9C
Date: November 19, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director
By: Gregg Lodan, Neighborhood Services Manager | [email protected] Subject: Community Development - Conduct Public Hearing on Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) and Approve Final AI. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Development Director that City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing and take public testimony on the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) covering the period July 1, 2024-June 30, 2028; and
2. Approve Final AI.
DISCUSSION
The City of Torrance (City) is a federal entitlement grant recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). On July 2, 2024, Torrance City Council approved the Substantial Amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan and FY 2024-25 Action Plan which added the administration of the CDBG program.
As a condition of receiving these grants, the City must abide by HUD regulations, including the requirement to “affirmatively further fair housing.” The affirmatively furthering fair housing mandate (AFFH) requires that the City proactively take meaningful actions to overcome patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice, eliminate disparities in opportunities, and foster inclusive communities free from discrimination. These meaningful actions include:
•Conducting an AI;
•Taking appropriate actions to overcome the effects of impediments identified through the AI; and
•Maintaining records reflecting the analysis and actions.
The item before your Honorable Body tonight ensures that the City is in compliance with the AFFH mandate. The draft Al report was made available for public viewing and comment on the City's website, City Clerk’s Office, and the Community Development Department for a period of 30 days (Attachment 1). On November 8, 2024, a legal advertisement was published in the Daily Breeze announcing the public hearing on November 19, 2024 (Attachment 2).
The City examined a wide array of issues in order to identify and address impediments to fair City Council
November 19, 2024
housing choice. In addition to utilizing data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau and Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, Staff consulted with the Housing Rights Center regarding housing discrimination complaints in Torrance. Additionally, a portion of the AI outreach was completed concurrently with the Substantial Amendment to the City's FY 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan. A Community Needs Survey was conducted in December 2023 as part of the development process. The survey solicited community member and service provider input on the City's most pressing needs, particularly in the areas of housing, parks, community facilities, human services, housing discrimination and barriers to fair housing choice.
The public outreach and research for the AI indicates impediments to fair housing choice related to special needs housing, disability and source of income discrimination, as well as the need for affordable housing. In creating the action plan to address impediments identified in the AI, Staff included the Housing Element planned actions for amending the zoning code for special needs housing. The final AI is included as Attachment 3. The City plans to take the below actions to lessen the impediments to fair housing listed above.
1. Amend the Zoning Code for Special Needs Housing.
a. Amend the zoning code for residential care facilities to be treated as small family day care. b. Revise existing parking standards for emergency shelters based solely on staffing level and maintain an emergency shelter ordinance consistent with state law. c. Revise the zoning code to allow low barrier navigation centers in areas zoned for mixed uses and nonresidential zones that permit multi-family uses. d. Amend the zoning code to explicitly allow transitional and supportive housing as a residential use to be permitted as similar uses in the same zone and to ensure compliance with AB 2162.
2. Provide Services Targeted Towards Housing Discrimination Based on Disability and/or Source of Income.
a. Continue to contract with a Housing Rights Provider, currently the Housing Rights Center, to provide Fair Housing Workshops, educational materials, and investigations related to housing discrimination.
b. Highlight disability discrimination and source of income protections at Fair Housing Workshops in Torrance.
c. Distribute fair housing educational materials to Torrance landlords related to the rights of assisted tenants.
3. Expand Affordable Housing Opportunities.
a. Continue to operate voucher programs through the City Public Housing Authority (PHA).
This includes the housing choice voucher program (HCV), veteran's affairs supportive housing program (VASH), emergency housing voucher program (EHV), and stability voucher program (SV). The primary objective of this program is to assist low-income (0 to 50% of area median income) persons and households in making rents affordable. The City will consider applying for additional special purpose vouchers if/when they become available from HUD. Additionally, the City will implement HUD’s new Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR). The implementation of the SAFMRs will increase the payment standards in higher rent areas in Torrance, creating increased housing choice for assisted households into higher income zip codes.
b. Continue to identify and pursue other funding sources for the development of affordable housing.
City Council
November 19, 2024
In conclusion, it is the recommendation of the Community Development Director that City Council conduct a public hearing and, following public testimony, approve the AI. The next AI will be conducted concurrently with the FY 2028-33 Consolidated Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proof of Publication Public Review and Comment Period
2. Proof of Publication Public Hearing
3. Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI)