the News

News 10 Coverage of August 8th, Board meeting

Sacramento Bee Article: Proposed Rewrite of Housing Law Draws Fire

Read the Sacramento Bee Editorial, Sunday, August 5, 2007

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Affordable by Choice: Trends in California Inclusionary Housing Program

New Report "Affordable by Choice: Trends in California Inclusionary Housing Program" was released on August 14, 2007. As stated in the report " This report represents the most ambitious effort in California – and probably the nation – to examine the impact of inclusionary housing policies statewide. The single most important conclusion is that inclusionary programs are putting roofs over the heads of tens of thousands of Californians."

This report was produced by Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California in collaboration with California Coalition for Rural Housing, San Diego Housing Federation, and The Sacramento Housing Alliance.

Click Here to read the Executive Summary and Key Findings

Click Here for a breakdown of Inclusionary Housing Incomes in the Sacramento Area.

SHA has a limited number of copies available, additionally the report may be purchased at www.nonprofithousing.org or (415) 989-8160 X 10.

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Sac County Supes Cut Backroom Deal

with Big Money Builders

Even after a Superior Court Judge dismissed legal claims made by lobbyists for the building industry (BIA), on appeal the Supervisors pandered to the developers by promising to make requested changes to the County's affordable housing program with talking to anyone.

It's right here in Black & White in a letter from the County Attorney to the Court.

'County, SHRA and BIA have been engaged in settlement discussions since the

Summer of 2005, and various proposals have been exchanged and considered

by the County Board of Supervisors in executive session. Finally, yesterday the

BIA accepted the County's proposal.' (dated April 24, 2007) See full letter

Despite what the County says about "talking to advocates" they have made a settlement decision without input from interested parties and the community. This is not the way to make changes to a program that their own staff reports is working.

According to a report prepared and submitted by Sacramento County Housing and Redevelopment Agency staff on February 6, 2006, implementation of the County’s Affordable Housing Ordinance is producing the following results

• 223 projects have been subject to the Ordinance representing over 31,745 market-

rate units.

• Program is producing $62,261,800 in combined in-lieu fees to build affordable

homes.

• Construction of over 2,800 homes affordable to low, very-low, and extremely-low •

income families

It is not broke - Don't fix it!

Inclusionary Housing

is right for

Sacramento County!

A unanimous decision by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors adopted an affordable housing program in December of 2004. The program is designed to require that some of any new development be made affordable to families and individuals who earn between $13,000 - $51,000 per year. Developers admit that their current "cookie-cutter" development practice and marginal profit schema doesn't work for middle and low income residents.

After two years of work with a variety of community members and organizations, developers claim that the affordable housing program won't work. They have gone so far as to sue the County. They call the requirement to include housing for a range of incomes a tax. This is a development cost, not a tax. Developers already charge each homebuyer or renter the highest amount that they will pay. That money goes straight to profit.

The fact is, many builders are making it work! Plans have been submitted that will result in more affordable homes for lower income Sacramentans. We are all feeling the pinch of raising costs. Big money developers want us to believe that they are over burdened by this change. Over 100 cities in California require developers to include a range of affordable homes in new communities. Sacramento County has taken a forward step. Help us stop this needless attack by developers.