H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-1 Appendix G: Housing Resources
Appendix G: Housing Resources ................................................................. 1 Section G.1 Financial and Administrative Resources ............................................................... 2 G.1.1 Local Resources .................................................................................................... 2 G.1.2 Regional Resources .............................................................................................. 4 G.1.3 State Resources .................................................................................................... 7 G.1.4 Federal Resources .............................................................................................. 10 Section G.2 Opportunities for Energy Conservation ............................................................... 12 G.2.1 GRID Alternatives ................................................................................................ 13 G.2.2 Contra Costa County ........................................................................................... 13 G.2.3 Marin Clean Energy Resources........................................................................... 14 G.2.4 Pacific Gas and Electric Resources .................................................................... 15 G.2.5 State Energy Resources ..................................................................................... 15 G.2.6 Federal Energy Resources .................................................................................. 16
G-2 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s Section G.1 Financial and Administrative Resources
G.1.1 Local Resources
Affordable Housing Fund
Per Richmond Municipal Code Section 15.05.603.120, all in-lieu fees, linkage fees, or other funds collected under Article 15.04.603, Inclusi onary Housing and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee, are deposited into the City Affordable Housing Fund. These funds are used on activities that provide affordable housing to extremely low- income, very low-income, lower- income, and moderate-income households and special needs popula tions, including land acquisition, predevelopment costs, rehabilitation of existing u nits to extend their useful life and add affordability restrictions, and construction of new residential units, and for administration and compliance monitoring of the affordable housing program. The Ci ty collected $803,055 of inclusionary housing in-lieu fees during the 2020 calendar year and $677,194 during the 2021 calendar year. During 2020 and 2021, $69,165 of expenditures for the fund were made to support legal services for inclusionary housing ordinance amendments.
Public Housing Program
The Richmond Housing Authority (RHA) is a public entity charter ed by the City in 1941 as a separate legal entity under the provisions of the Housing Act of 1937. It is funded by the Federal Government and is subject to the rules and guidelines of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). RHA provides decent affordable hou sing for low and very low- income residents of Richmond through federally funded housing programs.
RHA owns and manages two developments: Nevin Plaza and Nystrom Village. Nevin Plaza. This 142-unit high-rise houses seniors (62 or old er) and disabled households.
Nystrom Village. This 102-unit scattered site development hous es families, including seniors and disabled households.
The formula used in determining the Total Tenant Payment (TTP) is the highest of the following, rounded to the nearest dollar:
10 percent of monthly income
30 percent of the monthly adjusted income (annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations)
A $50 minimum rent set by the RHA.
Working with HUD, the 2019 Public Housing Authority Recovery an d Sustainability (PHARS) agreement delineates performance outcomes, timelines, and repor ting requirements focused on the repositioning of the RHA Public Housing portfolio.
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-3 Richmond Housing Renovation Program
On June 2, 2015, the Richmond City Council voted to issue up to $3 million in Social Impact Bonds for the purpose of rehabilitating and repairing abandoned residential properties in Richmond. RCF Connects (previously known as Richmond Community Foundation) facilitates the program from acquisition to sale of the properties. Impacts of the Richmond Housing Renovation Program include:
19 properties completed and sold to first-time homebuyers 22 total households served (households earn between 80 and 120 percent of Area Median Income (AMI))
$6.5 million in local spending
$123,485 in permit fees paid to the City
$205,583 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program City property a cquisitions paid to the City $799,350 repaid in code enforcement liens and property taxes $350,000 reduction in Code Enforcement costs for the City Furthermore, RCF Connects is using EPA Brownfields grants and leveraging funding through the City’s Housing Renovation Social Impact Bond to clean up and re develop abandoned and foreclosed properties into homes for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers.
Richmond Rent Program
As a division of the City, Rent Program staff provide remote co unseling services by phone or Zoom. The Rent Program can guide Richmond residents and propert y owners through local and State rent assistance resources.
ECIA Community Grant Program
The Chevron Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA) includes investments in community programs, a scholarship program, competitive community grants, community-based greenhouse gas reduction programs, and a photovoltaic solar far m. ECIA grant funds are awarded on an annual basis and all Richmond-serving 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that did not receive an ECIA grant award of more than $10,000 during the previous grant cycle are eligible to apply for funding. For the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 grant cycle, grants will be awarded to projects or programs in the following areas:
Youth programs (through age 21)
Youth sports programs (through age 21)
Community-focused programs
Examples of eligible projects or programs include but are not limited to:
Youth enrichment projects
Summer camps
Youth sports programs
Programs that support health and wellness and eliminate health disparities Bike and pedestrian pathway enhancements and construction proj ects
G-4 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s Programs that support students and parents at Richmond schools Service-learning programs
Gardening and urban greening projects
G.1.2 Regional Resources
Catholic Charities East Bay
Catholic Charities assists residents of Contra Costa County in rental payments, utilities, and security deposits. Catholic Charities also administers Housing Problem Solving, a program started in 2021 that offers tenant advocacy, mediation, relocation with family and other homelessness prevention strategies to keep families in their homes.
Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund (CSSF)
Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund provides housing, food, and me dication support in the Bay Area. CSSF delivers assistance through a network of 150 community partners throughout the Bay Area. CSSF helps Bay Area households who are striving to overco me an unexpected challenge by providing assistance with housing (rent or mortgage, first and last month’s deposit) as well as other critical needs like utility payments. Assistance is provided in the form of direct payments to the supplier of services, such as a landlord or utility company. Applicants must provide proof that in the months following receiving assistance, they will have the means to cover their housing and living expenses.
Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC)
The CHDC is a full-service housi ng development corporation that provides home-buyer counseling to assist home buyers in preparing for home ownershi p. Services include housing counseling, credit repair, debt reduction, budgeting and saving s planning, pre-qualification analysis and buyer education. In addition, CHDC develops and markets new affordable housing.
CHDC develops single-family homes; multi-unit affordable rental projects; and mixed-use projects with commercial as well as residential opportunities.
Contra Costa County
Measure X: Measure X is a countywide 20-year, half-cent sales tax approve d by Contra Costa County voters on November 3, 2020. Collection of the tax began on April 1, 2021. The intent of Measure X is to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; sup port crucial safety- net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential County services. Measure X also includes funds for a local housing trust fund and permanent supportive housing.
Mortgage Credit Certificate Program: The MCC Program is a homebuyer assistance program. The MCC provides qualified first-time homebuyers with a federal
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-5 income tax credit. Income tax credits reduce an individual’s ta x payment(s) by an amount equal to the credit. Under the MCC program, the maximum tax credit available is equal to 20 percent of the annual interest paid on the borro wer’s mortgage. By reducing the borrower’s federal tax liability, the tax credit e ssentially provides additional income which can be used for mortgage payments. Cont ra Costa County MCC authority can be used in all cities as well as the unincorp orated areas of the County. The Contra Costa County Community Development Departmen t will administer the program.
Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP): The purpose of the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) is to eliminate conditions that may be detrimental to health, life, property, and/or public welfare. To achieve this, NPP provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners for home rehabilitation pro jects. This support results in homes being brought up to current building codes, th e elimination of blight, energy efficiency improvements, accessibility improvements, and the enhancement of older housing stock to promote future investment and the growth of economically integrated communities.
SparkPoint Contra Costa: Part of the United Way of the Bay Area, SparkPoint Contra Costa has three centers in Contra Costa County, with one in Ric hmond. Each center is a collaboration of multiple nonprofit and government entitie s that work with low- income individuals and families long-term, looking at all aspec ts of their financial health, with the goal of achieving financial prosperity.
Eden Council for Home and Opportunity, Inc. (ECHO Housing) ECHO Housing offers various programs including classes on how t o find, qualify for and buy a home; debt and financial education and counseling; and a Rental Assistance Program (RAP) that assists with move-in costs or delinquent rent due to a temporar y financial setback. They also provide tenant-landlord counseling and fair housing services to assist Richmond renters remain in their homes.
Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa
Mainstream Voucher Program: HACCC administers 55 vouchers under HUD’s Mainstream program. The program is targeted to households with at least one non- elderly disabled family member who is homeless, at-risk of homelessness, coming out of an institutional facility or at-risk of entering an institut ional facility due to lack of housing. HACCC partners with an array of supportive services o rganizations that provide appropriate services to program participants.
Public Housing: The Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa administers 1,168 public housing units from as far West as San Pablo to as far East as Brentwood.
Please note that the City of Richmond administers its own public housing program.
G-6 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s Section 8 Project-Based Voucher Housing: The Project-Based Voucher Program (PBV) is designed to encourage property owners to construct new or upgrade substandard rental housing for low-income families. A housing a uthority may choose to provide Section 8 PBV rental assistance for up to 20 percent of its units under the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). Initial rents in PBV pro perties must not exceed 110% of the Housing Choice Voucher Program Existing Fair Market Rents (FMRs). HACCC provides 631 units of Project-Based Voucher assis tance, including 135 units assisted under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urb an Development (HUD)’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP): Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC).
HACCC receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housin g and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. Effective July 1, 2019, the HACCC assumed the management responsibilities for Housing Choic e Vouchers (HCV) formerly administered by the Richmond Housing Authority (RHA). The transfer was completed to improve the level of customer service to parti cipating voucher holders, landlords, and applicants, while also providing access to additional housing choices for program participants. Approximately 1,700 units in Richmond are home to Housing Choice Voucher participants, including the project-based vouchers. Section 8 VASH Program: Similar to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Voucher Program helps homeless veterans lease safe, affordable housing. VASH is a partnership between the Veterans Administration (VA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Participating veterans receive case manageme nt and clinical services provided by the VA to help them maintain healthy, productive lives. Shelter Plus Care – McKinney Homeless Assistance Act: Shelter Plus Care is designed to promote permanent housing with supportive service t o persons with disabilities coming from the streets and emergency shelters. Shelter Plus Care grants require a supportive services match equal to, or greater than, the Section 8 rental assistance award.
Lao Family Community Development (Lao Family)
Lao Family’s comprehensive approach strives to meet the immedia te basic, long-term, and special needs of affected community members. Customized and holistic service plans incorporate workforce, education, housing and support services, including h ealth, income and savings, to foster positive outcomes. As of 2021 more than 600 individuals had secured permanent housing and more than 6,500 individuals were provided with wrap-around case management, leading to self-sufficiency and increased well-being.
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-7 Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS)
Since 1981, Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. has wo rked to strengthen low- income families and neighborhoods through the promotion of affo rdable housing by providing affordable rentals to families and financial literacy. Their mi ssion is to ensure that East Bay and County residents (specifically Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo and Pinole) have access to affordable housing and rents. They have developed, acquired and/or rehabilitated over 400 single family homes to either sell, or manage as affordable homes to p urchase or rent for low-income families.
SHELTER, Inc.
SHELTER Inc. currently serves Contra Costa, Solano, and Sacrame nto counties and offers housing, support services, and resources to families and indivi duals. In Contra Costa County, SHELTER Inc. provides rental assistance for renters struggling to make payments and move-in assistance for residents who are unhoused or fleeing a dangerous situation.
G.1.3 State Resources
Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC):
Administered by the Strategic Growth Council, this program prov ides grants and/or loans to fund land-use, housing, transportation, and land prese rvation projects that support infill and compact development that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CalHome: HCD provides grants to local public agencies and non-profit hou sing developers to assist first-time homebuyers become or remain hom eowners through deferred-payment loans. Funds can also be used to assist in the development of multiple-unit homeownership programs.
California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH): This program provides funds for a variety of activities to assist persons experiencin g o r a t r i s k o f homelessness, such as housing relocation and stabilization serv ices (including rental assistance), operating subsidies for permanent housing, flexibl e housing subsidies, emergency housing operating support, and homeless delivery systems. California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA): CalHFA offers a variety of low-cost loan programs to support the development of affordable multi-fa mily rental housing, mixed-income housing, and special needs housing.
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), Mortgage Credit Cer tificate Program: The MCC program is a homebuyer assistance program designed to h elp lower-income families afford home ownership. The program allows home buyers to claim a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for a portion of mortgage interest paid per y ear, up to $2,000. The remaining mortgage interest paid may still be calculated as an itemized deduction.
G-8 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s California Self-Help Housing Program (CSHHP): Provides grants for sponsor organizations that provide technical assistance for low and moderate-income families to build their homes with their own labor.
Elderlink: A senior care referral service licensed by the Department of Public Health.
This organization provides independent and free personalized se nior care placement services to fully screened and approved nursing home, board and care, and assisted living facilities.
Golden State Acquisition Fund (GSAF): This $93 million fund provides low-cost financing aimed at supporting the creation and preservation of affordable housing across the state. GSAF makes up to five-year loans to developer s for acquisition or preservation of affordable housing.
Homekey: Homekey provides grants to acquire and rehabilitate a variety o f housing types, such as hotels and residential care facilities, to serve people experiencing homelessness or who are also at risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Housing for a Healthy California (HHC) Program: This program provides funding to deliver supportive housing opportunities to developers using th e federal National Housing Trust Funds (NHTF) allocations for operating reserve gr ants and capital loans. The HHC program is intended to create supportive housing for individuals who are recipients of or eligible for health care provided through the California Department of Health Care Services’ Medi-Cal program.
Housing Navigator’s Program: This grant program allocates funding to counties for the support of housing navigators to help young adults aged 18 to 21 years secure and maintain housing, with priority for individuals in the foster care system. Infill Infrastructure Grant Program (IIG): This program promotes infill housing development by providing grant funding, in the form of gap assi stance, for infrastructure improvements required for qualifying multi-famil y or mixed-use residential development.
Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant (FWHG) Program: This program provides deferred payment loans for both owner-occupied and ren tal housing for agricultural workers, with a priority for lower income households. Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) Program: This program provides matching funds to local or regional housing trust funds for the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable housing, transitional housing, or emergency shelters. Mills Act: The Mills Act is an economic incentive programs for the restora tion and preservation of qualified historic buildings by private propert y owners. It grants local governments the authority to enter into contracts with owners o f qualified historic properties who actively participate in the restoration and maintenance of their historic
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-9 properties while receiving property tax relief. In 2005, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to become a participant in the Mills Act program, which furthers housing affordability by reducing property taxes and preserving existing housing stock. Mobilehome Park Rehabilitation and Resident Ownership Program ( MPRROP):
This program provides financing to support the preservation of affordable mobilehome parks through conversion of the park to ownership or control by resident organizations, nonprofit housing sponsors, or local public entities.
Multifamily Housing Program (MHP): This program provides deferred payment loans for the construction, preservation, and rehabilitation of permanent and transitional rental housing for lower-income households. No Place Like Home Program: This program invests in the development of permanent supportive housing for persons who are in need of men tal health services and are experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, or who are at risk of chronic homelessness.
National Housing Trust Fund: This program provides deferred payment or forgivable loans for the construction of permanent housing for extremely low-income households.
The required affordability covenant is for 55 years.
Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program: This program provides a permanent source of funding to all local governments in Califor nia to help cities and counties implement plans to increase affordable housing stock. Funding for this program is provided through a $75 recording fee on real estate transactions. Predevelopment Loan Program (PDLP): This program provides financing to cover pre-development costs to construct, preserve, or rehabilitate assisted housing. Supportive Housing Multifamily Housing Program (SHMHP): This program provides low interest deferred loan payments to developers buil ding affordable rental housing that contain supportive housing units.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Housing Program: This program provides low-interest loans as gap financing for higher density affordab le rental housing within one-quarter mile of transit stations. Grants are also available to localities and transit agencies for infrastructure improvements necessary for the deve lopment of specified housing developments or to facilitate connections between these developments and the transit station. The maximum total award amount for a single project is $15 million. Transitional Housing Program (THP): This program provides funding to counties for child welfare services agencies to help young adults aged 18 to 25 years find and maintain housing, with priority given to those formerly in the foster care or probation systems.
G-10 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program (VHHP): This program supports the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and pre servation of affordable multi-family housing for veterans and their families.
G.1.4 Federal Resources
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address the impacts of COVID-19. The City of Richmond was allocated $27.7 million in relief funds. To date the City has committed $10.5 million from these funds; the Richmond City Council is conducting an as sessment, which includes community engagement, to invest these funds to address the immediate need of impacted local residents and businesses. Funds may be used for the following:
o Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to prov ide government services up to the amount of revenue lost due to the pandemic o Respond to the far-reaching public health and negative economi c impacts of the pandemic, by supporting the health of communities, and helping households, small businesses, impacted industries, nonprofits, and the public sec tor recover from economic impacts
o Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical sectors
o Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making n ecessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, to support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand affordable access to broadband internet
Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Federal funding for housing programs is available through the U.S. Department of Housing an d Urban Development (HUD). CDBG funds may be used to provide a suitable living environment by expanding economic opportunities and providing d ecent housing to low-income households (80 percent AMI). The City is a member of the Contra Costa CDBG Urban County which is allocated annual federal CDBG funds which the County directs to housing, economic development, infrastructure improv ements, public facilities, and public service projects designed to meet the needs of very low- and low- income persons. Richmond has been benefited from CDBG funds in several ways, including the currently underway rehabilitation of Hacienda Apa rtments, a 150-unit affordable housing complex that has been vacant since 2015.
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-11 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment towards ending hom elessness. It provides funding to nonprofits, state, and local governments to provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness.
Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program: This program provides funding for cities, counties, and states to engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; help operate these shelters; provide essential se rvices to shelter residents; rapidly rehouse homeless individuals and families; a nd prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless.
HOME Program: Participating jurisdictions may use HOME funds for a variety of housing activities, according to local housing needs. Eligible uses of funds include tenant-based rental assistance; housing rehabilitation; assistance to homebuyers; and new construction of rental housing. HOME funding may also be us ed for site acquisition, site improvements, demolition, relocation, and oth er necessary and reasonable activities related to the development of non-luxury housing. Funds may not be used for public housing development, public housing operating costs, or for Section 8 tenant-based assistance, nor may they be used to provide non- federal matching contributions for other federal programs, for operating subsidies for rental housing, or for activities under the Low-Income Housing Preservation Act. C ontra Costa County (as the Urban County representative), and the Cities of Antioch , Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek, together form a Consortium for purposes of pa rticipation in the HOME program.
Low-Income Housing Preservation and Residential Home Ownership Act (LIHPRHA): This program requires all eligible HUD Section 236 and Section 221(d) projects at risk of conversion to market-rate rentals from mort gage pre-payments be subject to LIHPRHA incentives, which include subsidies to guarantee an eight percent annual return on equity.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: Administered through the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC), the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) subsidizes the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable housing by providing a tax credit to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for low- income households.
Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program: Allows CDBG entitlement jurisdictions to leverage their annual grant allocations to access low-cost fina ncing for capital improvement projects. Eligible activities include housing, econ omic development, public facility, and infrastructure. This program is often used to catalyze private investment in underserved communities or as gap financing.
G-12 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: Provides an interest- free capital advance to cover the costs of construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of very low-income senior housing. The program is available to pri vate, nonprofit sponsors; public sponsors are not eligible for the program. Section 811 Project Rental Assistance: HUD offers long-term project-based rental assistance through a NOFA published by the California Housing F inance Agency (CalHFA).
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Housing Programs: These programs provide homeownership opportunities for individuals and below m arket-rate loans/grants to public and nonprofit organizations for new cons truction, preservation, or rehabilitation of farmworker/rural multi-family rental housing. Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program: HUD-VASH is a collaborative program between HUD and VA combines HUD housing v ouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans who are homeless and their families find and sustain permanent housing. See Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa Resources for more information.
Section G.2 Opportunities for Energy Conservation
The cost of energy can greatly impact housing affordability, as energy costs can constitute a significant portion of total housing costs. High energy costs a lso particularly impact low-income households that are less likely to have the ability to cover increased expenses.
The City encourages energy conservation in all projects consist ent with the California Building Standards Code and has specific adopted amendments to the California Energy Code (known as “reach codes”, since the amendments exceed the requirements of the California Energy Code) to require solar panels on all new nonresidential and high-rise re sidential buildings (see Municipal Code Section 6.02.030 for more information). Additionally, the City has adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP), which contains additional measures for the City to conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climat e change on public health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and public spaces. Progress toward reaching the CAP’s energy conservation goals is monitored in the City’s Climate Action Pl an Open Data Dashboard, accessible on the City’s website.
The City also promotes other various energy conservation programs on its website, including the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Home+ Energy Upgrade program and CaliforniaFIRST Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. BayREN is a collaboration of the nine counties that comprise the San Francisco Bay Area a nd is led by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). BayREN provides regional-scale ene rgy efficiency programs, services, and resources and is funded by utility ratepayer fund s through the California Public
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-13 Utilities Commission and other sources. Specifically, the BayRE N Home+ Energy Upgrade program helps single-family homeowners identify ways to improve their home’s energy efficiency by teaching homeowners how heating, air conditioning, insulation, water, and other home systems are working together and which improvements will most effective ly improve the home’s comfort and reduce energy consumption. Rebates and incentives are avail able for home improvements that include air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, high- efficiency furnaces, cooling systems, water systems, and wall insulation. PACE is a mechanism for pro perty owners to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water conservation imp rovements to their properties and repay the loan via an annual assessment on the owner’s prop erty tax bill. Unlike traditional forms of credit that are dependent on individual credit rating, PACE financing is primarily based on a property owner’s equity in the building. The CaliforniaFIR ST PACE program offers up to $250,000 for homeowners to put toward renewable energy and ener gy efficient home improvements. Eligible projects under the program may include, but are not limited to, air sealing, wall and roof insulation, energy efficient windows, tankless wa ter heaters, solar electricity and low-flow toilets.
G.2.1 GRID Alternatives
The City of Richmond and GRID Alternatives provide free solar s ystems to income-qualifying homes in Richmond. To date, the partnership has serviced over 4 70 homes in Richmond and provided millions of dollars in energy cost savings to the community. This new initiative will provide more than $2.5 million in energy cost savings for families and prevent more than 5,700 tons of greenhouse gases over the systems' lifetimes. It will also prov ide more than 15,000 hours of job skill-building in solar installation for community volunteers and job trainees.
To qualify, Richmond residents who own and live in their own ho me and make less than 80 percent of area median income may be considered to receive sola r through GRID Alternatives.
For example, a four-person household in Richmond with an income of $65,500 or lower would qualify.
G.2.2 Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County offers a Weatherization Program which is a Federal and State-funded program whose purpose is to assist low and/or fixed income peop le in making their homes more energy-efficient. The program is available regardless of whether you own or rent, live in a house, apartment, or a mobile home. The Weatherization Program will te st residents’ gas appliance(s) to determine if they are operating properly and safely. Any gas appliances that fail the inspection will be repaired or replaced. In addition to the appliance insp ection, the inspector will conduct an evaluation of the home to determine what energy-saving measures are needed.
G-14 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s G.2.3 Marin Clean Energy Resources
Since 2013, the City of Richmond has partnered with Contra Cost a County's community-based electricity provider, Marin Clean Energy (MCE), to provide incr eased access in affordable and renewable electricity for Richmond residents, resulting in lower emissions in our community. MCE is a public agency and not-for-profit electricity provider that gives customers the choice of having 50 percent to 100 percent of their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources such as solar, wind, bioenergy, and hydroelectric at competitive rates. MCE pr ovides electricity service and innovate programs to more than one million residents and busine sses across the four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. MCE has several programs designed to serve low-income customers, including:
Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): The AMP will forgive 1/12 of eligible debt (up to $8,000) each time an on-time payment is submitted.
CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy): The CARE program offers up to a 35 percent discount on electricity bills and a 20 percent disco unt on natural gas bills consistent with Public Utilities Code Section 739.1. This program is eligible to qualified low- or fixed-income households and housing facilities. FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance): The FERA program offers an 18 percent discount on electric bills to qualifying low to middle-income households. Medical Baseline Allowance: The Medical Baseline Allowance program allows residential customers who are medically dependent on electricity to receive more gas and electricity at the lowest residential rate.
CAPP (California Arrearage Payment Program): CAPP is a state program to help pay customers’ eligible past due energy bills that increased du ring the COVID-19 pandemic. CAPP reduces qualified unpaid energy bills by directl y applying a credit to their bill.
MCE's Home Energy Savings Program: MCE’s Home Energy Saving Program helps qualifying single-family homeowners and renters save money and energy by providing a free energy-saving gift box, virtual home energy assessment, and free home energy upgrades
MCE's Multifamily Energy Savings & LIFT Program: Multifamily property owners can receive rebates up to $1,000 per unit as well as free comprehensive assessments and consultations for energy and water saving measures. Plus, i ncome-qualified multifamily property owners and renters can receive an extra $1,200 per unit for energy and water savings measures from MCE’s Low Income Families & Ten ants (LIFT) Program.
H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s City of Richmond | G-15 G.2.4 Pacific Gas and Electric Resources
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) provides gas and electricity se rvices for Richmond. PG&E assists low-income, disabled, and senior citizen customers thro ugh several programs and community outreach projects, including:
CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy): See CARE under Marin Clean Energy Resources, above.
FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance): See FERA under Marin Clean Energy Resources, above.
Energy Partners Program: The Energy Partners Program provides qualified low- income customers free weatherization measures and energy-effici ent appliances to reduce gas and electricity usage.
Medical Baseline Allowance: See Medical Baseline Allowance under Marin Clean Energy Resources, above.
Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH): This is a one- time energy-assistance program sponsored by PG&E and administer ed through the Salvation Army from 170 offices in Northern and Central Califor nia. Those who have experienced an uncontrollable or unforeseen hardship may receive an energy grant of up to $300. Generally, recipients can receive REACH assistance only once within a 12-month period, but exceptions can be made for seniors, the ph ysically challenged, and the terminally ill.
G.2.5 State Energy Resources
California Department of Community Services & Development Progr ams Low- Income Weatherization Program (LIWP): California’s Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) provides low-income households with solar photov oltaic (PV) systems and energy efficiency upgrades at no cost to residents. LIWP is the only program of its kind in California that focuses exclusively on s erving low-income households with solar PV and energy efficiency upgrades at no c ost. The program reduces greenhouse gas emissions and household energy costs by saving energy and generating clean renewable power. LIWP currently operates three program components: Multi-Family, Community Solar, and Farmworker Housing. According to CDS’s Nov. 2020 Low-Income Weatherization Program Impact Report , LIWP has received $212 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund si nce 2014. Note:
The multi-family energy efficienc y and renewables program compo nent is estimated to end in June 2022.
California Public Utilities Commission Energy Savings Assistanc e Program (ESAP): ESAP provides no-cost weatherization services to low-income hou seholds
G-16 | City of Richmond H o u s i n g R e s o u r c e s who meet the CARE income guideli nes. Services provided include attic insulation, energy efficient refrigerators, energy efficient furnaces, weat herstripping, caulking, low-flow showerheads, water heater blankets, and door and building envelope repairs which reduce air infiltration.
G.2.6 Federal Energy Resources
Federal Housing Administration Energy Efficient Mortgage Program (EEM): This program helps families save money on their utility bills by ena bling them to finance energy efficient improvements with their FHA-insured mortgage. The EEM program recognizes that an energy-efficient home will have lower operat ing costs, making it more affordable for the homeowners. Cost-effective energy impro vements can lower utility bills and make more income available for the mortgage payment. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): The program is funded by the federal government and the State Department of Community Services & Development (CSD) administers LIHEAP. The federal Department of H e a l t h a n d Human Services distributes funds to states annually to assist w ith energy bills and offset heating and/or cooling energy costs for eligible low-inc ome households.
California’s annual share is approximately $89 million which CS D distributes to contracted community energy service providers. Active. During M arch 2020, the CARES Act allocated California an additional $49 million to sup plement its LIHEAP program, which totaled $203 million for Federal Fiscal Year 2019-2021.