March 6, 2023
Mayor Flor Nicolas and council members
400 Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
via email to [email protected]
Re: Support for Item 13: Amendment to Baden Station Apartments Loan Terms Dear Mayor Nicolas and City Council Members:
On behalf of the Housing Leadership Council, I urge your support for the staff recommendation to amend the loan terms for the planned Baden Station Apartments.
The Housing Leadership Council (HLC) appreciates the opportunity to engage the city of South San Fransisco on this important decision. HLC works with communities and leaders to create and preserve affordable homes. We organize to ensure everyone who works, lives, or grows up here can obtain a suitable home.
For the Future Housing’s proposal addresses a critical need for housing among the City of South San Francisco’s residents with developmental disabilities. The city is currently home to over 600 adults with developmental disabilities, less than 10% of whom have been able to transition into their apartments with supportive services due to the lack of deeply affordable housing available in the city. By collaborating with Housing Choices to set aside 18 of the planned 36 units at Baden Station Apartments for people with developmental and other disabilities, For the Future Housing’s proposal aligns with federal and state priorities to provide housing for people with developmental disabilities in typical community housing and addresses an unmet priority of the City’s Housing Element.
For the Future has worked diligently to tap every available, affordable housing finance program, including county funding, to make the Baden Station Apartments project feasible while targeting rental units at the proposed property to Extremely Low and Very Low-Income populations requiring on-site supportive services, including individuals with developmental and other disabilities. Amending the loan terms for city funding as proposed by staff will allow the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
2905 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403 • (650) 242-1764 • hlcsmc.org Government Code Section 54957.5
SB 343 Agenda: 03/08/2023
Reg CC Item # 13
project to close on its construction loan and begin construction on these much-needed supportive housing units by the end of this month. If the amendments are not approved tonight, the project risks losing other funding sources, which could delay development for several years if not make the project entirely infeasible due to rising costs. We strongly urge you not to let these much-needed units be delayed!
Thank you for your leadership in making South San Francisco a community where people of diverse incomes and abilities can continue to thrive.
Sincerely,
Kiana Simmons
Organizer
[email protected]