Visalia City Council
April 7, 2025

Discussion
The City provides housing flex funds under CDBG public services to pay security deposits and rental applications fees as well as emergency rental and utility assistance to assist those experiencing homelessness and provide homeless prevention services. The City also leverages state funding sources to provide additional rapid rehousing services, credit repair, and rental subsidies to provide additional resources for people experiencing homelessness and at -risk of homelessness in the City of Visalia.

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AP-75 Barriers to affordable housing – 91.220(j)
Introduction
Visalia’s 2025/26-2029/30 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice identified the following impediments to affordable housing:
• Lack of affordable housing
• Residents vulnerable to displacement
• Lack of housing opportunities for special needs populations (residents living with disabilities, seniors, large households, and residents experiencing homelessness) Actions it planned to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment The City has taken actions in recent years to support residential development through changes in zoning, further streamlining permitting processes, and reducing impact fees. Visalia has made changes to residential zone districts following the City’s Housin g Element update. The City increased the highest allowed multi -family density permitted by right to 15 to 35 units per acre, provided that the development does not exceed 80 units. The City implemented an Affordable Housing Infill Incentive Program, which reduces Transportation Impact Fees for qualifying projects that meet the infill criteria outlined in the City’s Development Fee Schedule. In the downtown area, waivers for parking requirements have been given based on past use of the building spaces.

There are multiple policies and programs in the 2023 Housing Element Update that address promoting incentives for affordable housing that include priority permit processing and modified zoning provisions. New programs in the Housing Element update propose remov ing conditional use requirements for housing in certain commercial zone designations. These Housing Element Programs are organized into nine Goal categories, as follows:

1. New Construction - To provide a broad range of housing types and densities to meet the needs of all Visalia residents.

2. Mixed Use, Infill, and Downtown Development - To promote mixed use, infill, and Downtown development in Visalia.

3. Encourage Affordable Housing - To encourage construction and maintenance of affordable housing in Visalia.

4. Foreclosures - To prevent foreclosures, protect affected families, and stabilize neighborhoods impacted by foreclosures.

5. Special Needs/Homeless- To provide a range of housing types and services to meet the needs of households with special needs within the city.

6. Housing Rehabilitation Program - To maintain healthy neighborhoods by improving the condition of the existing housing stock and providing for a variety of housing types, sizes, price ranges, and densities compatible with the existing residential neighborhoods.

7. Equal Opportunity Housing and Discrimination Prevention - To provide decent housing and a quality of living environment for all Visalia residents regardless of age, religion, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, national origin, disability, economic level, and other arbitrary factors.

8. Energy Conservation - To encourage energy efficiency in all new and existing housing. 740
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9. Implementation Monitoring - To ensure that Housing Element programs are implemented on a timely basis and the progress of each program is monitored and evaluated annually.

Discussion:

See above

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AP-85 Other Actions – 91.220(k)
Introduction:

The following section provides HUD with other activities, projects, and actions the City is undertaking to reduce homelessness and improve housing affordability. Examples include the completion of the AI and identifying the barriers and impediments to affordable housing, supporting homeless programs, public and private solutions for affordable, annual administration of CDBG and HOME funds and attendance of city meetings and CoC meetings.

Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs The City’s 2025/26 -2029/30 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice includes the following identified actions which will begin to be undertaken in FY2025-26 to meet underserved needs:
• Conduct landlord education and outreach on source of income discrimination and voucher programs with the goal of increasing landlord participation in the voucher program. (HE Program 3.6)
• Expand and prioritize affordable housing development in high and highest resource areas and near public transit. (HE Program 7.2)
• Budget for and implement plans and strategies for communities, prioritizing neighborhoods designated for low-income and mixed-income housing opportunities in the sites inventory. (HE Program 7.2)
• Promote the development of ADUs, prioritizing the high and highest resource areas of the city. (HE Program 3.15)
• Implement small-scale placemaking projects/events in central and northeastern parts of Visalia. (HE Program 7.3)
• Work with local nonprofit organizations, including Self-Help Enterprises and Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County, to expand and spread awareness on home and accessibility rehabilitation programs. (HE Program 7.3)
• Collaborate with TCAG to prepare a study on transit needs for Visalia residents and identify actions to address those needs, focusing on connecting residents to job centers.

Work with TCAG to expand transit services that connect Visalia to other cities in the County. (HE Program 7.3)
• Coordinate with the Public Works Department to review the City’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) to ensure public facilities and infrastructure are supportive of the needs of underserved communities.
• Implement plans and strategies to decrease pollution burden in northern and central parts of Visalia. Strategies should include improving air, reducing lead risk from housing, as well as addressing proper remediation plans for cleanup sites and hazardous waste sites.
• Facilitate the development of housing for persons with disabilities (including developmental disabilities) through incentives for affordable housing development with services, resources, and assistance. (HE Program 5.9)
• Partner with qualified housing developers to identify affordable housing development opportunities with emphasis on promoting housing choices that serve the needs of • Prioritize capital improvement projects, including renovation of parks and amenities, in low-resource areas (central and northeastern parts of Visalia). 742
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special needs populations, including seniors, homeless, female-headed households, large families, low-income, and/or persons with disabilities in RCAA’s. (HE Program 5.9) • Work with the local nonprofit organizations to implement an outreach program informing residents of the housing and services available for persons with disabilities. The City shall make information available on the City website. (HE Program 5.9) • Prioritize public health, education, economic, and safety programs in lower-resource areas as defined by TCAC in coordination with area public health entities (e.g., Kaweah Health), Visalia Transit, the City’s Community Development Department, local school districts, workforce development groups, and the City’s Police Department. (HE Program

7.3)
• Monitor and support the development of housing for farmworkers through coordination non-profit organizations. (HE Program 5.9)
• Identify addresses and compile a mailing list with email addresses to focus outreach to neighborhoods in lower resource areas of the city to prioritize services in these areas. (HE Program 7.3)
• Encourage the development of both large rental units (for large family needs) and small units. In consultation with developers, identify and provide incentives for developers to include three and four-bedroom apartments in affordable, multi-family, and/or mixed-use projects to expand rental opportunities for large households, and incentives for developers to construct or rehabilitate housing for single-use occupancy or micro-units. • Support the development of missing middle housing by identifying and eliminating development constraints and amending the Zoning Code to be consistent with SB 9. • Develop and publicize financial and regulatory incentive opportunities to developers. • Identify lenders/realtors that have not been certified through the CalHome Reuse Program; conduct outreach to this group to promote certification. • Partner and contract with fair housing service providers for outreach, education, testing, and enforcement. Facilitate bi-annual workshops (at minimum). • Expand awareness of predatory lending practices, fair housing requirements, regulations, and services by distributing educational materials to property owners, realtors, apartment managers, and tenants. (HE Program 7.1) • Increase participation in homeownership education and assistance programs for historically underrepresented residents in the homeownership market by identifying • Provide informational seminars to area residential real estate agents and brokers on fair housing laws and regulations
• Provide informational workshops for residents to provide education and awareness to tenants, of fair housing federal and State fair housing laws and support prospective and existing tenants who are experiencing discrimination
• Provide trainings for property owners/managers on the requirements of federal and State fair housing laws to prevent discrimination (HE Program 7.1) • Hold (at minimum) annual program workshops for local lenders to promote affordable housing programs.
• Continue and if feasible expand funding for information and referral services that direct families and individuals with financial resources for housing rental or purchase, locating suitable housing, and obtaining housing with special needs facilities such as disabled- accessible units. (HE Program 7.1)
• Post brochures on the City website for resident access. 743
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sources of funding to support homeownership assistance programs and establish non- profit partnerships to for outreach campaigns to spread awareness of available assistance programs. (HE Program 4.1)
• Annually (at minimum) track income and demographic data of affordable housing participants to evaluate additional strategies to increase affordable housing knowledge. • Develop an outreach strategy to reduce community opposition to affordable housing development in Visalia. The strategy should include partnerships with local community organizations to identify and implement methods for spreading awareness on the need for affordable housing and the positive impact it has on individuals, families, and the community. (HE Program 1.4)
• Reevaluate contract with CCFHC; conduct a desk audit/review of program operations and service delivery (focus on feedback and City-observed experiences with lack of/delay in response to callers/individuals making inquiries). • Expand existing online resources by developing a web-based Housing Development Toolkit that outlines a step-by-step process for residential development, including identifying steps in the entitlement and building permit process, detailed information on development incentives, and funding programs and resources for affordable housing development. (HE Program 3.2)
• In response to current constraints identified by stakeholders related to multi-family development on large lots, the City shall amend the zoning code to establish objective design standards and increase the maximum unit threshold for by-right processing from 80 units to 200 units. Transitional and supportive housing is allowed by-right in multi- family residential. (HE Program 1.3)
• Monitor complaints regarding unfair/predatory lending and assess lending patterns by working with non-profit agencies that specialize in fair housing to provide data. Require the Central CA Fair Housing Council (CCFHC) to provide quarterly reports to the City on complaints received.
• Require CCFHC to provide reports to the City biannually (at minimum) of support provided to local nonprofits in applying for FHIP.
• Require CCFHC to regularly report to the City on outcomes/outputs. • Promote landlord mitigation program that provides financial benefits to landlords of housing units to mitigate damages caused by Section 8 tenants. • Conduct (at minimum) annual outreach to local lenders to encourage them to provide financing information to low- and moderate-income residents. • Annually, review the City’s outreach methods, using feedback from resident surveys and focused discussions with community organizations to inform online, mail, and in-person outreach methods.
• Increase participation of historically underrepresented residents in all City housing programs and community planning activities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders from all sectors and geographic areas to engage in the public participation process. (HE Program 1.4)
• Host fair housing workshops annually (at minimum) in partnership with fair housing advocates to educate citizens about fair housing rights. 744
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Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing The single-family and senior mobile home repair programs being undertaken with CDBG funds are focused on maintaining affordable housing and keeping individuals in their homes, avoiding displacement that would result in increased housing costs. The City wil l also undertake several multi-family housing projects using HOME funding, one of which will be targeted at seniors, contributing to the increased availability of affordable housing options in the jurisdiction.

Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards
Currently the City’s housing rehabilitation or home improvement programs and down payment assistance programs require lead-based paint inspections and/or abatement. Applicants of these programs are provided brochures informing of the health risks of lead -based paint as part of the application process. In addition, City building inspectors and Code Enforcement staff are alerted to signs of this hazard as they perform their substandard housing inspections. The City requires its Subrecipients, Developer partners and rehabilitation contractors of federally funded programs to utilize safe practices and obtain certification through a HUD certified lead testing agency.

Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families The City’s emergency shelter development project is intended to provide needed supports for homeless populations, with a goal of improving their situation and ultimately fostering financial independence.

The City works with its non-profit partners to reduce the number of poverty-level families. The City will also continue to provide its non -profit partners with funding to acquire, rehabilitate, and sell and rent homes or multi-family units to income-qualifying households at or below 80% AMI.

Additionally, the City has made a commitment to improve the communication and service delivery capabilities of agencies and organizations that provide programs to assist the homeless.

Specifically, Staff participates in the monthly Continuum of Care (Allia nce) meeting, and various homeless task groups to identify funding and opportunities to provide Visalia’s homeless population with housing and service opportunities.

The City will also continue to partner with organizations to provide services and address the full range of needs of LMI families. Although there are coordinated programs and services to reduce poverty, it is recognized that many unmet needs will remain. T he City will continue to work with its partners to identify and work toward meeting those needs by strategically focusing its resources and efforts.

Actions planned to develop institutional structure
The City is a charter city and is managed under a Council-manager form of government. The City Council provides policy direction to the City Manager who is responsible for administering City operations. City Council members are the leaders and policymakers elected to represent the community and concentrate on policy that addresses the citizens’ needs and wishes. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to carry out policy and ensure that the entire community is served. The legislative body is the City Council and City Councilmembers are the community’s decision makers. Visalia voters elect a 5 -member Council to serve as the City's legislative and governing body. The members represent the City and their respective Districts, serve four -year terms and they select one member to serve as mayor and one to serve as vice- mayor. A general municipal election is held every two years in November, alternating between two and three positions each cycle.
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The Finance Department, Housing Division, oversees and administers the day-to-day activities of the CDBG, HOME, and other state and federal funded programs. Housing staff works with various City departments to develop programs and activities that improve low -and moderate -income neighborhoods throughout the City. The administration of program activities includes housing, public services, public facilities, park and infrastructure improvements, and affordable housing.

The City has no additional actions planned to develop its institutional structure. The City will continue to work closely with the County of Tulare Housing Authority, as well as adjacent units of government and Tulare County.

Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies
The City will continue to work with its partners to identify funding opportunities for providing affordable housing and public services. The City will continue its partnerships with non -profit organizations in the community. Additionally, the City will con tinue to work with the Alliance for the ongoing partnering with housing, service, and faith -based organizations to discover and address gaps in service.

Discussion
See above

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AP-90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.220(l)(1,2,4)
Introduction:

In the event that ultimate CDBG or HOME grant allocations do not match the expected totals listed in the AAP, the City may add, subtract or transfer amounts among identified projects, as noted without publishing a substantial amendment, if the amount is below a 75 % change, as per the approved Citizens Participation Plan. Any difference in CDBG funding will be reflected in the emergency shelter public infrastructure line item and, if needed, Public services to maintain compliance with the 15% cap and Admin istration to maintain the 20% cap. A ny difference in HOME funding will be reflected in the SHE CHDO senior housing project, and if needed , Administration to maintain the 10% cap. The three-year period (2025, 2026 & 2027) will be used to determine that a minimum overall benefit of 70% of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of low and moderate income.

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG),
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1)
Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included in projects to be carried out.

1. The total amount of program income that will have been received before the start of the next program year and that has not yet been reprogrammed $50,000

2. The amount of proceeds from section 108 loan guarantees that will be used during the year to address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the grantee's strategic plan
$0.00

3. The amount of surplus funds from urban renewal settlements $0.00

4. The amount of any grant funds returned to the line of credit for which the planned use has not been included in a prior statement or plan. $0.00

5. The amount of income from float-funded activities $0.00 Total Program Income $50,000

Other CDBG Requirements

1. The amount of urgent need activities 0%

2. The estimated percentage of CDBG funds that will be used for activities that benefit persons of low- and moderate-income
100%

3. Overall benefit: A consecutive period of 1, 2, or 3 years may be used to determine that a minimum overall benefit of 70% of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of low-and-moderate income- Specify the years covered that include the action plan 3-year period
2025, 2026,
and 2027

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HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(2)

A description of other forms of investment being used beyond those identified in Section 92.205 is as follows:

No other form of investment shall be used beyond those identified in Section 92.205. 2.

A description of the guidelines that will be used for resale or recapture of HOME funds when used for homebuyer activities as required in 92.254, is as follows:

No HOME funds will be used for homebuyer activities.

A description of the guidelines for resale or recapture that ensures the affordability of units acquired with HOME funds (See 24 CFR 92.254(a)(4)) are as follows:

Not Applicable

Plans for using HOME funds to refinance existing debt secured by multifamily housing that is rehabilitated with HOME funds along with a description of the refinancing guidelines required that will be used under 24 CFR 92.206(b), are as follows:

Not applicable

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Appendices
Appendix “A” – FY 2025/2026 Annual Action Plan Summary Detail

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Appendix “B” – Citizen Participation

To be added following 30-day public comment period.
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Resources: FY 25/26 FY 26/27 FY 27/28 FY 28/29 FY 29/30 Total Annual CDBG Allocation 1,200,000$ 1,200,000$ 1,200,000$ 1,200,000$ 1,200,000$ 6,000,000$ Program Income 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 250,000 Prior Year Resources 450,000 - - 450,000 Total CDBG Resources 1,700,000$ 1,250,000$ 1,250,000$ 1,250,000$ 1,250,000$ 6,700,000$ Administration (20%) 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$ 1,250,000$ Public Services (15%) 180,000 180,000 180,000 180,000 180,000 900,000 Total Public Services 180,000$ 180,000$ 180,000$ 180,000$ 180,000$ 900,000$ Affordable Housing:

Single-Family Home Repair Program 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 500,000 Senior Mobile Home Repair Program 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 500,000 Code Enforcement Low-Mod Areas 170,000 170,000 170,000 170,000 170,000 850,000 Total Affordable Housing 370,000$ 370,000$ 370,000$ 370,000$ 370,000$ 1,850,000$ Public Facility Improvements:

Emergency Shelter Development 900,000 450,000 - - - 1,350,000 Sidewalk ADA Improvements - - 450,000 300,000 450,000 1,200,000 Park Youth Improvements - - - 150,000 - 150,000 Total CDBG Expenditures 1,700,000$ 1,250,000$ 1,250,000$ 1,250,000$ 1,250,000$ 6,700,000$ Resources: FY 25/26 FY 26/27 FY 27/28 FY 28/29 FY 29/30 Total Annual HOME Allocation 500,000$ 500,000$ 500,000$ 500,000$ 500,000$ 2,500,000$ Program Income 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 500,000 Prior Year Resources 40,000 40,000
Total HOME Resources 640,000$ 600,000$ 600,000$ 600,000$ 600,000$ 3,040,000$ HOME Administration (10%) 50,000$ 50,000$ 50,000$ 50,000$ 50,000$ 250,000$ Rancho Colegio Project 290,000 - - - - 290,000 Senior Housing Project 300,000 450,000 450,000 - - 1,200,000 Affordable Rental Housing Project - - 450,000 450,000 900,000 Tenant-Based Rental Assistance - 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 400,000 Total HOME Expenditures 640,000$ 600,000$ 600,000$ 600,000$ 600,000$ 3,040,000$ Expenditures:

FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30 Proposed CDBG and HOME Activities Table 1: FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30 Proposed CDBG Activities Expenditures:

Table 2: FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30 Proposed HOME Activities 751

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DRAFT 2024

ACTION PLAN

AMENDMENT
2024 Annual Action Plan
Amendment
City of Visalia
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Table of Contents

Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 3 AP‐05 Executive Summary ‐ 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b) ........................................................................ 3 PR‐05 Lead & Responsible Agencies – 91.200(b) ...................................................................................... 7 AP‐10 Consultation – 91.100, 91.200(b), 91.215(l) ................................................................................... 8 AP‐12 Participation – 91.105, 91.200(c) ................................................................................................. 15 Expected Resources .................................................................................................................................... 18 AP‐15 Expected Resources – 91.220(c)(1,2) ........................................................................................... 18 Annual Goals and Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 22 Projects ................................................................................................................................................... 25 AP‐35 Projects – 91.220(d) ..................................................................................................................... 25 AP‐38 Project Summary .......................................................................................................................... 27 AP‐50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f) ............................................................................................. 33 Affordable Housing ..................................................................................................................................... 34 AP‐55 Affordable Housing – 91.220(g) ................................................................................................... 34 AP‐60 Public Housing – 91.220(h) ........................................................................................................... 36 AP‐65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities – 91.220(i) ............................................................ 38 AP‐75 Barriers to Affordable Housing – 91.220(j) .................................................................................. 41 AP‐85 Other Actions – 91.220(k) ............................................................................................................ 43 Program Specific Requirements .................................................................................................................. 46

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Purpose of the Amendment
The purpose of the Program Year (PY) 2024 CDBG Annual Action Amendment is to reappropriate $450,000 of unspent CDBG funds for an ADA Tree Wells Project to be carried over into the PY 2025 Annual Action Plan for other CDBG eligible projects. The ADA Tree Wells Project has been delayed since the project is still in the process of seeking other funding sources to proceed.  The City anticipates funding the ADA Tree Wells project in years two and three of the next Consolidated Plan. This will allow enough time for the project to secure sufficient amount of funding as well as time to design the project.

Executive Summary
AP‐05 Executive Summary ‐ 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b)

1.  Introduction
The City of Visalia (City) is an entitlement jurisdiction for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and a participating jurisdiction for HOME Investment Partnerships Act Program (HOME). As a required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City develops a Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) every five years to guide the use of federal CDBG and HOME funding.  The 5‐Year ConPlan is the guiding document for allocating these resources which support projects and programs that benefit low‐ and moderate‐income people by increasing housing and economic opportunities, strengthening low‐income neighborhoods, and addressing public service and infrastructure needs.  The Annual Action Plan (AAP) is also required by HUD each year of the five‐year cycle and will summarize the programs and projects that will be funded by the annual grants to achieve the goals and objectives of the ConPlan. Annual accomplishments are reported on progress toward ConPlan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).

2.  Summarize the objectives and outcomes identified in the Plan Our strategy for community improvement using CDBG and HOME funds will focus on five broad goals.

These goals are:
 Improve housing opportunities for low‐income households through new construction, mortgage and rental assistance, senior housing, housing for the disabled, and rehabilitation of homes/mobile home.
 Provide for a suitable living environment for low‐income individuals and/or areas through Tenant‐based subsidies and property maintenance (Code Enforcement):
 Address community/special needs through shelters, counseling, youth services, and domestic violence services.
 Address the needs of persons who are homeless with transitional housing, permanent housing, voucher programs, and tenant‐based rental assistance.
 Improve public infrastructure and facilities in the community. 754

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 Provide optimal program administration and oversight of the CDBG and HOME programs to continue planning efforts that address the needs of extremely low, very low, and low‐income households and neighborhoods.

Details of our plan to meet these goals can be found in the strategies the City has identified below with the following labels:
• Increase affordable housing for LMI households in the City of Visalia • Create suitable living environments for renters/homeowners in the City of Visalia • Address community/special needs and services
• Address the needs of people experiencing homelessness • Enhance community development
• Provide efficient administration and oversight of the CDBG and HOME programs

3.  Evaluation of past performance
The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires an evaluation of the City’s progress toward goals for the CDBG and HOME funds each year of the five‐year ConPlan period. Over the past five‐year ConPlan period, 2015 to 2019, the City has supported organizations providing services to populations in need and addressed the lack of affordable housing through partnerships with the Housing Authority, and non‐profit organizations, including Self‐Help Enterprises (SHE), a local low‐income housing provider. The City has allocated grant funding to the following:
• Fair Housing Council of Central California (FHCCC), assisting 184 people by handling housing discrimination complaints and agency referrals, holding seminars and educational workshops, and conducting discrimination testing;
• Acquisition of the Self Help Enterprises. Inc. (SHE) public facility for bridge/transitional housing; • Self Help Enterprises on policy development and provision of grants for the mobile home repair program, and acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing and rental units; • Family Services of Tulare County, providing HOME funded tenant based rental assistance and case management;
• ADA Compliance Public Improvement projects;
• Park improvements (Jefferson Park, Community Lot Garden); • Section 108 loan payments; and
• Support to providers of assistance to homeless and low‐income populations.

4.  Summary of Citizen Participation Process and consultation process The Program Year (PY) 2024 Annual Action Plan goals were established based on high priority needs as identified in the 5‐year 2020‐2024 ConPlan. The City used several community outreach methods including public meetings, two surveys, and stakeholder consultations. Efforts to reach populations underrepresented in the planning process of the ConPlan included discussions regarding the survey with 755

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various housing, social service, faith‐based, and other organizations that provide services to the disabled, special needs, low income, and homeless population community.  Many of the organizations that assisted in the effort to distribute the surveys posted them on their websites and sent notifications to their partners and clientele. The surveys were provided in English and Spanish.

Several stakeholders were also consulted during public workshops, over the phone, and in‐person at their offices. Such stakeholders included, but were not limited to, Housing providers, Health service providers, social service providers, Organizations representing protected classes, Fair housing, Broadband internet providers, Emergency management
organizations, the Citizens Advisory Committee,
the Disability Advocacy Committee, and additional local and regional stakeholders.

The PY 2024 Annual Action Plan 30‐day public comment period took place from March 15, 2024, through April 15, 2024. A Public notice was published in the Visalia Times Delta on March 15, 2024, and March 29, 2024. The draft 2024 Annual Action Plan was available for review on the City's website at www.visalia.city. Public notices were also sent to the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance listserv and the City's social media channels. The City also held the following community and city council meetings:
 City Council (Draft Review) on April 1, 2024, at 7:00pm  Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on April 3, 2024, at 5:30pm  City Council Public Hearing (Adoption) on April 15, 2024, at 7:00pm The PY 2024 Annual Action Plan Amendment 30‐day public comment period took place from March 21, 2025, through April 21, 2025. A Public notice was published in the Visalia Times Delta on March 18, 2025, March 21, 2025, and April 1, 2025. The draft PY 2024 Annual Action Plan Amendment was available for review on the City's website at www.visalia.city. Public notices were also sent to the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance listserv and the City's social media channels. The City also held the following community meeting and public hearings:
 Community Meeting ‐ Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on April 2, 2025, at 5:30pm  Public Hearing ‐ City Council Meeting (Draft Review) on April 7, 2025, at 7:00pm  Public Hearing ‐ City Council Meeting (Adoption) on April 21, 2025, at 7:00pm

5.  Summary of public comments
This could be a brief narrative summary or reference an attached document from the Citizen Participation section of the Con Plan.

Summary of comments will be added following the public comment period.

6.  Summary of comments or views not accepted and the reasons for not accepting them All comments will be accepted and taken into consideration. 756

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7.  Summary
The City of Visalia conducted several public meetings and hearings to gather input and review the 5‐year 2020‐2024 Consolidated Plan. In addition, the City held stakeholder meetings with multiple community and regional organizations and agencies providing services to low income and homeless populations.

The City has reviewed several plans to gather information for the development of this Plan that included the City of Visalia Housing Element for 2023‐2031, which was being drafted concurrently with the Consolidated Plan. A summary of the full citizen participation of the 2024 Annual Action Plan will be included as Attachment B. A summary of the full citizen participation of the PY 2023 Annual Action Plan and PY 2023 Action Plan Amendment will be included as Attachment B. 757

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PR‐05 Lead & Responsible Agencies – 91.200(b)

1.  Agency/entity responsible for preparing/administering the Consolidated Plan Describe the agency/entity responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan and those responsible for administration of each grant program and funding source.

Agency Role  Name  Department/Agency
Lead Agency  VISALIA
CDBG Administrator  VISALIA  Finance Department‐Housing Division HOPWA Administrator   N/A   N/A
HOME Administrator  VISALIA  Finance Department‐ Housing Division HOPWA‐C Administrator   N/A   N/A
Table 1 – Responsible Agencies

Narrative (optional)
The City of Visalia (City) is the Lead Agency for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement programs at the City of Visalia. The City’s Finance Department, Housing Division administers the funds it receives under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs.

Consolidated Plan Public Contact Information
Margie Perez, Housing Specialist
City of Visalia
Finance Department ‐ Housing Division
707 W. Acequia Ave., Visalia, CA 93291
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (559) 713‐4460
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AP‐10 Consultation – 91.100, 91.200(b), 91.215(l)

1.  Introduction
The City has fostered a community engagement process and gathered public input on community improvements that could be addressed by utilizing federal entitlement funds. During the preparation of the 5‐year ConPlan, the City facilitated a community outreach and engagement effort to further strengthen the dialogue between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health and service agencies that receive federal funding.  Participants in the community outreach process provided feedback on what they viewed as the most pressing housing, special needs/public services, and community development needs in the City.

Specifically related to public and assisted housing providers, private and governmental health, mental health and service agencies, City staff has met with the County Homeless Task Group, a City Emergency Shelter Task Group, and the Continuum of Care (Homeless Alliance) members. Organizations represented in City priorities include county and local government, faith‐based organizations, concerned citizens, housing providers, service providers, including mental health, education, employment, and others.

Provide a concise summary of the jurisdiction’s activities to enhance coordination between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health, and service agencies (91.215(l))
City staff met with public officials, City departments, the Housing Authority of Tulare County (HATC), residents, and agencies to develop strategies for how best to invest grant funding to address discuss priority community needs. Staff met with the Citizens Advisory Committee, which acts as a liaison between the public and the City Council concerning community needs.  Also, City Staff met with the Disability Advocacy Committee, to be advised on the needs of disabled persons in the community.  A focus group was held with the City’s Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), Self‐Help Enterprises, which has, in the past and present, worked collaboratively with the City of Visalia to increase the City’s supply of affordable housing.

Describe coordination with the Continuum of Care and efforts to address the needs of homeless persons (particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth) and persons at risk of homelessness.

The Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance (Alliance) is the regional continuum of care which facilitates services through a system of homeless housing and service providers, advocates, government representatives and consumers to conduct outreach and strategies to address the needs of homeless persons and persons at risk of homelessness.
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City staff participates in regular monthly meetings of the Alliance to better understand the changing needs and challenges facing homeless populations; to coordinate strategies that ensure effective regional coordination in helping homeless individuals and families reach maximum self‐sufficiency.

The City of Visalia supports the Alliance by providing grant funding for the yearly Point In Time Homeless
Census and counts, the Project Homeless Connect events, as well as continued administration of the HUD Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

Describe consultation with the Continuum(s) of Care that serves the jurisdiction's area in determining how to allocate ESG funds, develop performance standards for and evaluate outcomes of projects and activities assisted by ESG funds, and develop funding, policies and procedures for the operation and administration of HMIS.

Not applicable. The City does not receive ESG funding.

2.  Describe Agencies, groups, organizations, and others who participated in the process and describe the jurisdiction’s consultations with housing, social service agencies and other entities
Representatives of the following agencies, groups, and organizations contributed to the narratives and data included in the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan preparation are listed in Table 2 on the following page.

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Table 2 – Agencies, groups, organizations who participated. 1  Agency/Group/Organization  Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance Agency/Group/Organization Type  Housing
Services‐Persons with Disabilities
Services‐homeless
Regional organization
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Public Housing Needs
Homeless Needs ‐ Chronically homeless
Homeless Needs ‐ Families with children
Homelessness Needs ‐ Veterans
Homelessness Needs ‐ Unaccompanied youth
Homelessness Strategy
Market Analysis
Anti‐poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Consultation provided information; Continued partnership/collaboration through CoC meetings. Survey feedback presented the ConPlan High priority needs, 2023 Action Plan through the listserv members who represent all the types of organizations listed above including service providers, and community stakeholders.  The Continuum of Care, and Homeless Task Group meetings and feedback relate to the need for homeless housing.  CDBG funding would assist KTHA to further meet the needs of the chronically homeless community. 2  Agency/Group/Organization  Housing Authority of Tulare County Agency/Group/Organization Type  PHA
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Public Housing Needs
Non‐Homeless Special Needs
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
HATC provided input through the survey, recommending that the city make more funding available for the acquisition and rehabilitation of more affordable housing. HATC was also consulted in preparation of the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. 761

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3  Agency/Group/Organization  Self‐Help Enterprises
Agency/Group/Organization Type  Housing
Services ‐ Housing
Services‐Education
Regional organization
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Homeless Needs ‐ Families with children
Lead‐based Paint Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Representative(s) contributed narrative and data to answer questions relevant to the Consolidated Plan, which helped in prioritizing the City's housing and community needs. 4  Agency/Group/Organization  Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency Agency/Group/Organization Type  Services‐Children
Services‐Elderly Persons
Services‐Persons with Disabilities
Services‐Persons with HIV/AIDS
Services‐homeless
Services‐Health
Health Agency
Child Welfare Agency
Regional organization
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Non‐Homeless Special Needs
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Representative(s) contributed narrative and data to answer questions relevant to the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.
5  Agency/Group/Organization  United Way of Tulare County Agency/Group/Organization Type  Services ‐ Housing
Regional organization
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What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Homeless Needs ‐ Families with children
Homelessness Needs ‐ Veterans
Homelessness Needs ‐ Unaccompanied youth
Non‐Homeless Special Needs
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Representative(s) contributed narrative and data to answer questions relevant to the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.
6  Agency/Group/Organization  Family Services of Tulare County Agency/Group/Organization Type  Services ‐ Housing
Services‐Children
Services‐Elderly Persons
Services‐Persons with Disabilities
Services‐Persons with HIV/AIDS
Services‐Victims of Domestic Violence
Services‐homeless
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Homeless Needs ‐ Chronically homeless
Homeless Needs ‐ Families with children
Homelessness Needs ‐ Veterans
Homelessness Needs ‐ Unaccompanied youth
Homelessness Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Representative(s) contributed narrative and data to answer questions relevant to the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.
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7  Agency/Group/Organization  Kings View Corporation
Agency/Group/Organization Type  Services ‐ Housing
Services‐Elderly Persons
Services‐Persons with Disabilities
Services‐Persons with HIV/AIDS
Services‐Victims of Domestic Violence
Services‐homeless
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Homeless Needs ‐ Chronically homeless
Homeless Needs ‐ Families with children
Homelessness Needs ‐ Veterans
Homelessness Needs ‐ Unaccompanied youth
Homelessness Strategy
Non‐Homeless Special Needs
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Representative(s) contributed narrative and data to answer questions relevant to the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.
8  Agency/Group/Organization  Citizens Advisory Committee Agency/Group/Organization Type  Other government ‐ Local What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Non‐Homeless Special Needs
Anti‐poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Representative(s) contributed narrative and data to answer questions relevant to the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. A community meeting was also conducted on April 5, 2023, to review the draft PY 2023 Annual Action Plan.

Identify any Agency Types not consulted and provide rationale for not consulting. 764

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The City reached out to several different agencies, groups, and organizations and invited them to participate in the preparation of the 5‐year Consolidated Plan goals. They were contacted via email and provided with a stakeholder flyer that included information on the community forum and public hearings. The City asked these groups to forward this information to their colleagues and mailing lists. They were also encouraged to complete the community needs survey and to share the survey link with community stakeholders. The City also published public notices in the Visalia Times Delta, the City website, and the City's social media outlets.

The types of additional agencies were businesses, educational services, groups and organizations, employment service providers, fair housing services, health service and domestic violence service providers, service providers for children and elderly persons, other advisory, veterans and concerned citizens, as well as faith‐based organizations. The following additional providers were sent notice and information via‐email encouraging feedback on preparing the Action Plan activities form:
 Businesses: Downtown Visalians, Hispanic/Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Tulare County Economic Development, & Retail Associates.

Other local/regional/state/federal planning efforts considered when preparing the Plan.

Name of Plan  Lead Organization  How do the goals of your Strategic Plan overlap with the goals of each plan? Continuum of Care  Kings Tulare
Homeless Alliance
As the designated bi‐county Continuum of Care, the Alliance is responsible for planning process for the bi‐ county region which includes the City of Visalia. The Alliance mission is to coordinate and leverage resources that empower community partners including the City of Visalia to address homelessness.

City of Visalia Fair
Housing Rental
Assessment
City of Visalia and
Fair Housing Council
of Central California
The Fair Housing Council Fair Housing Rental Assessment is based upon systemic paired testing of the rental housing market to form the basis of plans to counteract discriminatory practices in the rental housing market with the City.

City of Visalia
General Plan Housing
Element
City of Visalia
The Housing Element assesses the need for housing for all levels of income and establishes policies to meet those needs. The Strategic Plan goals support the implementation of the Housing Element by working to construct and rehabilitate new and existing affordable housing units.

Tulare County Multi‐
Jurisdictional Local
Hazard Mi
County of Tulare  Development, as related to the Consolidated Plan, that occurs shall be primarily in the areas where environmental hazards can be properly mitigated.

Table 3 – Other local / regional / federal planning efforts

Narrative (optional)
None.
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AP‐12 Participation – 91.105, 91.200(c)

1.  Summary of citizen participation process/Efforts made to broaden citizen participation summarize citizen participation process and how it impacted goal setting.

Outreach for the City of Visalia’s five‐year 2020‐2024 Consolidated Plan goals were conducted in several methods:  community outreach and housing needs surveys, public meetings, stakeholder interviews, and public hearings.  Significant outreach efforts were made to the public, faith‐ based organizations, educational institutions, housing services, and health and social service organizations. The PY 2024 Annual Action Plan goals were established based on the highest priority needs identified during the 2020‐2024 Community Needs Assessment. Based upon the input received by the community and council, high priorities were identified as public services, homeless services, fair housing,  mobile home repairs, code enforcement, ADA improvements, and affordable mulit‐family housing.

The 2024 Action Plan 30‐day public comment period seeking community input was held from March 15, 2024, through April 15, 2024. The draft PY 2024 Action Plan was available for review on the City's website at www.visalia.city. The City took several steps to seek community input on the draft PY 2024 Action Plan, by publishing an English and Spanish public notice in the Visalia Times Delta on March 12th, March 15thand March 29th, the City's website, the City's social media outlets, and the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance listserv. The following community and city council meetings were held to review the draft Action Plan and obtain public comment.  City Council Public Hearing on April 1, 2024, at 7:00pm  Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting on April 3, 2024, at 5:30pm  City Council Public Hearing on April 15, 2024, at 7:00pm The PY 2024 Annual Action Plan Amendment 30‐day public comment period took place from March 21, 2025, through April 21, 2025. A Public notice was published in the Visalia Times Delta on March 18, 2025, March 21, 2025, and April 1, 2025. The draft PY 2024 Annual Action Plan Amendment was available for review on the City's website at www.visalia.city. Public notices were also sent to the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance listserv and the City's social media channels. The City also held the following community meeting and public hearings:
 Community Meeting ‐ Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on April 2, 2025, at 5:30pm  Public Hearing ‐ City Council Meeting (Draft Review) on April 7, 2025, at 7:00pm  Public Hearing ‐ City Council Meeting (Adoption) on April 21, 2025, at 7:00pm 766

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Citizen Participation Outreach
Sort
Order
Mode of
Outreach
Target of
Outreach
Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
Comments
received
Summary of
comments not
accepted and reasons  URL (If applicable)
1  Newspaper
Ad
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
English/Spanish public notice published in
the Visalia Times Delta on 3/12, 3/15, &
3/29/24.

See
Attachment B  N/A
2  Internet
Outreach
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
English/Spanish public notice and draft
2024 AAP were available on the City's
website from 3/15/24 ‐ 4/15/24.

See
Attachment B  N/A  www.visalia.city
3  Internet
Outreach
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
City social media posts on City's Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter pages.

See
Attachment B  N/A
4  Listserv
Notice
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
The Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance and
Visalia Chamber of Commerce listserv
notices.

See
Attachment B  N/A
5  Public
Notices
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Public notices posted at the following city
sites: City Hall, Community Development
Department, Administrative Office, and
Visalia Transit from 3/15/24 ‐ 4/15/24.

See
Attachment B  N/A
6  Public
Hearing
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
City council meeting to review draft 2024
Action Plan and obtain public comment
held on 4/1/24.

See
Attachment B  N/A
7  Public
Meeting
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Citizens Advisory Committee community
meeting to review draft and obtain public
comment held on 4/3/24.

See
Attachment B  N/A
8  Public
Hearing
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Public hearing to approve the 2024 Action
Plan and authorize submission of the plan
to HUD held on 4/15/24.

See
Attachment B  N/A

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Sort
Order
Mode of
Outreach
Target of
Outreach
Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
Comments
received
Summary of
comments not
accepted and reasons  URL (If applicable)
9  Newspaper
Ad
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
English/Spanish public notice published in
the Visalia Times Delta on 3/18/25,
3/21/25 & 4/1/25.

See
Attachment B  N/A
10  Internet
Outreach
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
English/Spanish public notice and of draft
2024 AAP Amendment were posted on the
City's website from 3/21/25 ‐ 4/21/25.

See
Attachment B  N/A  www.visalia.city
11  Internet
Outreach
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
City social media posts on City's Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter pages.

See
Attachment B  N/A
12  Listserv
Notice
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Over 450 recipients were notified on the
Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance listserv
notice.

See
Attachment B   N/A
13  Public
Notices
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Public notices posted at the following city
sites: City Hall, Community Development
Department, Administrative Office, and
Visalia Transit from 3/21/25 ‐ 4/21/25.

See
Attachment B  N/A
14  Public
Meeting
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Citizens Advisory Committee community
meeting to review draft and obtain public
comment was held on 4/2/25.

See
Attachment B  N/A
15  Public
Hearing
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Public hearing for the 2024 Action Plan
Amendment held on 4/7/25.

See
Attachment B  N/A
16  Public
Hearing
Non‐
targeted/broad
community
Public hearing for the 2024 Action Plan
Amendment and authorize submission of
the plan to HUD held on 4/21/25.

See
Attachment B  N/A
Table 4 – Citizen Participation Outreach
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Expected Resources
AP‐15 Expected Resources – 91.220(c)(1,2)
Introduction
The Program Year (PY) 2024, CDBG budget consists of $1,184,832 in entitlement funds, and $100,000 in estimated program income for a projected total of $1,284,832 in CDBG funds. The PY 2024 HOME budget consists of $462,604 in HOME entitlement funds, $100,000 in estimated program income, and $425,000 in prior year resources for a projected total of $987,604 in HOME funds. The City currently does not have an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) or Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grant. The Expected Amount Available Remainder of ConPlan average annual allocation multiplied by remaining years to equal total remainder of ConPlan. Each program year the Expected Amount Available Remainder of ConPlan is subtracted by the current grant allocation. This is the 5th and final year of the current 5‐year ConPlan; therefore, the expected amount available remainder of the ConPlan is $0 for both CDBG and HOME.

The Program Year (PY) 2024 CDBG Action Plan Amendment includes an additional $11,168 in program income, bringing the total 2024 CDBG resources to $1,296,000 in CDBG funds. There were no changes to the PY 2024 HOME Action Plan.

Anticipated Resources
Program
Source
of
Funds  Uses of Funds
Expected Amount Available Year 5  Expected
Amount
Available
Remainder
of ConPlan
$  Narrative Description
Annual
Allocation:
$
Program
Income: $
Prior Year
Resources:
$
Total:
$
CDBG  Public
Federal
Admin,
Public Services,
Affordable
Housing, and
Public
Improvements

$1,184,832  $100,000
$111,168
$0  $1,284,832
$1,296,000
$0  PY 2024 CDBG estimated resources
include $1,184,832 in entitlement funds,
and $100,000 $111,168 in program
income, for a total of $1,284,382
$1,296,000 in CDBG funds.
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Program
Source
of
Funds  Uses of Funds
Expected Amount Available Year 5  Expected
Amount
Available
Remainder
of ConPlan
$  Narrative Description
Annual
Allocation:
$
Program
Income: $
Prior Year
Resources:
$
Total:
$
HOME  Public
Federal
Admin,
Homebuyer
Assistance, and
Multifamily Rental
New Construction

$462,604  $100,000   $425,000  $987,604   $0

PY 2024 HOME resources include
$462,604 in entitlement funds, and
$100,000 in program income for a total
of $987,604 in HOME funds.

Table 5 ‐ Expected Resources – Priority Table

Explain how federal funds will leverage those additional resources (private, state, and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements will be satisfied.

The City leverages both federal and local housing funds by supporting non‐profit organizations that develop affordable housing. The City, or its partners, provides matching funds for housing related services to several programs, which includes the following:
 SHE‐CHDO Scattered Single Family Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Resale. Scattered Site Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resale of Single‐ Family Property Program will be administered and operated through the City’s certified Non‐Profit, designated Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), currently Self‐Help Enterprises (SHE).  SHE‐CHDO Scattered Multi‐Family Site Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Rent. For example, the Lofts Project is the development of an 80‐unit multi‐family affordable housing complex that is budgeted above $25 million. HOME funds will be leveraged with the various other funding sources, such as, No Place Like HOME Program (NPLH), Multifamily Housing Program (MHP), and the Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG).
 Voucher Program – used as a match to receive Tulare Housing First grants to provide permeant supportive housing vouchers.  First‐Time Homebuyers Program – leveraged with private first position loans to assist First‐Time Homebuyers purchase a home. 770

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Below is a list of potential financial resources considering a part of the City’s overall financial plan to address priority needs and specific objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan.
 Housing Authority of Tulare County (HATC): A public housing authority within the City and the County.  Low‐Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC): The LIHTC program provides federal and state tax credits for private developers and investors who agree to set aside all or an established percentage of their rental units for low‐income households for no less than 30 years.
 Multi‐Family Housing Program (MHP): If California’s Housing and Community Development Department awards Multi‐Family Housing Program loans to assist rental housing developments affordable to low‐income households in the City, the City will assist the developers with identifying local funding.
 Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA): The City will also be receiving PLHA funding on an annual basis, which will assist with matching requirements.
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If appropriate, describe publically owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that may be used to address the needs identified in the plan.

The City of Visalia does not currently own any land considered viable for the needs and uses identified in the plan. However, there is no shortage or available land for these purposes, as discussed below.

Discussion
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is part of a statewide mandate to address housing issues that are related to future growth in a region. State housing element law assigns the responsibility for preparing the RHNA for the Tulare County region to the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG). TCAG, and other California councils of governments (COGs), undertake the RHNA process prior to each housing element cycle. The current RHNA is for the 6th‐cylce Housing Element and covers a 9.75‐ year projection period from December 21, 2023, to December 31, 2031. The City of Visalia has conducted an analysis and concludes that Visalia has adequate sites to accommodate its RHNA allocation for Extremely Low, Very Low, and Low‐Income categories.

The City Planning Department lists lands available for development in its sites inventory list. However, it is undetermined as to who will develop and when development will occur. A comparison of Regional Housing Need and Residential sites is listed in Table 1‐41 from the Housing Element. The City approved 2,835 units between 2014 and 2018, consisting of 2,486 single‐family units and 400 multi‐family units (see SP‐05 attachment ‐ Regional Housing Need and Sites Inventory). If constructed, there would be a surplus of units for extremely low income: 210 units, low income: 514 units, moderate income: 675 units, and above moderate income: 3,232 units.
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Annual Goals and Objectives

AP‐20 Annual Goals and Objectives
Goals Summary Information
Sort
Order  Goal Name
Start
Year
End
Year  Category
Geographic
Area
Needs
Addressed  Funding  Goal Outcome Indicator
1  Increase
affordable
housing
2020  2025  Affordable
Housing
Citywide  Affordable
Housing
HOME:
$931,604
Rental units constructed: 11 Low‐ Income
Household

2  Create
suitable living
environment
2020  2025  Affordable
Housing
Citywide/
LMI Tracts
Affordable
Housing
Neighborhood
Preservation
CDBG:
$300,000

Homeowner Housing Rehabilitated: 11
Housing Code Enforcement/Foreclosed
Property Care: 200 Household Housing Unit
3  Address
community/
special needs
services
2020  2025  Homeless
Non‐
Homeless
Special Needs
Citywide  Shelter and
counseling for
the homeless
Public Services
CDBG:
$145,000
Public service activities for Extremely Low‐
Income Housing Benefit: 20 Persons
Assisted and 30 Households Assisted
4  Address
homeless
needs
2020  2025  Homeless  Citywide  Shelter and
counseling for
the homeless
Public Services
CDBG: $95,000  Public service activities other than
Extremely Low‐Income Housing Benefit:
400 Persons Assisted; Public service
activities for Extremely Low‐Income
Housing Benefit: 35 Households Assisted

5  Enhance
community
development
2020  2025  Non‐Housing
Community
Development
LMI Tracts  Improve
Community and
Public Facilities
CDBG:
$488,832
$50,000
Public Facility or Infrastructure Activities
other than Low‐Moderate Income Housing
Benefit: 7,139 1,735 Persons Assisted

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Sort
Order  Goal Name
Start
Year
End
Year  Category
Geographic
Area
Needs
Addressed  Funding  Goal Outcome Indicator
6  Program and
planning
administration
2020  2025  Program
administration
funds
Citywide  Community
Development
CDBG:
$255,000
HOME:
$56,000
Other: 1 Other
Table 6 – Goals Summary

Goal Descriptions
1  Goal Name  Increase affordable housing
Goal Description  Increase the amount of affordable housing stock in the City of Visalia with the construction of 80 units, of which 11 new LMI multi‐family rental units will be HOME‐ CHDO funded for project called Rancho Colegio, located on the Southeast Corner of N.

Court Street and Esquivel Avenue in Visalia.
2  Goal Name  Create suitable living environment
Goal Description  Code enforcement inspection services for an estimated 200 units within deteriorated or deteriorating low‐moderate income eligible areas to arrest the decline of the area.

An Owner‐Occupied Senior Mobile Home Program
3  Goal Name  Address community/special needs services
Goal Description  Provide vital public services which include homeless case management, homeless outreach services, housing flex funds, homeless prevention, and transitional housing. 4  Goal Name  Address homeless needs
Goal Description  CDBG funds will be provided for the local Continuum of Care services including the annual Point‐In‐Time (PIT) count and Local Initiatives Navigation Center (LINC); and CoC Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) voucher match case management. 774

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5  Goal Name  Enhance community development
Goal Description  Park improvements to the Lincoln Oval Park. Improve Visalia ADA infrastructure sidewalks and tree wells.
6  Goal Name  Program and planning administration
Goal Description  Fund planning and administration activities by City staff to administer the CDBG and HOME Program funds.

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Projects
AP‐35 Projects – 91.220(d)
Introduction
Program Year 2024 CDBG and HOME Projects were established based on the high priority needs identified in the 2020‐2024 Consolidated Plan Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan. The Consolidated Plan goals below address the high priority needs and serve as the foundation for strategic actions the City will undertake. These goals are based on the ConPlan’s Needs Assessment and Housing Market Analysis sections as well as community outreach conducted:
 Increase affordable housing
 Create suitable living environment
 Address community/special need services
 Address homeless needs
 Enhance community development
 Program planning & administration
The PY 2024, CDBG budget Amendment consists of $1,184,832 in entitlement funds, and $111,168 in program income for a total of $1,296,000 in PY 2024 CDBG funds. The PY 2024 HOME budget consists of an estimated $462,604 in HOME funds, $100,000 in program income, and $425,000 in prior year resources for a total of $987,604 in estimated PY 2024 HOME funds. Any increase or decrease of PY 2024 CDBG annual allocation and/or program income will be directed toward CDBG ADA improvement projects carried over in the next year 2025 Annual Action Plan. Any increase or decrease of PY 2024 HOME annual allocation and/or program income will be directed toward the HOME‐CHDO Project.

Projects
#  Project Name
1  2024 HOME Administration
2  2024 HOME CHDO Project
3  2024 CDBG Administration
4  2024 Address Homeless Needs ‐ Public Services
5  2024 Address Community/Special Needs Services
6  2024 Emergency Repair and ADA Program
7  2024 Senior Mobile Home Repair Program
8  2024 Code Enforcement
9  2024 Park Improvements
10  2024 ADA Compliance Projects
Table 7 ‐ Project Information

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Describe the reasons for allocation priorities and any obstacles to addressing underserved needs.

The projects will address the priority needs described in the Consolidated Plan by providing direct homeless services, homeless prevention services, fair housing services, code enforcement inspections to maintain neighborhood stabilization, housing rehabilitation program, affordable housing options for the LMI population, and ADA compliance projects.  An obstacle in addressing underserved needs include needs outweighing funding resources. Nevertheless, the City worked resourcefully in combing multiple funding sources to maximize the allocation of resources to address underserved community needs.

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AP‐38 Project Summary
Project Summary Information
1  Project Name  2024 HOME Administration
Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Program and planning administration
Needs Addressed  Community Development
Funding  HOME: $56,000
Description  2024 HOME Administration and Planning.

Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
N/A
Location Description  Citywide
Planned Activities  2024 HOME Administration and Planning. 2  Project Name  2024 HOME CHDO Project – Rancho Colegio Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Increase affordable housing
Needs Addressed  Affordable Housing
Funding  HOME: $931,604
Description  Construction of an 80‐unit mulit‐family rental complex, of which 11‐ units will be HOME funded.

Target Date  6/30/2027
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
11 low‐income households are expected to benefit from the proposed activity.

Location Description  3520 N. Court St., Visalia, CA 93291 Planned Activities  The City will provide funding toward Self‐Enterprises, Inc. (SHE), to build 11 of the 80 new low‐income multi‐family rental units. 3  Project Name  2024 CDBG Administration
Target Area  Citywide
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Goals Supported  Program and planning administration.

Needs Addressed  Community Development
Funding  CDBG: $256,000
Description  2024 CDBG Administration and Planning.

Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
N/A
Location Description  Citywide
Planned Activities  2024 CDBG Administration and Planning 4  Project Name  2024 Address Homeless Needs ‐ Public Services Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Adress homeless needs
Needs Addressed  Public Services
Funding  CDBG: $95,000
Description  Continuum of Care Point in Time survey and LINC services.

Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher match.

Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
435 extremely low‐income households experiencing homelessness.

Location Description  Citywide
Planned Activities  Continuum of Care Point in Time survey and LINC services.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) voucher match.
5  Project Name  2024 Address Community/Special Needs Services Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Address Community/special needs services Needs Addressed  Public Services
Funding  CDBG: $145,000
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Description  Homeless outreach/prevention ‐ Housing flex funds (i.e., rental application fees, rental/utility security deposits, first month/last month rent, emergency rental assistance); and Eden House ‐ transitional bridge housing operational funds.

Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
80 extremely low‐income individuals.

Location Description  Citywide and 1627 S. Garden St. Visalia, CA 93277 Planned Activities  Housing flex funds and transitional bridge housing. 6  Project Name  2024 Emergency Repair and ADA Program (ERAP) Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Create suitable living environment
Needs Addressed  Neighborhood Preservation
Funding  CDBG: $50,000
Description  Minor single‐family home repair program including emergency and ADA improvements for low‐to‐moderate income owner occupants.

Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
8 low‐moderate income households.

Location Description  City wide. Sites to be determined.

Planned Activities  Single‐family minor home repairs including emergency and ADA improvements.
7  Project Name  2024 Senior Mobile Home Repair Program (SMHRP) Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Create suitable living environment
Needs Addressed  Neighborhood Preservation
Funding  CDBG: $75,000
Description  Senior Mobile Home Repair Program to owner occupied low‐income seniors and/or disabled persons.
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Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
3 low‐moderate income seniors and/or disabled persons.

Location Description  Citywide. Sites are to be determined.

Planned Activities  Senior Mobile Home Repair Program to owner occupied low‐income seniors and/or disabled persons.
8  Project Name  2024 Code Enforcement
Target Area  LMI Tracts
Goals Supported  Create suitable living environment
Needs Addressed  Neighborhood Preservation
Funding  CDBG: $175,000
Description  2024 Code Enforcement services in deteriorating or deteriorated low‐moderate‐income areas to arrest the decline of the area.

Target Date  6/30/2025
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
200 LMI households are expected to benefit from the proposed activity.

Location Description  LMI target areas.

Planned Activities  2024 Code Enforcement services in deteriorating or deteriorated low‐moderate‐income areas to arrest the decline of the area. 9  Project Name  2024 Park Improvements
Target Area  LMI Tracts
Goals Supported  Enhance Community Development
Needs Addressed  Improve Community and Public Facilities Funding  CDBG: $50,000
Description  Lincoln Oval Park improvements including adding a wrought iron fence and lighting.

Target Date  6/30/25
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Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
1,735 low‐moderate income individuals.

Location Description  Lincoln Oval Park located at N. Court St. & NW 2nd Ave.

Planned Activities  Add wrought iron fence and lighting to Lincoln Oval Park. 10  Project Name  2024 ADA Compliance Projects
Target Area  LMI Tracts
Goals Supported  Enhance Community Development
Needs Addressed  Improve Community and Public Facilities Funding  CDBG: $438,832
Description  2024 ADA compliance projects and public infrastructure improvements, including ADA tree well and sidewalk improvements.

Target Date  6/30/2026
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
5,404 LMI ambulatory disabled persons are expected to benefit from the proposed activities.

Location Description  LMI Target Areas.

Planned Activities  ADA sidewalk and tree well improvements. 10  Project Name  Unallocated CDBG Funds
Target Area  Citywide
Goals Supported  Not applicable
Needs Addressed  Not applicable
Funding  CDBG: $450,000
Description  Unallocated CDBG funds to be rolled over into PY 2025 Action Plan.

Target Date  6/30/2026
Estimate the number and
type of families that will
benefit from the proposed
activities
Not applicable
Location Description  Citywide
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Planned Activities  2025 Carryover Funds
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AP‐50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f)
Description of the geographic areas of the entitlement (including areas of low‐income and minority concentration) where assistance will be directed.

The majority of the CDBG activities funded in PY 2024 are offered citywide to low‐ and moderate‐ income households. However, for certain CDBG programs, such public infrastructure improvements, and code enforcement are directed to neighborhoods that qualify for CDBG funds on an "area benefit" basis.

An area benefit activity is one that is available to benefit all the residents of an area which is:
• Primarily residential and
• Where 51% of the population is low‐ and moderate‐income Except for the HOME‐CHDO funded multi‐family rental housing units to be built (Rancho Colegio) which is located at Southeast Corner of N. Court Street and Esquivel Avenue, all other programs are to be administered citywide, or within the CDBG Target area.

Geographic Distribution
Target Area  Percentage of Funds
Citywide  85
LMI Tracts  15
Table 8 ‐ Geographic Distribution

Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically.

Entitlement funds will be distributed citywide as eligible. However, CDBG funds will be utilized in CDBG Target areas for Code Enforcement, park improvements, and ADA Improvements. A presumed Benefit project, such as an ADA improvement project or low‐and‐moderate‐income residential areas in need of access, would be applicable. CDBG funding directed toward public services is a citywide public service benefit. Public Facilities are based upon CDBG requirements, such as the area benefit noted above, limited clientele, or income qualifications. Affordable housing will be pursued citywide, which encompasses CDBG Target Areas. Other programs may benefit within the CDBG Target areas as well, however, are allowed citywide, based upon income eligibility.

Discussion

The Low‐and Moderate‐Income Concentration Census Tract Map is being utilized for the 2024 Action Plan and is based on the Low‐and Moderate‐Income Summary Data (LMISD) provided on HUD Exchange website.

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Affordable Housing
AP‐55 Affordable Housing – 91.220(g)
Introduction
The AAP must specify goals for the number of homeless, non‐homeless, and special needs households to be provided affordable housing within the program year. The AAP must also indicate the number of affordable housing units that will be provided by program type, including rental assistance, production of new units, rehabilitation of existing units, or acquisition of existing units. For this section, the term “affordable housing” is defined in the HOME regulations at 24 CFR 92.252 for rental housing and 24 CFR

92.254 for homeownership.

Findings in the data, included within the Strategic Plan, show that there is not an adequate amount of local housing affordable to LMI households, especially for extremely low‐ and very low‐income households. According to the HUD data reports there are sufficient housing units for the various income categories. After analysis, the only income category that truly does have enough housing is the 50‐80% AMI. The following data (CHAS 2014‐2018) supports this housing deficit/surplus:
 0‐30% AMI: There are 4,170 households living in this income category, yet there are only 2,610 rental units available that are affordable to these households in the City.  30‐50% AMI: There are 4,530 households living in this income category yet there are only 2,935 units available.
 50‐80% AMI: There are 5,880 households in this income category and there are 1,650 units.

Tables 33 and 36 included within the Strategic Plan, MA‐15 section show the recent changes to factors effecting affordability including income, rent and value. Median income has increased 2.5% since 2015 and when compared to the growth in median contract rent (+7.2%), rental housing prices are outpacing income growth. This may continue to strain affordability in the rental housing market, and lead to higher rates of housing cost burden, especially for LMI households. This is evidenced by the fact that median income growth has increased, while median home values have declined over 10%.

One Year Goals for the Number of Households to be Supported Homeless  0
Non‐Homeless  22
Special‐Needs  3
Total  22
Table 9 ‐ One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Requirement

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One Year Goals for the Number of Households Supported Through Rental Assistance  0
The Production of New Units  11
Rehab of Existing Units  11
Acquisition of Existing Units  0
Total  22
Table 10 ‐ One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Type

Discussion
City staff works with its non‐profit partner SHE to include additional types of acquisition, such as vacant, infill and reconstruction. As funding, through PI becomes available, it would be directed toward SHE CHDO multi‐family project. The 2024 Action Plan includes the development of 11 HOME‐assisted affordable rental units with the HOME‐CHDO Rancho Colegio multi‐family project, 8 single‐family minor home repairs with the Emergency Repair and ADA Program (ERAP), and 3 mobile home repairs with the Senior Mobile Home Repair Program (SMHRP).

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AP‐60 Public Housing – 91.220(h)
Introduction
HATC works closely with the City, Continuum of Care “Alliance” and the Homeless Resource Task Group.

Actions planned by the PHA this year are referenced below. HATC owns/manages 179 Public housing units in Visalia and manages another 764 affordable housing units through the City of Visalia. HATC has a master lease with Family Services of Tulare County (FSTC) to house families that participate in the rapid rehousing and domestic violence programs that FSTC administers within the City of Visalia. Through a partnership with Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency (TCHHSA) Mental Health, HATC manages Clark Court, Transitional Living Center, and East Tulare Cottages which house and provide supportive services for individuals that participate in TCHHSA Mental Health programs.

Actions planned during the next year to address the needs to public housing.

HATC will continue to own and manage 179 public housing units in the City. HATC also owns and manages an additional 764 affordable housing units. There is currently no plan to purchase additional public‐housing units, nor do they plan on removing any units from their inventory. Their current projection is for an investment of $375,500 in Capital Fund improvements during the FY 2024. There is no project based rental assistance units within the City. HATC expenditure covers maintenance and rehabilitation in public‐housing units within the City. HATC's Capital Fund expenditures will cover a large range of projects, including roofing replacement, landscaping improvements, carpet replacement along with air conditioning and heating unit improvements. HATC acquired vacant land at 830 E. Roosevelt Avenue in Visalia to develop a mulit‐family development, with a total of four (4) units for rental to qualified low‐income households.  (Data source: HATC November 2024).

Actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership.

HATC created a Resident Council composed of five residents from HUD funded programs (Multifamily Housing, LIHTC, HOME, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and public housing). The Resident Council works with HATC staff on evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of existing rental assistance programs. This structure was put into place to give public housing residents the opportunity to provide input on necessary program modifications, through the Council members. HATC is proactive in the inclusion of public‐housing residents in the policy making process. As required, two public housing tenants sit on the HATC Commission board. Between the Resident Council and tenant representation on the Board an equitable and transparent policy‐making process has been put into place.

A vital driving factor that continues to influence HATC programs is the promotion and goal of tenant self‐sufficiency. HATC views homeownership as a long‐term goal for most program participants. HATC staff works with tenants to effectively provide them with the necessary resources to achieve homeownership. HATC’s Annual Re‐Examination Notice provides public‐housing participants with an 787

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extensive referral list that aids homeownership. Their list includes programs managed by: CSET, City of Visalia, Habitat for Humanity, CalHFA, and Self‐Help Enterprises. HATC’s program coordinator works with any interested public housing tenant to effectively inform them of all the different programs and services available to them. Effective collaboration between their agency and other public and nonprofit agencies is imperative to help promote homeownership among all HATC’s tenants. Lastly, HATC created “RentTrack Payment, an online payment system which will allow public housing residents to utilize their rental payments made on time to raise or build individual credit scores. RentTrack has increased credit scores an average of 29 points in just two months and 132 points over a 2‐year period.

If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial assistance will be provided or other assistance.

HATC is not designated as troubled.

Discussion
See discussion above.
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AP‐65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities – 91.220(i) Introduction
This section describes the City’s one‐year goals and the specific action steps it will undertake in the program year to carry out the homeless strategy outlined in the ConPlan’s SP‐60 Homelessness Strategy.

This section will also describe the jurisdiction’s goals and specify the activities it will undertake to serve the housing and supportive service needs of non‐homeless populations who require supportive housing.

Describe the jurisdiction’s one‐year goals and actions for reducing and ending homelessness including.

The City has allocated over $3 million of CDBG funds for the development of a Low‐Barrier Navigation Center for people experiencing homelessness. The City is also allocated Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) and Low‐Mod Successor Agency Housing (SAH) funds toward the development and operation of the Project. The project began construction in 2023 and is expected to be completed in summer of 2024. The Visalia Navigation Center will be a 100‐bed public facility to house individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Visalia Navigation Center will follow “Housing First” practices and work closely with the local Continuum of Care for the Visalia region to house individuals and families quickly into rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and permanent housing.

Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs.

The City will continue targeted outreach efforts towards unsheltered homeless persons through collaborative efforts with the Alliance Housing Navigators, Family Services, Kings View PATH Team, and Tulare County Mental Health Crisis Team. These organizations canvas the City to conduct outreach to people experiencing homelessness and connect them to services. Client information is included in the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to allow outreach staff to be informed of client status on the housing priority list and other community referrals.

The City will also continue to support the Alliance’s outreach efforts to persons experiencing homelessness through the PIT survey completed in January. The PIT survey provides a snapshot of the adults, children in households and unaccompanied youth living in the City of Visalia who meet HUD’s definition of homelessness. Information gathered through the PIT is used to understand the causes and trends over time of homelessness, as well as to determine the unmet shelter and service needs of the homeless.

Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons The City provided $3 million in CDBG funds for the development of a Low‐Barrier Navigation Center for people experiencing homelessness. The City also provided $3 million in Permanent Local Housing 789

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Allocation (PLHA) funds, and $800,000 in Success Agency Housing (SAH) funds toward the development and operation of the Visalia Navigation Center. The City was also awarded $3.6 million in Encampment Resolution Funds Rd. 2 funds for the development of the Visalia Navigation center. A Low‐Barrier Navigation Center will assist in providing solutions to create safe and successful permanent exits from homelessness using a Housing First Approach.

Eden House is a 22‐bed transitional/bridge program which will provides beds housing for a period of 60‐ 90 days (or up to a maximum period of 6 months with an approved extension), who are awaiting permanent supportive housing (PSH) or Rapid Re‐Housing (RRH) placements. Eden's House provides extensive on‐site wrap around services including mental health assistance and case management. The City provided $400,000 in CDBG funds and 225,000 in NSP funds for Eden House.

The Visalia Homeless Center operates a low barrier warming center within the City of Visalia each winter. The warming center is a low‐barrier emergency shelter that provides up to 100 homeless individuals’ overnight shelter. The warming center averages 75 visitors a night from December 1st through March 31st. The City is funding the Warming Center with the use PLHA funds.

Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again
Visalia supports and collaborates with local service providers, through the Alliance, to assist homeless individuals and families. Funding priorities include supporting existing high performing housing first rapid rehousing and permanent supporting housing projects.

Funding allocations include:
 Family Services matching funds for case management (public services) to support the Tulare Housing First Shelter Plus Care project. This project provides case management services to 14 chronically homeless individuals who receive permanent supportive housing.  Kings View Behavioral Health provides public services, including meals for Visalia’s homeless.  ECO program, which is a partnership that includes the Tulare County Workforce Investment Board, Caltrans, and ABLE Industries.
 Property acquisition and rehab housing projects funded through HOME funds and other city‐ funding pools.
 CoC and City‐funded programs/projects that benefit the homeless  Special needs project and programs that serve these vulnerable subpopulations include: CSET 790

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Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing, Family Services Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing, Turning Point and Tulare County HHSA provide PSH projects for chronically homeless individuals and families and/or families with children. The Veterans’ Administration, in conjunction with the Housing Authority of Tulare County, operates the VASH project and Westcare operates the SSVF project that serves eligible veterans and their families.

Uplift Families operates a Transitional Housing project for transitioning age youth.

Helping low‐income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low‐income individuals and families and those who are: being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections programs and institutions); or, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or youth needs.

The Alliance employs a Diversion Specialist that is responsible for developing and strengthening referral sources for people at‐risk of becoming homeless. Additionally, the Diversion Specialist works with clients that are present at any of the Coordinated Entry points to assist in diverting clients from homelessness.

Another important component of prevention/diversion is assisting households with income support and connections to mainstream benefits. The SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model is designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible homeless adults who are and have a mental illness and/or a co‐occurring substance use disorder. Staff from all CoC‐funded agencies are required to assist clients in obtaining these mainstream benefits. Participation by these agencies provides an effective method of assisting households who may otherwise pursue homelessness assistance.

Discussion
See discussion above. The City is not a recipient of HOPWA funding. 791

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AP‐75 Barriers to Affordable Housing – 91.220(j)
Introduction:

The City of Visalia updated the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) in 2020. The AI describes the impediments or barriers to affordable housing. The primary barriers to affordable housing include the following:
• Lending practices
• Access to Opportunity
• Housing Discrimination
• Development of Affordable Housing
• Land use policies and practices
Actions it planned to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment.

The City has taken actions in recent years to support residential development through changes in zoning, further streamlining permitting processes, and reducing impact fees. Visalia has made changes to residential zone districts following the City’s Housing Element update. The City increased the highest allowed multi‐family density permitted by right to 15 to 35 units per acre, provided that the development does not exceed 80 units. Also, the City implemented an Affordable Housing Infill Incentive Program in 2017, which reduces Transportation Impact Fees for qualifying projects that meet the infill criteria outlined in the City’s Development Fee Schedule. In the downtown area, waivers for parking requirements have been given based on past use of the building spaces. There are multiple policies and programs in the 2023 Housing Element Update that address promoting incentives for affordable housing that include priority permit processing and modified zoning provisions. New programs in the Housing Element update propose removing conditional use requirements for housing in certain commercial zone designations. These Housing Element Programs are organized into nine Goals categories, as follows:

1. New Construction ‐ To provide a broad range of housing types and densities to meet the needs of all Visalia residents.

2. Mixed Use, Infill, and Downtown Development ‐ To promote mixed use, infill, and Downtown development in Visalia.

3. Encourage Affordable Housing ‐ To encourage construction and maintenance of affordable housing in Visalia.

4. Foreclosures ‐ To prevent foreclosures, protect affected families, and stabilize neighborhoods impacted by foreclosures.
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5. Special Needs/Homeless‐ To provide a range of housing types and services to meet the needs of households with special needs within the city.

6. Housing Rehabilitation Program ‐ To create and maintain healthy neighborhoods by improving the condition of the existing housing stock and providing for a variety of housing types, sizes, price ranges, and densities compatible with the existing character and integrity of residential neighborhoods.

7. Equal Opportunity Housing and Discrimination Prevention ‐ To provide decent housing and a quality of living environment for all Visalia residents regardless of age, religion, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, national origin, disability, economic level, and other arbitrary factors.

8. Energy Conservation ‐ To encourage energy efficiency in all new and existing housing.

9. Implementation Monitoring ‐ To ensure that Housing Element programs are implemented on a timely basis and the progress of each program is monitored and evaluated annually.

In addition to exploring new policy and regulatory changes, the City will continue its efforts to carry out the following to remove barriers to affordable housing:
 Work with non‐profit developers and other public agencies that increase Visalia’s supply of affordable housing.
 Work with HATC to properly inform collaborating agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of the need for affordable housing in the City.
 Facilitate the construction of affordable rental housing for very low and low‐income households by providing regulatory (e.g., density bonus, expedited permit processing, deferred fees, or relaxed parking requirements) and financial incentives.  Support programs that keep people housed, such as tenant‐based rental assistance and rapid rehousing.
 Streamline permitting process for affordable housing.  Further incentives to developers for the development of affordable housing  Incorporate educational components regarding the importance of affordable housing into community outreach.
 Encourage the development of smaller, more affordable units.

Discussion:

See above discussion.
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AP‐85 Other Actions – 91.220(k)
Introduction:

The following section provides HUD with other activities, projects, and actions the City is undertaking to reduce homelessness and housing affordability. Examples include the completion of the AI and identifying the barriers and impediments to affordable housing, supporting homeless programs, public and private solutions for affordable, annual administration of CDBG and HOME funds and attendance of city meetings and CoC meetings.

Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs.

City actions planned to address obstacles are referenced within the AI and listed herein. AI, Chapter VIII:

Actions includes the plan’s goals and recommended actions to reduce the barriers to affordable housing noted in AP‐75.

Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing.

The City will continue to work closely with non‐profit housing and service providers to collaborate on improving the awareness and expansion of available resources to address the needs of the homeless population. Staff has addressed the affordable housing programs for this program year throughout this report. Please refer to sections AP‐20, AP 35, AP‐38, and AP‐55.

In addition to exploring new policy and regulatory changes, the City will continue its efforts to carry out the following to remove barriers to affordable housing:
 Work with non‐profit developers and other public agencies that increase Visalia’s supply of affordable housing.
 Work with the Housing Authority of Tulare County to properly inform collaborating agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of the need for affordable housing in the City.  Facilitate the construction of affordable rental housing for very low and low‐income households by providing regulatory (e.g., density bonus, expedited permit processing, deferred fees, or relaxed parking requirements) and financial incentives.  Support programs that keep people housed, such as tenant‐based rental assistance and rapid rehousing.
 Streamline permitting process for affordable housing.  Further incentives to developers for the development of affordable housing.  Incorporate educational components regarding the importance of affordable housing into 794

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community outreach.
 Encourage the development of smaller, more affordable units.

Actions planned to reduce lead‐based paint hazards.

Approximately 40% of the City’s housing stock was built prior to 1979 therefore work performed on these buildings must be carefully monitored for the presence of lead‐based paint in compliance with HUD regulation. Currently the City’ housing rehabilitation or home improvement programs and down payment assistance programs require lead‐based paint inspections and/or abatement. Applicants of these programs are provided brochures informing them of the health risks of lead‐based paint as part of the application process. In addition, City building inspectors and Code Enforcement staff are alerted to signs of this hazard as they perform their substandard housing inspections. The City requires its Subrecipients, Developer partners and rehabilitation contractors of federally funded programs to utilize safe practices and obtain certification through a HUD certified lead testing agency.

Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty‐level families.

The City works with its non‐profit partners to reduce the number of poverty‐level families. The City will also continue to provide its non‐profit partners with funding to acquire, rehabilitate, and sell and rent homes or multi‐family units to income‐qualifying households at or below 80% AMI.

Additionally, the City has made a commitment to improve the communication and service delivery capabilities of agencies and organizations that provide programs to assist the homeless. Specifically, Staff participates in the monthly Continuum of Care (Alliance) meeting, and various homeless task groups to identify funding and opportunities to provide Visalia’s homeless population with housing and service opportunities.

The City will also continue to partner with organizations to provide services and address the full range of needs of LMI families. Although there are coordinated programs and services to reduce poverty, it is recognized that many unmet needs will remain. The City will continue to work with its partners to identify and work toward meeting those needs by strategically focusing its resources and efforts.

Actions planned to develop institutional structure.

The City is a charter city and is managed under a Council‐manager form of government. City Council provides policy direction to the City Manager who is responsible for administering City operations. City Council members are the leaders and policymakers elected to represent the community and concentrate on policy that addresses the citizens’ needs and wishes. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to carry out policy and ensure that the entire community is served. The legislative body is the City Council and City Councilmembers are the community’s decision makers. Visalia voters elect a 5‐member Council to serve as the City's legislative and governing body. The members represent the City 795

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and their respective Districts, serve four‐year terms and they select one member to serve as mayor and one to serve as vice‐ mayor. A general municipal election is held every two years in November, alternating between two and three positions each cycle.

The Finance Department, Housing Division oversees and administers the day‐to‐day activities of the CDBG, NSP1, HOME, HOME‐ARP, PLHA, Low‐Moderate Income Housing Asset Funds (LMIHAF)/RDA Successor Agency Housing (SAH), and other state and federal funded programs. Staff works together with various City departments to develop programs and activities that improve low‐and moderate‐ income neighborhoods throughout the City. The administration of program activities includes housing, public services, public facility, park and infrastructure improvements, and economic development activities.

Interdepartmental communication and collaboration are two strengths of the delivery system. City staff from various departments works with local organizations and agencies that assist low‐income households and individuals. High priority needs were identified during the Consolidated Plan’s community engagement and public review periods.

During the Consolidated Plan public review period, these priorities were established. Additionally, input is received by the community, various committees, and City Council during the feedback period in developing the annual plan. The AAP is designed to address the needs and priorities identified within the ConPlan and direct limited funding available toward the highest needs.

Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies.

The City continues to participate in monthly Continuum of Care and quarterly Tulare County Homeless Task Force community meetings to enhance coordination between housing providers, government agencies, mental health, and other key stakeholders in the City. The purpose of these ongoing meetings is to establish a network of agencies to enhance the delivery of services to the homeless, disabled individuals and families, and others seeking services.

City staff meets with public officials, City departments, HATC, residents, and agencies to develop strategies for how best to invest grant funding to address discuss priority community needs. Staff met with the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), which acts as a liaison between the public and the City Council concerning community needs. The Disability Advocacy Committee (DAC) has now become a part of the CAC. Therefore, City Staff has also met with the members of the DAC through meetings held with the CAC, to be advised on the needs of disabled persons in the community.

Discussion:

See above discussions.
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Program Specific Requirements
AP‐90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.220(l)(1,2,4)
Introduction:

In the event final CDBG and HOME program entitlement and program income is higher or lower than expected herein, the City of Visalia may add, subtract, or transfer amounts among identified projects, as noted without publishing a substantial amendment, if the amount is below 75% change, as per the approved Citizens Participation Plan. Any difference in CDBG funding will be reflected in the public infrastructure/ADA project line item and, if needed, public services to maintain compliance with the 15% cap and Administration; any difference in HOME funding will be reflected in SHE CHDO Acq/Rehab/construct or reconstruct single‐family or multi‐family projects, and if needed Administration.

The three‐year period (2023, 2024 & 2025) will be used to determine that a minimum overall benefit of 70% of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of low and moderate income.

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1)
Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included in projects to be carried out.

1. The total amount of program income that will have been received before the start of the next program year and that has not yet been reprogrammed  0

2. The amount of proceeds from section 108 loan guarantees that will be used during the year to address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the grantee's strategic plan.  0

3. The amount of surplus funds from urban renewal settlements  0

4. The amount of any grant funds returned to the line of credit for which the planned use has not been included in a prior statement or plan  0

5. The amount of income from float‐funded activities  0 Total Program Income:  0

Other CDBG Requirements

1. The amount of urgent need activities  0

2. The estimated percentage of CDBG funds that will be used for activities that benefit persons of low and moderate income. Overall Benefit ‐ A consecutive period of one, two or three years may be used to determine that a minimum overall benefit of 70% of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of low and moderate income. Specify the years covered that include this Annual Action Plan.  100.00% 797

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HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(2)

1. A description of other forms of investment being used beyond those identified in Section 92.205 is as follows:

No other form of investment shall be used beyond those identified in Section 92.205. 2. As it relates to the HOME funded owner‐occupant programs, all beneficiaries are owner occupants. As it relates to HOME funded rental programs, beneficiaries are tenants.

2. A description of the guidelines that will be used for resale or recapture of HOME funds when used for homebuyer activities as required in 92.254, is as follows:

First Time Homebuyer (FTHB), funds shall be provided as a Direct HOME subsidy‐ gap financing, as a second mortgage to households at or below 80% of the area median income. The property will maintain an affordability covenant as referenced under 24 CFR 92.254 (a) (4). The covenant shall remain for five (5) years when less than $15,000 is provided in gap financing Direct Subsidy to the homebuyer and shall be for a ten (10) year period when more than $15,000 up to $40,000 is provided in gap financing Direct Subsidy to the homebuyer, and a minimum of fifteen (15) year period for more than $40,000 in gap financing Direct Subsidy to the homebuyer. The “Owners Participation Agreement” (Covenant) shall begin the date the Deed of Trust is recorded. The Provision for the FTHB Program shall be “Recapture Provision” as per 24 CFR 92.254 (a) (5) (ii) (A) (1). The City may recapture the entire amount of the direct HOME assistance from the homeowner.

The amount to be recaptured will not exceed the amount of net proceeds available at the time the home is sold. HOME rule limits recapture to available net proceeds, therefore, if net proceeds are insufficient for the city to recapture the full amount of the Direct HOME assistance, the City will recapture only what is available from net proceeds. This applies regardless of the nature of the sale (voluntary sales including short sales, and involuntary sales including foreclosures).

The SHE‐CHDO Program utilizes the “Recapture Provision”. HOME funds are invested in the acquisition, rehabilitation, and/or new construction/reconstruction and Direct Subsidy shall be up to 10% of the total HOME investment (i.e., $280,000 acq. /Rehab cost X 10% = $28,000 Direct Subsidy to homebuyer), which shall be provided as a Second Mortgage to the qualifying new homebuyer. If the property is sold below fair market value, the difference between the fair market value and the purchase price is part of the HOME subsidy and provided directly to the homebuyer as a direct subsidy. In addition, any additional subsidy provided to the homebuyer to enable them to purchase the property, which includes down payment assistance, closing costs, interest subsidies, or other HOME assistance including any assistance that reduced the purchase price from fair market value to an affordable price, shall be recaptured.

The SHE‐CHDO Program covenant shall use the “Recapture Provision”, as referenced under 24, CFR

92.254 (a) (5) (ii) (A) (1) and shall begin the date the Deed of Trust is recorded. In the case of the 798

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homebuyer selling the home during the affordability period, the City may recapture the entire amount of the direct HOME Subsidy and the difference between the fair market value and the purchase price, if the purchase price is below the fair market value, and any additional assistance as referenced above. The amount to be recaptured will not exceed the amount of net proceeds available at the time the home is sold. HOME rule limits recapture to available net proceeds, therefore, if net proceeds are insufficient for the city to recapture the full amount of the Direct HOME assistance, the City will recapture only what is available from net proceeds. This applies regardless of the nature of the sale (voluntary sales including short sales, and foreclosures).

Note: Staff works with the City Attorney in updating legal documents to comply with the funding source and type of program(s) administered. The FTHB, SHE‐CHDO Program loan documents were reviewed in 2017 by HUD. If HUD requests a copy for review, City Staff will again provide documents if required prior to implementing the program.

3. A description of the guidelines for resale or recapture that ensures the affordability of units acquired with HOME funds. See 24 CFR 92.254(a)(4) are as follows:

See Recapture provisions above.

4. Plans for using HOME funds to refinance existing debt secured by multifamily housing that is rehabilitated with HOME funds along with a description of the refinancing guidelines required that will be used under 24 CFR 92.206(b), are as follows:

This
does not apply to Visalia. Please see discussion above.

5. If applicable to a planned HOME TBRA activity, a description of the preference for persons with special needs or disabilities. (See 24 CFR 92.209(c)(2)(i) and CFR 91.220(1)(2)(VII)).

Not applicable.

6. If applicable to a planned HOME TBRA activity, a description of how the preference for a specific category of individuals with disabilities.

Not applicable

7. If applicable, a description of any preference or limitation for rental housing projects. Note:

Preferences cannot be administered in a manner that limits the opportunities of persons on any basis by the laws listed under 24 CFR 5.105(a).

Not applicable.

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Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3 History of Visalia ............................................................................................................... 3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 3 Boundaries ........................................................................................................................... 5 Boundary Map of Area Surveyed ...................................................................................... 6 Housing Data ....................................................................................................................... 7 Single-Family Homes ........................................................................................................ 7 Average Age of Housing Units .......................................................................................... 7 Number of Single-Family Homes Built Before 1980 .......................................................... 8 Number of Bedrooms of Single-Family Homes ................................................................. 9 Price of Single-Family Homes ........................................................................................... 9 Physical Conditions Analysis .............................................................................................. 10 Roofing ........................................................................................................................... 11 Siding .............................................................................................................................. 12 Landscaping .................................................................................................................... 13 Fencing ........................................................................................................................... 14 Condition of Right-of-Way ............................................................................................... 15 Neighborhood Conditions ................................................................................................ 16 Building Type Analysis ....................................................................................................... 17 Single-Family .................................................................................................................. 17 Multi-Family ..................................................................................................................... 17 Mixed Use Neighborhoods .............................................................................................. 18 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 18

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Introduction
History of Visalia
The City of Visalia is located along State Highway 198, east of State Highway 99, in the southern portion of the agricultural San Joaquin Valley. Visalia is the oldest San Joaquin Valley town, and the largest in Tulare County, which has an overall population of 477,544.

Nathanial Vise, one of the original inhabitants of a fort built at Four Creeks – named after the watersheds and creeks which emptied in the area from the Sierra Nevada Mountains – was tasked with surveying the town. He envisioned the area becoming the capital seat of Tulare County, and one year later in 1853, Visalia did become the county seat. The City of Visalia takes its name from Visalia, Kentucky, the original home of Nathanial Vise, after whose family the Kentucky city was named.

The City of Visalia is located between Bakersfield and Fresno. The gold rush along the Kern River led to growth in Visalia. Many of its early inhabitants were gold miners who hailed from the South. Many failed miners stopped and remained in Visalia on their journeys home.

On September 15, 1857, John Butterfield, a businessman and financier out of Utica, New York, won a six -year, $600,000-a-year contract to transport U.S. mail twice a week between St. Louis, Missouri, and San Francisco.

To deliver the mail year-round, from St. Louis to San Francisco in 25 days, Butterfield’s route went south through Texas, west through New Mexico Territory, passing Fort Yuma Arizona, and to Visalia before rolling on to San Francisco. Saloons and hotels were built near the stage stop which aid ed commerce.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Camp Babbit was constructed. The Camp was constructed by the federal government to quell sympathy for the Southern cause due to the number of Southern migrants residing in Visalia at the time. Union soldiers were not taske d with fighting but did keep order in the area. During this period, in 1874, Visalia was incorporated as a city with a common council and an ex-officio Mayor and President, and today is a charter city. The City of Visalia continued to grow at a steady pace due to its livestock, railroads, hydroelectrical power and irrigation water, which makes the area very suitable for agriculture. Today, many of Visalia’s historic downtown buildings comprise the Main Street shopping and dining district. Visalia is also located in close proximity to Sequoia National Park.

According to the 2022 1-Year American Community Survey (ACS), the population of Visalia is 143,965, up 1.8% and 15.7% from the 2020 and 2010 US Census, respectively. The US Census Bureau’s Gazetteer Files show that Visalia has a total land area of 37.91 sq uare miles. The City’s Finance Department – Housing Division, is responsible for carrying out projects and programs with the use of funds received from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The US Census Bureau reported a slight decrease in average household size in Visalia from 3.00 to 2.99 from 2020 to 2022, compared to an average household size of 2.98 persons per household in 2010. These slight changes are likely indicative of household f ormation changes remaining relatively constant between 2010 through 2022. Across the same time period, housing stock has increased by 9.9% in Visalia according to Esri, but slowed substantially between 2020 to 2022, with housing stock increasing only 0.2%, less than the city’s annual average increase of 0.8% between 2010 and 2022.

802
Windshield Survey

Methodology
A windshield survey is a component of data -gathering to assess housing conditions. It gives insight to real- time existing conditions that may not have been present at previous inspections of the housing units. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP (“Baker Tilly”), in collaboration with City staff and respondents from citizen surveys directed and identified areas of Visalia to complete the windshield survey. Baker Tilly and City staff conducted these surveys on September 4th – 5th and 18th, 2024. Baker Tilly and City staff drove through the identified neighborhoods and randomly selected homes to profile to ensure impartiality and provide a better reflection of the neighborhood being surveyed. These homes were considered a representative sample of conditions within the neighborhood. Using a rubric created jointly by Baker Tilly and City staff, the following variables were identified:

1. Type of building (single family/multifamily/mixed use)

2. Overall neighborhood condition

3. Roof Condition

4. Siding Condition

5. Landscaping Condition

6. Fence Condition

7. Right of Way Condition

8. Average age of housing stock
Variables 2 through 8 were given ratings of poor, fair, good, or great. The ratings are defined as follows:

Definitions of Ratings
Poor
Homes constructed prior to 1978
Showing signs of deferred maintenance
Unkempt yard, siding falling off, roof needs replacement Fair
Home greater than 30 years old
Showing signs of needing renovation
Home may need rehabilitation soon
Good
Home between 15-30 years old
Home may be becoming slightly outdated
Will need slight renovations in the near future
Well-Kept
New home
Well maintained yard with new roof and siding

803
Windshield Survey

Boundaries
Five neighborhoods were analyzed within the City of Visalia, as well as twenty-one total subsections of these neighborhoods. These neighborhoods consist of the following Block Groups as well as the following general boundaries:

1. Oval Park Neighborhood: Block Groups: 11.011, 11.012, 11.021, 11.022. 12.001, and 13.051

2. North Mooney to North Ben Maddox Way, b ound by: North Mooney Boulevard to the west, West Riggin to the north, North Ben Maddox Way to the east, and West Houston Avenue to the south

3. North Shirk Road to North Demaree Road, bound by: North Shirk Road to the west, West Goshen Avenue to the north, North Demaree Road to the east, and County Highway 198 to the south.

4. South Akers Street to South Mooney Boulevard, bound by: South Akers Street to the west, County Highway 198 to the north, South Mooney Boulevard to the east, West Walnut Avenue to the south.

5. South Mooney Boulevard to South Ben Maddox Way, bound by: South Mooney Boulevard to the west, County Highway 198 to the north, South Ben Maddox Way to the east, and West Walnut Avenue to the south.

804
Windshield Survey

Boundary Map of Area Surveyed
1 2
3 4 5
805
Windshield Survey

Housing Data

According to Esri, there are 48,470 occupied housing units within the City of Visalia as of 2024. Of these 28,653 (59.1%) are owner occupied, while 17,978 (37.1%) are renter occupied, with the remaining 1,882 (3.9%) housing units being vacant. As of 2024, the median price of a home within Visalia is $401,500, up 5.4% from 2023.

According to CoStar and apartments.com, rents range from $1,239 for a studio apartment to $2,599 for a 4 - bedroom apartment.

The windshield survey data examined a representative sample of single -family, owner-occupied housing units, as well as multifamily renter occupied housing units. Units analyzed in this report were in areas outlined by community members as locations that are perceived to be more likely to contain substandard housing and infrastructure than other portions of the City of Visalia.

Single-Family Homes
The findings below were calculated using both on -site data collected as well as information available from Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, the US Census Bureau, and Esri. It should be noted that while many of the homes surveyed had available information on these websites, there were a few outliers with no detailed information available. In those cases, the default was to leave those sections blank and provide only the information that was available to the City.

Average Age of Housing Units
The average housing unit with in Visalia was built in 1987 and is currently 37 years old, as can be seen in the table below. Of the twenty-one areas surveyed for the Windshield Survey , buildings in these areas skew older than the median for the city and were built in 1974 and are currently 51 years old. Overall, the housing stock of the City of Visalia consists of older homes.

Housing Unit by Year Structure Built
Year Structure Built Number % of Total Units
Built 2020 or later 321 0.7%
Built 2020 to 2019 4,731 9.9%
Built 2000 to 2009 10,001 21.0%
Built 1990 to 1999 6,589 13.8%
Built 1980 to 1989 7,126 15.0%
Built 1970 to 1979 9,079 19.1%
Built 1960 to 1969 3,384 7.1%
Built 1950 to 1959 3,445 7.2%
Built 1940 to 1949 1,527 3.2%
Built 1939 or earlier 1,379 2.9%
Total 47,191 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ASC Housing Summary ESRI Forecasts for 2018-2022.

806
Windshield Survey

Number of Single-Family Homes Built Before 1980
Lead-based paint was widely used in the United States in homes prior to 1978. The U.S. Congress banned the use of lead - based paint in residential structures and environments in 1971 (United States Lead -Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act) but this regulation was not implemented until 1978 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission).

As shown in the previous table, there are currently 18,814 (39.9%) housing units within Visalia that were built before 1980. Additionally, of the twenty-one areas analyzed, the median homes within twelve areas were built before 1980, meaning over half of the homes in the analyzed neighborhoods may have lead-based paint.

807
Windshield Survey

Number of Bedrooms of Single-Family Homes
According to HUD, households with 1.01 to 1.5 persons per room are considered overcrowded, while households with more than 1.51 persons per room are considered severely overcrowded. According to the 2022 1-Year ACS, there are currently 970 total overcrowded owner -occupied un its (3.4%) and 2,028 total overcrowded renter - occupied units (11.1%). Overcrowding impacts renter occupied housing more substantially, thus the neighborhoods with greater multi -family buildings (North Shirk to South Mooney and South Akers to South Mooney) may have greater overcrowding issues than other neighborhoods.

Over Crowding
Owner and Renter Households

1.01 to 1.50
Occupants
per Room
>1.51
Occupants
per Room
Total
Overcrowded
Total
Occupied
Units
Percent
Overcrowded
Owner-Occupied 623 347 970 28,743 3.4%
Renter-Occupied 1,770 258 2,028 18,232 11.1%
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Price of Single-Family Homes
Over the past five years, the median home value in the City of Visalia has increased by 54.1%, with the median gross rent increasing by 53.4%. These increases are substantially greater than the previous five -year increase (2012-2017) of 43.8% and 4.3% for home value and gross rents, respectively. These increases are greater than the State of California and the United States as a whole. Median home value and median gross rents have increased 40.5% and 29.2% and 47.5% and 28.5%, respectively, within the State of California and the United States. These significant increases are due to a variety of factors in this five year span, including low interest rates, high construction costs, and remote work allowing flexibility for workers to move outside of urban areas, causing an increase in demand outside of urban cores.

Median Home Value and Gross Rent
(2017-2022)

2012 2017 2022
Percent
Change
(2012-2017)
Percent
Change
(2017-2022)
Median Home
Value $162,600 $233,900 $360,500 43.8% 54.1%
Median Gross
Rent $927 $967 $1,483 4.3% 53.4%
Sources: 2012, 2017, and 2022 1-Year ACS

808
Windshield Survey

Physical Conditions Analysis

While analyzing the five neighborhoods and the overall twenty-one areas within these neighborhoods, a physical conditions analysis was done for a variety of variables. These variables included the conditions of roofing, siding, landscaping, fencing, and right of way. Overall neighborhood condition was determined by accumulating the rankings of these variables. These variables were ranked poor, fair, good, or well -kept. Descriptions of each ranking are described within each section.

Of the twenty-one areas analyzed on these five variables, a vast majority were in good condition (73.3%) with the remainder split between poor (12.4%) and fair (14.3%). No area analyzed was considered in well -kept condition meaning all areas have opportunity for some improvement. Of the thirteen poor rate variables, twelve were within the Oval Park neighborhood, making Oval Park the neighborhood which could benefit from the most improvements.

Additionally, of these twenty-one areas, it was determined if they predominantly consisted of single-family, multi- family, or mixed-use buildings. Predominant building use was split up fairly evenly, with single-family and mixed- use buildings making up 38. 1% of the analyzed areas, and multi -family making up 23.8% of analyzed areas. It does not appear that there is one building type that is in worse condition than any others . The data shows a greater relationship between building location and condition, than it does to building type and condition. For example, single-family buildings in the Oval Park neighborhood are predominantly ranked poor or fair, while single-family buildings in the North Mooney to North Ben Maddox neighborhood are predominantly ranked good.

Condition of building types is further analyzed in a later section.

809
Windshield Survey

Roofing
During the windshield survey, Baker Tilly and City staff observed the roof condition of the buildings that were surveyed. Roofs were determined to be Poor/Fair/Good/Well-Kept (as defined below).

Roof
Poor
Visible holes
Significant broken or missing tiles
Frame is visibly compromised
Fair
Old but intact structure
Color is faded
May need repairs soon
Good
Structure is solid
Slight color fading
May be in need of minor repairs
Well-Kept
New roof
Structure is solid

Overall, there were four areas with poor roofing (19.0%), two areas with fair roofing (9.5%) and fifteen areas with good roofing (71.4%). All four of the poor rankings are within the Oval Park neighborhood, meaning Oval Park could use the most assistance f or updating roofing. The South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood contained the two examples of fair roofing, making this the next neighborhood most in need. 810
Windshield Survey

Siding
During the windshield survey, Baker Tilly and City staff observed the siding condition of the buildings that were surveyed. Siding was determined to be Poor/Fair/Good/Well-Kept (as defined below).

Siding
Poor
Cracked or missing stucco/side panels
Paint is significantly faded
Fair
Portions of siding may be missing or broken
Color is faded
May need repairs soon
Good
Structure is solid
Slight color fading
May be in need of minor repairs
Well-Kept
New siding
Color is not faded

Overall, there were three areas with poor siding (14.3%), three areas with fair siding (14.3%) and fifteen areas with good siding (71.4%). All three of the poor rankings are within the Oval Park neighborhood, meaning Oval Park could use the most assistance for updating siding. The South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood contained two of the three examples of fair siding, making this the next neighborhood most in need. 811
Windshield Survey

Landscaping
Overall, the homes surveyed displayed good landscaping. Of the 7% of home s observed to have “poor” landscaping, they tend to cluster in the North part of the City of Visalia (as shown in the map below).

Landscaping
Poor
No landscaping, dirt yard
Overgrown weeds
Fair
Some landscaping (grass and plants)
Weeds are present
Good
Grass and plants in flower beds present
Few weeds present
Well-Kept
Well maintained and groomed yard
Visibly taken care of and may include decorations

Overall, there were four areas with poor landscaping (19.0%), two areas with fair landscaping (9.5%) and fifteen areas with good landscaping (71.4%). Three of the four poor rankings are within the Oval Park neighborhood, meaning Oval Park could use the mos t assistance for updating landscaping. The South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood contained one example of fair and poor landscaping making this the next neighborhood most in need.
812
Windshield Survey

Fencing
From observational notes, most of the fencing rated poor was due to missing fencing, or chain fencing that is rusted and/or broken.

Fencing
Poor
Fence is broken
Panels need to be replaced
Fair
Older fencing
Chain link fencing
Structurally functional but in need of repairs
Good
Fence built within the last 10 years
Structurally functional
May be in need of minor repairs
Well-Kept
New fence
No panels missing or broken

Overall, there were two areas with poor fencing (9.5%), four areas with fair fencing (19.0%) and fifteen areas with good fencing (71.4%). All of the poor rankings and two of the fair rankings are within the Oval Park neighborhood, meaning Oval Park could u se the most assistance for updating fencing. The South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood contained two examples of fair and poor fencing making this the second most in need neighborhood.
813
Windshield Survey

Condition of Right-of-Way
The City of Visalia expressed interest in noting the conditions of the public right-of- way, specifically ADA compliant sidewalks and the condition of existing sidewalks. A poor rating not only indicates that the existing right-of-way needs maintenance, but also that there may be no right-of-way in existence at all.

Right-of-Way
Poor
No right-of-way
Significant cracks, missing pieces
Significant weeds
Fair
Cracks but no missing pieces
Curb is intact
Some weeds
Good
Cement and curb intact with minimal cracks
Few weeds
May be in need of minor repairs
Well-Kept
Cement and curb intact with no weeds or cracks
ADA compliant

Overall, there were four areas with rights -of-way in fair condition (19.0%), and seventeen areas with rights -of- way in good condition (81.0%). The fair ratings are split between the North Shirk to South Mooney neighborhood, as well as the South Mooney to S outh Ben Maddox neighborhood, indicating rights -of-way repair could be split between these two neighborhoods to improve their quality.

814
Windshield Survey

Neighborhood Conditions
Overall neighborhood conditions were determined based on the accumulation of the previously outlined variables. Within the five neighborhoods, a vast majority of roofing, siding, landscaping, fencing, and rights-of- ways, were in good condition . Of the five neighborhoods, three of them (North Mooney to North Ben Maddox, North Shirk to South Mooney, and South Akers to South Mooney) had a combined 96.7% of their variables considered good, with 3.3% of variables considered fair. These neighborhoods are overall in good condition and will not need substantial renovations in the near future.

The remaining two neighborhoods, Oval Park and South Mooney to South Ben Maddox, showed signs of buildings in fair or even poor condition. Within Oval Park, 48.0% of variables were considered poor, with 16.0% considered fair, and 36.0% considered good. Within South Mooney to South Ben Maddox, 5.0% were considered poor, 45.0% were considered fair, a nd 50% were considered good. In both neighborhoods, rights -of-way conditions were predominantly good, with a few instances of fair quality rights -of-way. A vast m ajority of poor and fair ranked variables were for roofing, siding, and landscaping. Future economic development activity by the city should be focused on the Oval Park neighborhood, followed by the South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood, targeting roofing and siding, if possible.

815
Windshield Survey

Building Type Analysis
During the course of the assessment, it was determined whether the areas analyzed had predominantly single - family, multi-family, or mixed use neighborhoods. As was previously mentioned, it appears there is a greater relationship between building location and condition, opposed to building type and condition.

Single-Family
Of the twenty-one total analyzed areas, eight were predominantly single-family homes. Of the five variables used to analyze condition (roofing, siding, landscaping, fencing, right -of-way), only 2.5% of these variables were considered poor and only 7.5% of these variables were considered fair. The remaining 90 .0% of variables were considered good. It should be noted that the one instance of a poor variable and three instances of fair variables were observed in one portion in the Oval Park neighborhood that was predominantly single-family.

Multi-Family
Of the twenty-one total analyzed areas, five were predominantly multi-family buildings. Using the five previously mentioned variables to analyze condition, these building types had no variables in poor condition and only two in fair condition (8.0%). The r emaining variables were all ranked good (92.0%). Overall, multi -family buildings within the analyzed areas are in good condition and only slight renovations are needed to improve these areas. 816
Windshield Survey

Mixed Use Neighborhoods
Of the twenty -one total analyzed areas, eight were predominantly mixed use. Of the previously stated five variables used to analyze condition, 30.0% of these variables were considered poor and 25.0% of these variables were considered fair. The remaining 45.0% of variables were considered good. Of the building types, it appears that mixed use neighborhoods are in the worst condition. However, a majority of the poor and fair ratings were within the Oval Park neighborhood, with several other fair ratings and o ne poor rating within the South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood. If the Oval Park neighborhood were excluded from the analysis, only 5.0% of variables were considered poor, with 45.0% being considered fair and 50.0% being considered good. This indicates that the Oval Park neighborhood should be the target of City funds and economic development initiatives, opposed to mixed use areas specifically being an issue. Secondarily, the South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood could also benefit from revitalization efforts. 817
Windshield Survey

Summary
The majoirty of neighborhoods in the City of Visalia are in good condition. Of the twenty -one areas analyzed,

73.3% were in good condition, with the remainder split between poor (12.4%) and fair (14.3%). The neighborhood rights-of-way were in the best condition, with no instances of poor rights -of-way, while landscaping and roofin g were in the worst condition with 19.0% of areas analyzed being considered poor.

Of the building types analyzed, mixed use neighborhoods were in the worst condition, with 30.0% of these areas considered in poor condition and 25.0% considered in fair condition. However, a majority of the poor and fair ratings were within the Oval Park neighborhood, with several other fair ratings and one poor rating within the South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood. Multi-family areas were considered to be in the best condition, as 92.0% of areas with predominantly multi-family buildings were in good condition, with no examples of poor conditions. Single-family areas were closely followed with 90.0% of variables considered good and only

2.5% considered poor.

Overall, the main areas in need of City assistance and economic development is the Oval Park neighborhood, which was in the worst condition with 48.0% of areas in poor condition. The next target area should be the South Mooney to South Ben Maddox neighborhood, which had 45.0% of areas in fair condition. As previously mentioned, the overall City neighborhood conditions are considered to be good, but no areas were considered well-kept. After needs in the two target neighborhoods are addressed, small renovations and improvements could be done throughout the City to improve overall physical condition.

818

City of Visalia, CA
Draft Analysis of Impediments to
Fair Housing Choice
2025/26 – 2029/30
819
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Findings and Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 4 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 6 History of Visalia ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Legal Background ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice .................................................................................... 10 Organization of the Report ...................................................................................................................... 10 Data Sources ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Review of 2020/21-2024/25 Analysis of Impediments ................................................................................ 11 2020/21-2024/25 Analysis of Impediments Goals and Progress Update ............................................... 11 Community Data ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Demographic Summary ........................................................................................................................... 22 Household Characteristics....................................................................................................................... 25 Income Profile .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Housing Profile ........................................................................................................................................ 32 Public Housing ......................................................................................................................................... 50 Access to Opportunity ............................................................................................................................. 58 Public Policies and Private Sector Practices .............................................................................................. 67 The Housing Element .............................................................................................................................. 67 Land Use Policies and Practices ............................................................................................................. 68 Real Estate Sales Practices .................................................................................................................... 73 Rental and Property Management .......................................................................................................... 74 Laws Governing Lending ......................................................................................................................... 75 Lending Findings ..................................................................................................................................... 77 Community Engagement ............................................................................................................................. 79 Marketing Efforts ..................................................................................................................................... 79 Organization Focus Groups..................................................................................................................... 80 City Staff Interviews ................................................................................................................................. 80 Community Public Meetings .................................................................................................................... 82 Community Organization and Resident Surveys .................................................................................... 84 Diversity and Access Efforts .................................................................................................................... 91 Annual Community Engagement Plan .................................................................................................... 91 Impediments, Goals, and Actions ............................................................................................................... 92 Impediment Categories ........................................................................................................................... 93

1. Segregation and Integration ........................................................................................................... 93

2. Racially or Ethnically Concentrated Areas of Poverty (R/ECAPs), Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Access to Community Assets ...................................................................................... 95

3. Access to Affordable Housing and Homeownership Opportunities ............................................... 98 820
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

4. Public Policies .............................................................................................................................. 103

5. Local Resource Distribution ......................................................................................................... 112

6. Discrimination and Civil Rights Violations .................................................................................... 113 Appendix A: Community Resident Survey ................................................................................................ 115 Appendix B: Community Resident Survey (Spanish) ............................................................................... 128 Appendix C: Community Organizations Survey ........................................................................................ 140

821
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Executive Summary

Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP (“Baker Tilly”) was contracted by the City of Visalia ( “the City”) to develop, prepare, and submit an updated Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). This analysis highlights meaningful actions that the City will implement to address patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice, reduce disparities in opportunities, and foster inclusive communities free from discrimination. The completion of the AI included a comprehensive list of key actions, specifically:

• Reviewing pre-existing documentation (i.e. federal, state, and local policies), historical data, and reports related to fair housing to identify impediments throughout the City and identify potential gaps that may impede fair housing.

• Analyzing prior and ongoing initiatives undertaken by the City to address fair housing impediments since the completion of the FY 2020/21 – FY2024/25 AI to conduct a comparison of historical activities with the City’s current efforts to determine progress and areas needing further attention.

• Engaging key stakeholders (i.e. housing advocates, local government agencies, nonprofits, property managers/owners/landlords, local citizens) via focus groups, public meetings, and surveys to gather qualitative and quantitative data on fair housing perceptions and experiences whil e also gaining insights into challenges and suggestions for improving fair housing choice .

• Assessing most recent housing market conditions to evaluate the availability, rental and homeownership rates, vacancy rates, affordability, and quality of housing within the City.

• Reviewing most recent fair housing complaint data to identify trends, common issues, and specific areas of concern.

• Mapping and analyzing geographic patterns to identify areas of concentrated poverty, segregation, and other observable patterns that lend themselves to housing discrimination.

• Evaluating access to opportunities for essential services, including transportation, education, employment, healthcare, etc.

• Examining lending practices to assess local lending practices and their impact on housing opportunities for members of protected classes.

Findings and Recommendations
Through the completion of the analysis, Baker Tilly identified several key impediments to fair housing choice throughout the City, including:
• Socioeconomic segregation and concentration of low resource areas in central and northeastern parts of Visalia – Concentration of low-income minority areas due to location of affordable housing, land use and zoning laws, resident displacement, and other factors • Lacking place-based strategies to encourage community conservation and revitalization, including preservation of existing affordable housing – Community development strategies are needed to address lack of investment and employer base, rehabilitation costs, and inadequate public amenities in certain geographic areas
• Lack of affordable housing, residents vulnerable to displacement, and lack of housing opportunities for special needs populations – Limited housing options, rising costs, lack of housing diversity, and other factors have contributed to a lack of needed housing • Fair housing enforcement and outreach – The City has a need for resources to monitor fair housing conditions through testing, outreach, and other public engagement 822
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

• Lack of specific development standards tailored for transitional or supportive housing, relying instead on general zoning regulations applicable to residential uses – Tailoring development standards for transitional and supportive housing, similar to the city’s enhanced requirements for emergency shelters, could enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of these facilities and help to address resident opposition
• Zoning restrictions impacting the development of emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing – The City’s recent Housing Element identified remaining zoning barriers for these facility types as incremental progress is made via ongoing zoning updates • However, with the passage of Assembly Bill 101 in 2019, a Low Barrier Navigation Center (LBNC) shall be a use that is permitted by -right in zones where mixed use and nonresidential zones permitting multi -family uses are permitted. A LBNC is defined as a service-enriched shelter providing temporary living facilities, with the low -barrier component allowing persons to be admitted as they are with as few entry restrictions as possible. The City currently has two mixed use zones: Downtown Mixed Use (D -MU) and Commercial Mixed Use (C-MU). The City updated its zoning code in 2022 to allow LBNCs that meet the criteria of California Government Code Sections 65560 – 65668 as a use permitted by -right in both the D -MU and C -MU zones. LBNCs that do not meet State requirements are permitted in mixed use zones by conditional use permit. • Fair housing enforcement and outreach – No City office dedicated to handling Fair Housing complaints currently exists, making the City’s management of these issues more difficult • Income source discrimination – Some landlords in the City are reluctant to rent to individuals using Section 8 vouchers
• Housing loan accessibility and equity – Certain protected classes are underrepresented as home loan applicants relative to their population percentage, or experience higher denial rates Based on these aforementioned impediments, Baker Tilly, alongside the City of Visalia, developed targeted goals to address these barriers, including:
• Goal #1 – Development of Affordable Housing
• Development of Permanent Supportive Housing for Homeless Persons • Development of Affordable Senior Housing
• Development of Farmworker Housing
• Development of Affordable Housing for Veterans
• Goal #2 – Development of 1 Emergency Shelter
• Goal #3 – Tenant Based Rental Assistance
• Goal #4 – Fair Housing Services

823
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Introduction
History of Visalia
The City of Visalia is located along State Highway 198, east of State Highway 99, in the southern portion of the agricultural San Joaquin Valley. Visalia is the oldest San Joaquin Valley town, and the largest in Tulare County, which has an overall population of 477,544.

Nathanial Vise, one of the original inhabitants of a fort built at Four Creeks – named after the watersheds and creeks which emptied in the area from the Sierra Nevada Mountains – was tasked with surveying the town. He envisioned the area becoming the capi tal seat of Tulare County, and one year later in 1853, Visalia did become the county seat. The City of Visalia takes its name from Visalia, Kentucky, the original home of Nathanial Vise, after whose family the Kentucky city was named.

The City of Visalia is located between Bakersfield and Fresno. The gold rush along the Kern River led to growth in Visalia. Many of its early inhabitants were gold miners who hailed from the South. Many failed miners stopped and remained in Visalia on their journeys home.

On September 15, 1857, John Butterfield, a businessman and financier out of Utica, New York, won a six - year, $600,000-a-year contract to transport U.S. mail twice a week between St. Louis, Missouri, and San Francisco. To deliver the mail year -round, from S t. Louis to San Francisco in 25 days, Butterfield’s route went south through Texas, west through New Mexico Territory, passing Fort Yuma Arizona, and to Visalia before rolling on to San Francisco. Saloons and hotels were built near the stage stop which aid ed commerce.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Camp Babbit was constructed. The Camp was constructed by the federal government to quell sympathy for the Southern cause due to the number of Southern migrants residing in Visalia at the time. Union soldiers were not taske d with fighting but did keep order in the area. During this period, in 1874, Visalia was incorporated as a city with a common council and an ex -officio Mayor and President, and today is a charter city. The City of Visalia continued to grow at a steady pace due to its livestock, railroads, hydroelectrical power and irrigation water, which makes the area very suitable for agriculture. Today, many of Visalia’s historic downtown buildings comprise the Main Street shopping and dining district. Visalia is also located in close proximity to Sequoia National Park.

According to the 2022 1-Year American Community Survey (ACS), the population of Visalia is 143,965, up

1.8% and 15.7% from the 2020 and 2010 US Census, respectively. The US Census Bureau’s Gazetteer Files show that Visalia has a total land area of 37.91 sq uare miles. The City’s Finance Department – Housing Division, is responsible for carrying out projects and programs with the use of funds received from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The US Census Bureau reported a slight decrease in average household size in Visalia from 3.00 to 2.99 from 2020 to 2022, compared to an average household size of 2.98 persons per household in 2010. These slight changes are likely indicative of household f ormation changes remaining relatively constant between 2010 through 2022. Across the same time period, housing stock has increased by 9.9% in Visalia according to Esri, but slowed substantially between 2020 to 2022, with housing stock increasing only 0.2%, less than the city’s annual average increase of 0.8% between 2010 and 2022.

Single-family homes within the City of Visalia make up 76.6% of all housing stock, while multifamily housing (2 units or more) makes up 19.9% of the housing stock. The remaining 3.5% is allocated to mobile homes (3.4% of housing stock) and boats, RVs, and vans (0.1% of housing stock). As of 202 4, the median price of a home within Visalia is $401,500, up 5.4% from 2023. According to CoStar and apartments.com, rents range from $1,239 for a studio apartment to $2,599 for a 4-bedroom apartment. Lower income households may be able to afford studio units; however, larger units and homeownership would likely not be affordable to lower income households.

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Legal Background
Fair housing is a right protected by Federal and State of California laws. Due to these laws, virtually every housing unit in the State of California is subject to fair housing practices.

Federal Laws
The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, as well as the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S. Code §§ 3601-3619, 3631) are federal fair housing laws that prohibit discrimination in all aspects of housing.

These aspects of housing include the sale, rental, lease, or negotiation for real property. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on the following protected classes:

• Race or color
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial status
• National origin, and
• Disability (mental or physical)

According to the Fair Housing Act, it is specifically unlawful to:

• Refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. • Discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.
• Make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. • Represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.
• For profit, induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

Further, the Fair Housing Amendments Act requires owners of housing facilities to make “reasonable accommodations” to their rules, policies, and operations so that persons with disabilities have equal housing opportunities. For example, residents collecting Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income can request their rent payments not be subject to late fees if their income is not distributed before their rent payment is due. Additionally, the Fair Housing Act requires landlords to al low residents with disabilities to make reasonable access-related modifications to their private living and common use spaces, at the residents own expense. Finally, the Act requires that new multifamily housing with four or more units be designed and built to allow access for persons with disabilities, including:

• Accessible common use areas
• Doors wide enough for wheelchairs
• Kitchens and bathrooms that permit wheelchair maneuverability, and • Other adaptable features within units, such as lower countertops and cabinets

On September 21, 2016, HUD published a final rule in the Federal Register entitled "Equal Access in Accordance with an Individual's Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs." According to the HUD Exchange website:

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

“Through this final rule, HUD ensures equal access to individuals in accordance with their gender identity in programs funded and administered by HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD).

This rule builds upon HUD's February 2012 final rule entitled "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity" (2012 Equal Access Rule). The 2012 rule aimed to ensure that HUD's housing programs would be open to all eligible individuals and families regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The updated final rule requires that recipients and subrecipients of CPD funding, as well as owners, operators, and managers of shelters, and other buildings and facilities and providers of services funded in whole or in part by any CPD program to grant equal access to such facilities, and other buildings and facilities, benefits, accommodations and services to individuals in accordance with the individual's gender identity, and in a manner that affor ds equal access to the individual's family.”

A federal law entitled Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity that receives financial assistance from any federal agency. This includes programs conducted by federal agencies, including HUD. HUD's regulations for Section 504, which applies to federally assisted programs or activities, may be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 C.F.R. part 8. There are additional regulations that govern Section 504 in programs conducted by HUD which may be found at 24 C.F.R. part 9; however, this webpage focuses on Section 504's requirements for federally assisted programs and activities.

California Laws
The State Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) enforces California laws that provide monetary relief and protection to victims of unlawful housing practices. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) (Government Code Section 12955 et seq.) prohibits discrimination and harassment in housing practices, including:

• Advertising
• Application and selection process
• Unlawful evictions
• Terms and conditions of tenancy
• Privileges of occupancy
• Mortgage loans and insurance
• Public and private land use practices, and
• Unlawful restrictive covenants

The following categories are additionally protected by the FEHA:

• Race or color
• Ancestry or national origin
• Sex
• Marital status
• Source of income
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity/expression
• Genetic information
• Familial status (households with children under 18)
• Religion
• Mental/physical disability
• Medical condition, and
• Age

The FEHA contains similar reasonable accommodations and accessibility provisions as the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act.
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides protection from discrimination by all business establishments in California, including housing and accommodations, due to sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, or medical condition. While the Unruh Civil Rights Act spe cifically lists these as protected classes, the California Supreme Court has held that protections under the Unruh Act are not necessarily restricted to these characteristics.

The Ralph Civil Rights Act (California Civil Code Section 51.7) forbids acts of violence or threats of violence because of a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or position in a labor dispute. This can include verbal or written threats, physical assault or attempted assault, graffiti, vandalism, or property damage.

The Bane Civil Rights Act (California Civil Code Section 52.1) provides another layer of protection for fair housing choice by protecting all people in California from interference by force or threat of force with an individual’s constitutional or statutory rights, including a right to equal access to housing. The Bane Act also includes criminal penalties for hate crimes; however, convictions under the Act are not allowed for speech alone unless that speech itself threatened violence.

Finally, California Civil Code Section 1940.3 prohibits landlords from questioning potential residents about their immigration or citizenship status. This law further forbids local jurisdictions from passing laws that direct landlords to make inquiries about a person’s citizenship or immigration status.

In addition to these acts, Government Code Sections 11135, 65008, and 65580 -65589.8 prohibit discrimination in programs funded by the State of California and in any land use decisions. Specifically, changes to State law require local jurisdictions to address the provision of housing options for special needs groups, including:

• Housing for persons with disabilities
• Housing for homeless persons, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing
• Housing for extremely low-income households, including single-room occupancy (SRO) units, and • Housing for persons with developmental disabilities

Fair Housing
For a person to meet their essential needs and have the ability to pursue personal, educational, and employment goals, equal access to housing is fundamental. In recognition of this right, both the federal government of the United States and the government of the State of California have established fair housing as a right protected by law.

Federal fair housing laws provide protection from housing discrimination in the sale, rental, lease, or negotiation for real property based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability.

The State of California goes even further to build on this foundation to further prevent discrimination based on marital status, ancestry, source of income, sexual orientation, and “any arbitrary factor”.

According to the HUD Fair Housing Planning Guide (1996) the public and private impediments to fair housing choices are:

“Any actions, omissions, or decisions taken because of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, source of income, sexual orientation, or any other arbitrary factor which restrict housing choices or the availability of housing choices; or

Any actions, omissions, or decisions which have the effect of restricting housing choices or the availability of housing choices on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, source of income, sexual orientation, or any other arbitrary factor.”

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

To mitigate these impediments, a community must not only work to remove these issues but promote equal housing opportunities. The City of Visalia is committed to providing fair housing opportunities to all residents, as well as assuring compliance with app licable laws and conducting its business fairly and impartially.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) is an assessment of how laws, policies, real estate practices, and local conditions may affect the location, availability, accessibility, and affordability of housing.

According to the HUD Fair Housing Planning Guide, analysis includes examining certain impediments and barriers to fair housing choice. An impediment to fair housing choice is any action, omission, or decision that is intended to or has the effect of restricting a person’s choice of housing on t he basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. Such a limitation to fair housing choice constitutes housing discrimination.

The document has three major goals:

• To evaluate current conditions that may impact fair housing choice. • To review the impacts of policies and practices and how they may impact fair housing choice and the provision of housing, specifically affordable housing and housing for special needs households. • To identify impediments to fair housing choice and actions the City will take to remove those impediments or to mitigate the impact those impediments have on fair housing choice.

To fulfill these goals, the following must be completed:

• A review of the demographics, laws, regulations, private market and public sector, and administrative policies, procedures, and practices of the City of Visalia. • An assessment of how those laws affect the location, availability, and accessibility of housing. • An assessment of conditions, both public and private, affecting fair housing choice.

An AI also examines the affordability of housing in the jurisdiction with an emphasis on housing affordable to households with annual incomes classified as low -income. Low-income is defined as equal to or less than 80% of the adjusted area median family in come [AMI] as most recently published by the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development. For Visalia, the current median family income is $72,000 according to HUD 2024 income guidelines, meaning the incomes that are analyzed within this AI are generally $57,600 or less. Family size may increase the amount of income considered for households at 80% AMI or lower.

This AI defines barriers to housing choice as factors, such as income level and housing supply, that limit a person’s choice of housing. This AI adheres to the recommended scope of analysis and format in the Fair Housing Planning Guide developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1996).

Organization of the Report
This report is divided into seven sections. These sections and the definition of each is as follows:

1. Executive Summary: Identifies purpose of the report, provides a brief description of the process, and summarizes the key findings.

2. Introduction: Explains the history of the City of Visalia, defines “fair housing” based on federal and state laws, reviews the basics of an AI, and lists the data and funding sources for the report.

3. Review of 2020/21-2024/25 Analysis of Impediments: Reviews all goals from the City of Visalia’s previous AI, provides a progress update on goal achievement, and identifies any outstanding actions for incorporation into the current AI.

4. Data: Describes housing and population characteristics of the jurisdiction, including income, age, race, ethnicity, familial status, and disability. Housing characteristics include unit type, tenure, housing cost, and overcrowding. Employment characteristics an d the geographic distribution of households by income, race, and ethnicity are also examined. 828
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

5. Public Policies and Private Sector Practices: Reviews policies and practices to determine the potential impact on fair housing and the provision of an adequate number and appropriate types of housing. Assesses the general level of fair housing and housing rights awareness within the private sector. Specifically, rental housing, residential real estate sales, and mortgage lending are evaluated. The analysis relies on an array of tools including interviews with stakeholders, published data on mortgage lending, and reports of unfair housing practices.

6. Community Engagement: Provides a description of public outreach to obtain input from the community on possible fair housing impediments.

7. Impediments, Goals, and Actions: Summarizes the findings regarding fair housing impediments in the City, generally organized by the impediment categories defined in HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing proposed rule dated February 9, 2023. Sets goals to address each impediment and defines actions to be taken to achieve these goals.

Data Sources
In preparation of this AI, a variety of data sources were used, including but not limited to the following:

• American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 1 -Year, 2020 5 -Year, and 2010 1 -Year estimates provided by the US Census Bureau.
• 2020 and 2010 US Decennial Census, provided by the US Census Bureau • Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), provided by the US Census Bureau for HUD, which contains information on low - and moderate -income households as well as housing problems.
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics
• ESRI Business Analyst Online (ESRI BAO)
• U.S. Department of Labor
• Community resident and organization surveys
• Focus groups and interviews with local stakeholders and officials • Local chamber of commerce officials
• Local economic development officials
• Local housing authority officials

Review of 2020/21-2024/25 Analysis of Impediments

This section will review current progress on goals and actions contained in the City of Visalia’s previous 2020/21-2024-25 Analysis of Impediments.
2020/21-2024/25 Analysis of Impediments Goals and Progress Update The 2020/21-2024/25 Analysis of Impediments identified four goals:

1. Expanding Affordable Housing Opportunities

2. Outreach to Lenders

3. Fair Housing Services (Ongoing)

4. Fair Housing Services (New)
Each goal contained a number of subcategories, under which specific actions were defined.

The table below contains all of the planned actions from the 2020-21-2024-25 AI. The second column lists progress made toward each action, and the third column identifies whether there are remaining needs associated with each action for incorporation into the 2025/26-2029/30 Analysis of Impediments.

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Goal 1 : Expanding Affordable Housing Opportunities

1.1 HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS? Continue to explore the development
and rehabilitation of affordable
housing opportunities with local
partners as well as outside
developers.

Partners include:
• Tulare County Housing
Authority
• Self-Help Enterprises
• Habitat for Humanity
• Christian Church Homes
• Homes of Northern
California
• Community Services and
Employment Training
(CSET)
• RH Community Builders
• UPHoldings

2015: the City partnered with Self Help
Enterprises on the acquisition/rehabilitation
of five (5) single family dwellings, resold to
income qualifying households;

2016: the City partnered with Self Help
Enterprises on the acquisition/rehabilitation
of a five (5) unit multi-family development
(Strawberry);

2017: the City partnered with Tulare County
Housing Authorities- Non-profit Kaweah
Management Co .in the
acquisition/rehabilitation of an eight (8) unit
multi-family development (617-619 Santa
Fe);

2018: the City partnered with Self Help
Enterprises for the acquisition/Rehabilitation
of a six (6) unit multi-family development
(515-527 Encina)

The City continues to work with local non-
profit agencies in identifying affordable
housing opportunities.

All 19 rehabilitated multi-family units became
affordable rental units, rented at 60% AMI or
lower. All units are being maintained by their
respective developer organizations.

During 2019-2023, the City continued to
partner with Self-Help Enterprises on the
rehabilitation of owner-occupied mobile
homes. The City is also partnered with
Habitat for Humanity to provide a minor-
rehab program for owner-occupied single-
family mobile homes. Additionally, the City
partnered with the Tulare County Housing
Authority to rehabilitate four (4) multi-family
rental units at 621 Santa Fe Street.

The City continues these efforts in searching
for funding opportunities with its partners in
providing affordable housing opportunities.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

1.2 AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RESOURCES ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS?
Maintain a list of nonprofit agencies
and their services on the City’s
website under affordable housing.

Ongoing- The list of non-profit organizations
the city is working with is listed on the
website;

The City website includes the link to “2-1-1”
which has all Tulare county resources.

Resources are updated as new programs are
identified.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.

1.3 HOUSING CHOICE FOR SPECIAL
POPULATIONS ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS?
Continue to work with the Housing
Authority and other local nonprofits
to provide priority funding to assist in
the development of new housing
opportunities in non-minority
concentrated areas.

Continue to administer successful
programs that provide funding and
support for affordable housing.

Ongoing - Table 2.1 below shows that
roughly $24.5 million has been provided to
assist in the development of new housing
opportunities since 2019.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.

1.4 Continue to facilitate the construction
of affordable rental housing for very
low- and low-income seniors by
providing regulatory (e.g., density
bonus, expedited permit processing,
deferred fees, or relaxed parking
requirements) and financial
incentives (e.g., RDA set-aside
funds), commercial, and medical
services.

Continue with the Senior Repair and
Handicapped Program (SHARP) and
Senior Home Minor Repair Program,
which assists low-income elderly
homeowners in rehabilitating their
homes to address health and safety
repairs, accessibility needs, and
energy efficiency improvements.

Ongoing- In 2017, the City partnered for the
development of the 36-unit Highland Garden
project which included financial incentives.

Ongoing- The City has contracted with Self
Help Enterprises for the administration of the
CDBG funded Senior Mobile Home Repair
and CalHome Reuse Down Payment
programs.

The City has provided $9 million in grant
funding for rental housing development for
very low and low-income households, also
available to seniors. Eight units have
specifically been rehabilitated for low-income
seniors. Table 2.2 below provides additional
detail.

The City has made surplus land available to
non-profit agencies on a priority basis, which
has resulted in the development of one
housing project containing 80 affordable
rental housing units (Lofts at Fort Visalia).

Six (6) affordable owner-occupied tiny homes
for veterans will be built on City surplus land
to be purchased by low-income veterans.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

1.5 Promote the construction of
affordable for-sale and/or rental
housing units with three or more-
bedroom units affordable to very
low- and low-income families.

Publicize financial and regulatory
incentive opportunities (e.g.,
expediting permit processing,
deferred fees, density bonuses, or
use of set-aside funds) to developers
for these unit types including
promoting the need for three or more
bedroom units during pre-application
meetings, contacting affordable
housing developers, and creating
informational fliers at the Community
Development Department and in all
general application packets.

The City continues to work with its non-profit
partners in developing housing.

Planning Department created the information
brochure with incentives which is located on
the City’s Planning Department webpage:
https://www.visalia.city/depts/community_dev
elopment/planning/handouts/default.asp

Housing Element approved and adopted as
of 12/18/2023.

Rancho Colegio, an 80-unit affordable
housing complex currently under
construction, will have 22 3-bedroom units
for low-income families.

In 2021 and 2022, 70 low-income and 4 very
low-income dwelling units have been
constructed with 3+ bedrooms without public
funding assistance.

No financial and regulatory incentives have
been publicized to the developer community
since 2019.

Develop and publicize financial
and regulatory incentive
opportunities to developers.

Goal 2: Outreach to Lenders

2.1 OUTREACH TO LENDERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS? Work with local lenders to provide
information on financing for low- and
moderate-income residents.

Encourage local lenders to provide
information in English and Spanish.

Ongoing: City’s website provides a link to “2-
1-1” United Way with all resources and links
available.

The City provides all public notices in English
and Spanish to target multiple languages.

Conduct (at minimum) annual
outreach to local lenders to
encourage them to provide
financing information to low-
and moderate-income
residents.
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

2.2 Work with local lenders to promote
the City’s affordable housing
programs. Provide local lenders
information on the program in
English and Spanish. Invite local
lenders to attend program
workshops.

Ongoing: In 2017-18, the City required
lenders and realtors to be certified to work
with the CalHome Reuse Program;

In 2019, the city contracted with Self Help
Enterprises for the CalHome Reuse
Program.

To support local lenders, the City has
contracted and invited local lenders to attend
program workshops. These include Self-Help
Enterprises, RH Community Builders,
UPHoldings, Kaweah Management
Company/Housing Authority of Tulare
County, and Habitat for Humanity of
Tulare/Kings Counties.

Hold (at minimum) 1 annual
program workshop for local
lenders.

2.3 EDUCATION AND RESOURCES ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS? Encourage private lenders and other
local lending institutions to host
workshops in Visalia regarding the
home-buying process and the
resources available to low- and
moderate-income homebuyers.

Ongoing, including non-profit partners.

2018 promoted the CalHome Reuse
Program; educated Lenders/Realtors and
required certification through the program.

Contracted with Self Help Enterprises to
administer the CalHome Reuse Program,
including workshop-education.

In 2020, the City applied for additional
CalHome funds, but was unsuccessful. No
additional CalHome program income has
been received.

In 2022, the City contracted with Self-Help
Enterprises to develop 5 single-family homes
for 5 low-moderate income first-time
homebuyers.

Identify lenders/realtors that
have not been certified; conduct
outreach to this group to
promote certification.
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

2.4 Continue to provide brochures or
information on homeownership,
rental assistance and rehabilitation
assistance programs in English and
Spanish.

Make information on programs
available on the City’s website and
at community events promoting fair
housing choice held by the City.

Ongoing, contracted with Central CA Fair
Housing Council.

The City continues to provide brochures or
information on homeownership, rental
assistance and rehabilitation assistance
programs in English and Spanish.

The City continues to make information on
programs available on the City’s website and
at community events promoting fair housing
choice held by the City.

Reevaluate contract with the
Central CA Fair Housing
Council; conduct a desk
audit/review of program
operations and service delivery
(focus on feedback and City-
observed experiences with lack
of/delay in response to
callers/individuals making
inquiries).

Post brochures on the City
website for resident access (the
Central CA Fair Housing
Council does not have
brochures/marketing materials
posted on its website).

2.5 Consider partnering with agencies to
provide credit and financial
counseling services, including
assisting potential homebuyers in
improving their credit, repairing bad
credit, and providing education on
affordability and financial
responsibilities of homeownership
and predatory lending avoidance.

Ongoing; Self Help Enterprises provides
counseling to eligible homebuyers of City
funded programs.

Self-Help Enterprises provided five home
buyer counseling sessions for City-eligible
home buyers.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.

2.6 As funding permits, work with other
fair housing advocates to conduct
additional fair housing workshops in
Visalia to educate citizens about fair
housing rights.

Contracted with Central CA Fair Housing
Council (CCFHC)

November 2016 Training conducted by
CCFHC.

Virtual workshops have been conducted by
CCFHC during the pandemic, in-person
workshops have resumed.

Reevaluate contract with the
Central CA Fair Housing
Council; conduct a desk
audit/review of program
operations and service delivery
(focus on feedback and City-
observed experiences with lack
of/delay in response to
callers/individuals making
inquiries).

Host workshops annually (at
minimum).
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

2.7 Monitor complaints regarding
unfair/predatory lending and assess
lending patterns using the data
collected under the Home Mortgage
Disclosure Act (HMDA), the
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
and other data sources. As funding
permits, work with non-profit agency
that specializes in fair housing to
provide data.

Included with the update to the Analysis of
Impediments 2020;

Ongoing: Contract with CCFHC tracks
information. The City rarely receives
complaints.

Reevaluate contract with the
Central CA Fair Housing
Council; conduct a desk
audit/review of program
operations and service delivery
(focus on feedback and City-
observed experiences with lack
of/delay in response to
callers/individuals making
inquiries).

Require CCFHC to provide
quarterly reports to the City on
complaints received.

2.8 Participate with HUD in efforts to
improve access to homeowner’s
insurance and to investigate
predatory lending in the home
purchase, home improvement, and
mortgage refinancing markets.

Affordable housing program (Senior Home
Repair) allows the initial cost of insurance to
be included with the loan/funding.

The City has revised procedures to grant
assistance at or below $5,000 to waive flood
home insurance requirements and make
services more accessible to low-income
owner-occupants.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.

Goal 3: Fair Housing Services (Ongoing)

3.1 APARTMENT
OWNERS/MANAGERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS?
Work in conjunction with apartment
owner/manager associations to
reach out to owners of small rental
properties regarding fair housing
laws.

Ongoing- Monitoring of affordable housing
funded project; Self Help Enterprises

The City currently monitors for grant
compliance to ensure tenants are income-
eligible and units are properly maintained.

No fair housing discrimination issues were
identified during outreach efforts.

The City now works with the following
associations: Self-Help Enterprises, RH
Community Builders, UPHoldings, Habitat for
Humanity, and the Housing Authority of
Tulare County.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

3.2 Work with agencies and the property
managers of affordable housing to
ensure that fair housing laws are
abided by in the selection of
residents and that information of
housing availability is appropriately
advertised.

Continue to provide outreach related
to affordable housing opportunities
through advertisements and
literature available in English and
Spanish.

Periodically track income and
demographic data related to
affordable housing participants and
evaluate additional strategies, if
needed, to increase access to and
knowledge of affordable housing
opportunities in the City.

Ongoing; Non-profit developed projects have
ongoing monitoring.

2018 Promoted the CalHome Reuse
Program; Contracted with Self Help
Enterprises to administer and provide
workshop/education.

The City conducted grant compliance
monitoring activities.

The City provides fair housing laws to
agencies and property managers to ensure
fair housing laws are abided by.

Annually (at minimum) track
income and demographic data
of affordable housing
participants to evaluate
additional strategies to increase
affordable housing knowledge.

3.3 FAIR HOUSING & TESTING
RESULTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS?
Support local non-profit agencies in
applying for federal Fair Housing
Initiative Program (FHIP) grants and
conduct testing and audits as a
means to affirming the nature and
extent of fair housing issues in the
community.

Contracted with CCFHC.

2017 provided letter of firm commitment of
support and Certification of Consistency with
the Consolidated Plan to Fair Housing
Council in relation to grant applications, as
needed.

Require CCFHC to provide
reports to the City biannually (at
minimum) of support provided
to local nonprofits in applying
for FHIP.

3.4 RESONABLE ACCOMODATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS? Provide information on reasonable
accommodation and on often-utilized
disability adjustments to housing
units.

Ongoing- Planning/Building Departments

The City has maintained a public information
brochure on reasonable accommodations for
disabled persons, which is available on the
City’s website. This brochure includes
information and staff contacts for requesting
assistance in providing housing for persons
with disabilities.

No outstanding needs exist.

The City continues to
proactively make progress
towards its goal through past
and current activities.
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Goal 4: Fair Housing Services (New)

4.1 ENTITLEMENT FUNDING
ACTIVITIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS REMAINING NEEDS?
Ensure access to fair housing
services and education to all Visalia
residents by increasing dedicated
eligible entitlement dollars (CDBG
Admin or Public Service/HOME
Admin and Planning) to fair housing
services.

Ongoing- Contracted with Central CA of Fair
Housing Council (CCFHC)

Ongoing contracts with Family Services to
provide public services related to case
management and street outreach.

Reevaluate contract with the
Central CA Fair Housing
Council; conduct a desk
audit/review of program
operations and service delivery.

Require CCFHC to regularly
report to the City on
outcomes/outputs.

4.2 Partner and contract with fair housing
service providers for:
• Outreach
• Education
• Testing
• Enforcement
Ongoing- with CCFHC

Virtual workshops have been conducted
to increase fair housing education and
awareness.

Facilitate bi-annual workshops (at
minimum).

4.3 Partner and contract with credit
counseling and education/housing
counseling service providers to
increase access to financing, down
payment, and closing costs assistance
for underserved and underrepresented
protected classes
Contracted with Self Help Enterprises
for education on housing programs.

The City has also partnered with Self-
Help Enterprises to provide down
payment assistance for underserved
and underrepresented protected
classes.

No outstanding needs exist. The
City continues to proactively make
progress towards its goal through
past and current activities.

4.4 Ensure “Subrecipient Agreement”
includes the requirement that all
entitlement dollar recipients comply
with Fair Housing Act and all other
Federal laws and Executive Orders as
per “Playing by the Rules: A Handbook
for CDBG Subrecipients on
Administrative Systems"
Included and Ongoing No outstanding needs exist. The
City continues to proactively make
progress towards its goal through
past and current activities.

4.5 Prominently display fair housing
information in City-owned and
operated buildings and other public
spaces, such as libraries, recreation
centers, and community centers.

Completed – Fair housing flyers and
brochures are made available at public
bulletin boards at various city and
county-owned and operated buildings
such as City Hall, Tulare County
Library, Visalia Transit, Visalia
Community Centers, and administration
offices.

No outstanding needs exist at this
time.
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Table 2.1 - COV Affordable Permanent Housing Developments Between 2019 - 2025 Activity
Minority
Areas
Y/N
Homeless
Units
HOME
Construction
HOME

FTHB HOME HOME-
ARP SAH NSP Homekey General
Fund Total
Sequoia
Village - 50
Units for 30%
AMI and
lower.

No 50 - - $1,500,000 - - - - - $1,500,000
NW 5th Ave. -
5 Single
Family Homes
for 80% AMI
and lower
Yes 0 $1,073,798 $217,126 $1,290,924 - $96,000 $141,604 - $64,000 $1,592,528 The Lofts - 80
units for 60%
AMI and
lower.

Yes 40 - - $2,350,898 - $329,000 - - - $2,680,218
Santa Fe
Fourplex
rehab - 4 units
for 60% AMI
and lower
Yes 0 - - - - $100,000 - - - $100,000
Majestic
Gardens - 42
units for 30%
AMI and
lower.

No 42 - - - $1,800,000 $1,325,000 - $13,835,376 - $16,960,376 Rancho - 80
units for 50%
AMI and
lower.

Yes 0 - - $1,290,000 - - - - - $1,290,000
Total Funds Provided 132 $1,073,798 $217,126 $6,431,822 $1,800,000 $1,850,000 $141,604 $13,835,376 $64,000 $24,123,122

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Table 2.2 - COV Affordable Permanent Rental Housing Developments Between 2019 – 2025 Activity
Minority
Areas
Y/N
Homeless
Units
HOME
Construction
HOME

FTHB HOME
HOME-

ARP SAH NSP

General Fund Total
Sequoia
Village - 50
Units for 30%
AMI and
lower.

No 50 - - $1,500,000 - - - - $1,500,000
The Lofts - 80
units for 60%
AMI and
lower.

Yes 40 - - $2,350,898 - $329,000 - - $2,680,218
Santa Fe
Fourplex
rehab - 4 units
for 60% AMI
and lower
Yes 0 - - - - $100,000 - - $100,000
Majestic
Gardens - 42
units for 30%
AMI and
lower.

No 42 - - - $1,800,000 $1,325,000 - - $3,125,000
Rancho - 80
units for 50%
AMI and
lower.

Yes 0 - - $1,290,000 - - - - $1,290,000
Total Funds Provided 132 $0 $0 $5,140,898 $1,800,000 $1,754,000 $0 $0 $8,695,218 839
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Community Data
Several conditions can limit fair housing choice or access to opportunities. These conditions include segregation, lack of integration, racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty, disparities in access to opportunity, disproportionate housing needs, and evidence of discrimination or civil rights violations related to housing.

To address fair housing issues effectively, it is imperative to gather and analyze data on these conditions.

First, understanding the jurisdiction's demographics is essential. This includes examining population growth, age characteristics, and racial and ethnic composition. These demographic factors are instrumental in identifying a community’s housing needs and potential barriers to fair housing choice.

Segregation and lack of integration refer to the physical and social separation of different racial or ethnic groups within a community. These conditions can limit access to quality housing, education, and employment opportunities for marginalized groups, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. By identifying areas where segregation and lack of integration are prevalent, policymakers can develop targeted interventions to promote inclusivity and equal access to resources.

Racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty are neighborhoods where high percentages of residents are both minority and low -income. These areas often lack investment and access to essential services, further entrenching residents in disadvantaged circumstances. Recognizing these areas allows for strategic planning to improve infrastructure, education, and employment opportunities, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.

Disparities in access to opportunity highlight the unequal distribution of resources such as quality education, employment, and healthcare across different communities. These disparities can be driven by systemic discrimination and bias, making it harder for certain groups to achieve economic stability and upward mobility. Addressing these disparities involves implementing policies that ensure equitable access to opportunities for all residents, regardless of their background.

Disproportionate housing needs refer to the uneven burden of housing costs, overcrowding, and substandard living conditions experienced by certain groups. Low -income families, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities are often disproportionately affected. By identifying these groups and their specific housing challenges, targeted policies can be designed to provide affordable and adequate housing solutions.

Evidence of discrimination or civil rights violations related to housing is a critical factor in assessing fair housing conditions. Discriminatory practices can take many forms, from overt acts of bias to more subtle forms of exclusion. Documenting and add ressing these violations is fundamental to ensuring that all individuals have equal access to housing opportunities.

Demographic Summary
Within the scope of a singular housing market, a multitude of household and individual characteristics can significantly impact the range of housing options available as well as the housing needs within that market.

This chapter of the AI delves into an in-depth examination of the housing and demographic characteristics relevant to the City of Visalia.

Population Characteristics
The type and quantity of housing within a community is primarily influenced by population growth and the demographic attributes of its residents. Factors including age, occupation, and income collectively influence the housing types and affordability within a community. The content of this section draws heavi ly upon 840
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

housing and demographic statistics provided by the California Department of Finance (DOF), utilizing the most up-to-date data accessible.

Between 2000 and 2010, Visalia underwent a significant population surge, increasing by 35%. According to the California Department of Finance's Population and Housing Estimates for 2022, Visalia's populace was estimated at 142,066 individuals. This marked a rise of 14.2%, equivalent to 17,624 persons, from 2010 to 2022 as indicated in Table 1. Visalia's population growth outpaced that of Tulare County, which stood at 7.3% for the same period.

Table 1: Regional Population Growth Trends
Jurisdiction 2000
Population
2010
Population
2022
Population
% Change
2000-2010
% Change
2010-2022
City of Visalia 91,891 124,442 142,066 35% 14.2%
County of Tulare 368,021 442,179 474,507 20% 7.3%
Source: California Department of Finance, Historical Population and Housing Estimates 2000-2010, Population and Housing Estimates 2022

Source: California Department of Finance, Population and Housing Estimates 2022

Population Age
The age range within a community significantly influences its housing needs. Different age groups present unique family structures, types and income levels, all correlating with distinct housing needs.1 Young adults typically gravitate towards apartments, condominiums, and smaller single -family dwellings commensurate with their typically smaller households and limited finances as they only made up 14% of housing purchases in 2022.2 Conversely, adults with children often seek larger single-family residences to accommodate their families. However, as offspring reach adulthood and depart from the parental home, older adults and seniors are staying put in their large single -family resid ences rather than downsizing because of rising mortgage rates.3

In 2022, the most significant age group within Visalia, as depicted in Table 3, comprises individuals aged 25 to 44, constituting 31.4% of the population. The median age demonstrates a marginal rise, now standing at 34.1 years. These findings emphasize the importance of housing needs designed specifically for seniors, while also considering suitable accommodations for young families.

Table 3: Age Characteristics (2000-2022)
Age 2010 2022
Under 5 9,494 10,947
5 to 19 31,238 31,275
20 to 24 8,512 8,029
25 to 44 33,866 45,215
45 to 64 28,048 29,177
65+ 13,708 19,322
Totals 124,866 143,965
Median Age 31.6 34.1
Source: 2010, and 2022 1-Year ACS

1 Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. (2022). The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022 (M. Fernold, Ed.). 2 Yale, A. (2023). Millennial homebuyers: What the 2023 housing market looks like for gen y and gen Z | real estate | U.S. news.

Millennial Homebuyers: What the 2023 Housing Market Looks Like for Gen Y and Gen Z.

3 Peterson, T. (2023, April 20). For boomers, downsizing isn’t a simple decision. Washington Post.

Table 2: Population Growth of Visalia (2000-2020)
2000 2010 Percent Change 2022 Percent Change
91,891 124,442 35% 142,066 14.2%
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Race and Ethnicity
Acknowledging and understanding the difference between race (which refers to a group of people with common lineage or inheritance) and ethnicity (representing a social group with shared culture, religion, language, or similar traits) is essential. In Visal ia, Hispanic ethnicity makes up a significant portion of the population, accounting for 50% or 71,938 individuals as of 2022 (as shown in Table 4).

Table 4: Racial and Ethnic Composition
2010 2022 Growth Rate 2010-2022
Non-Hispanic White 53,982 53,686 -0.55%
Non-Hispanic Black 2,227 3,954 77.55%
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 5,535 8,116 46.63%
Hispanic 59,972 71,938 19.95%
Non-Hispanic Other 3,150 6,271 99.08%
Totals 124,866 143,965 15.30%
Source: 2010, and 2022 1-Year ACS

Among Visalia residents aged five and older , 35.47% speak a non-English language at home. The largest group speaks Spanish, accounting for 29.68% of the population. Approximately 16,343 individuals aged 5 and above in Visalia possess limited English proficiency (LEP), accounting for around 31% of the population. These numbers highlight a distinct need within the community – the need to address language barriers. Language barriers have the potential to impede residents' access to essential services, information, and housing, while also influencing educational achievements and employment opportunities.

Executive Order 13166 – Improving Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency, issued in August 2000, mandates federal agencies to cater to the needs of eligible individuals seeking access to federal programs and activities, especially those with limited English proficiency. This requirement also applies to organizations that receive federal funding. Therefore, collaborative entities must ensu re compliance with this regulation.

Table 5: Language, all persons 5 years and older
Language Persons Percentage
English Language 91,684 68.92%
Other Language 41,334 31.07%
All Persons 133,018 100.0%
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Table 6: Other Language Populations 5 years and older that speak English less than "very well" Language Persons
Spanish 14,146
Indo-European 193
Asian and Pacific Islander 1,889
Other Language 115
Total Other Language Persons, 5 years and older 16,343
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Limited English Proficiency
Individuals who face limitations in English proficiency often encounter challenges such as cultural or linguistic isolation, lower levels of education, and reduced income. Disseminating information about public services concerning housing, health, and other essential resources to these demographics can prove challenging without effectively integrating considerations of resources, race, culture, and language. The presence of LEP individuals can also impact the local workforce and economy, as certain employers may mandate English proficiency among their staff.

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

The dissimilarity index serves as a quantitative measure of the extent to which two demographic groups are distributed evenly across a given geographic area. This index comprises data from 1990, extending up to July 2020 as the most current dataset availab le. It yields values on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting a greater degree of segregation between the groups under consideration. Index values falling between 0 and 39 typically signify minimal segregation, those between 40 and 54 indicate moderate segregation, and those between 55 and 100 suggest a significant level of segregation. Visalia's jurisdictional dissimilarity index trend has exhibited a decline from 1990-2010, registering as predominantly low in terms of overall segregation. H owever, from 2010-2020 Visalia has seen an increase in the degree of segregation among all groups measured within both their jurisdiction and region. The degree of segregation in the Visalia CDBG Jurisdiction is still defined as minimal, while the broader region is now seeing moderate levels of segregation across racial/ethnic groups. This recent trend highlights underlying issues that may persist in hindering Visalia from becoming a more inclusive and equitable place to live.

Source: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Tool (AFFHT) Data Table 3; Decennial Census Household Characteristics
A household is defined as all occupants residing within a single housing unit. As outlined by the U.S. Census Bureau, a household may consist of a family unit, multiple families cohabiting, an individual living alone, or unrelated individuals cohabiting. T he composition, size, and demographic makeup of a household play a pivotal role in determining the appropriate housing type and required services needed to fulfill the occupants’ living needs. For example, a smaller one -floor household with minimal upkeep may be more suitable for an elderly household because of their limited physical capabilities.

Table 8: Household Growth (2010-2022)
Area 2010 2022 Percent Change
City of Visalia 40,709 46,975 15.4%
County of Tulare 129,590 143,129 10.4%
Source: 2010, and 2022 1-Year ACS

Household Type and Size
The average household size has remained consistent from 2010-2022. Notably, the percent of families with children and average family size has decreased from 2010-2022, as can be seen in Table 9. This m ay correspond with the birth rate declining every year since 2015.4 However, it is important to note the increase in the percent of households with elderly persons is increasing by 4.4% since 2010. The Baby Boomers generation (born between 1946-1964) make up the second largest percentage of the U.S. population and as they continue to age many will retire from their careers transitioning into their elderly stages of life .

Furthermore, post-retirement Baby Boomers do not want to be in nursing homes because they would rather remain in a residential setting where their adult children can look after them. 5

4 U.S. Census Bureau. (2022, April 13). Fewer babies born in December and January but number started to rise in March.

Census.gov.
5 Hoyt, J. (2023, October 6). The baby boomer generation.

Table 7: Racial/Ethnic Dissimilarity Index
Visalia, CA CDBG Jurisdiction Visalia-Porterville, CA Region Racial/Ethnic
Dissimilarity
Index
1990
Tren
d
2000
Trend
2010
Trend
Curren
t
1990
Trend
2000
Trend
2010
Trend Current
Non-
White/White 37.56 34.52 23.61 29.23 36.51 37.80 34.94 40.58 Black/White 29.37 22.02 16.42 27.25 51.11 40.70 32.32 41.93 Hispanic/White 36.85 35.87 24.29 29.90 38.85 40.16 37.53 42.42 Asian or Pacific
Islander/White 48.94 42.41 30.05 34.23 42.42 39.00 33.43 40.91 843
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Source: 2010, and 2022 1-Year ACS
Income Profile
Household income is an important determiner of the general affordability of housing and other major life purchases and activities. When housing expenses exceed the industry -standard 30% of a household’s income, households may face constraints in other econ omic endeavors. Economic factors impacting housing choices are not explicitly a fair housing issue; however, given other bias related issues surrounding household income, household type, and other factors, fair housing concerns can be raised.

HUD, in conjunction with data from the United States Census Bureau, releases income limits every year.

Using the median income for a family of four, HUD further breaks down income limits into three categories:

• Extremely Low Income: 30% of the median family income • Very Low Income: 50% of the median family income
• Low Income: 80% of the median family income

HUD further breaks down this data by family size, from one individual to an eight -person household. For the Visalia -Porterville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the median family income is $72,000.

Additional data by income level and family size can be found below:

Table 10: FY 2024 Income Limits Summary
Visalia-Porterville, CA MSA
Persons in Family
Median
Family
Income
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
$72,000
Extremely
Low
Income
$18,450 $21,100 $25,820 $31,200 $36,580 $41,960 $47,340 $52,720 Very Low
Income $30,800 $35,200 $39,600 $43,950 $47,500 $51,000 $54,500 $58,050 Low
Income $49,250 $56,250 $63,300 $70,300 $75,950 $81,550 $87,200 $92,800 Source: HUD User: FY 2024 Income Limits Documentation System: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/

After HUD releases their income limit data, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) releases revisions to increase a county’s area median income (AMI) to equal California’s non -metropolitan median income, further adjus ting to prevent any decreases. HCD then releases income limits for five income categories for each MSA, which are:

• Acutely Low Income (0% to 15% of AMI)
• Extremely Low Income (15% to 30% of AMI)
• Very Low Income (30% to 50% of AMI)
• Lower Income (50% to 80% of the AMI)
• Moderate Income (80% to 120% of the AMI)

Table 9: Household Type and Size
2010 2022
Average Household Size 3.01 3.02
Percent of Households with Elderly 23.6% 28.0%
Average Family Size 3.58 3.53
Percent of Families with Children 43.9% 39.3%
Percent of Female-Headed Households with Children 10.1% 4.7% 844
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Median Income
As indicated in the table below, the median household income for Visalia is $81,362 based on the 2022 1- Year American Community Survey (ACS). Between the 2010 US Census and 2022, the median household income has increased 22.3%.

Table 11: City of Visalia-Median Household Income
(2010-2022)
Median Household Income Percent Change 2010 2022
$66,549 $81,362 22.3%
Source: 2010 US Census, 2022 1-Year ACS

Income Distribution of Households
According to HUD’s Consolidated Planning/CHAS Data homepage:

“Each year, [HUD] receives custom tabulations of [ACS] data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Th[is] data, known as the "CHAS" data (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy), demonstrate the extent of housing problems and housing needs, particularly for low-income households. CHAS data are used by local governments to plan how to spend HUD funds and may also be used by HUD to distribute grant funds.”

This CHAS data covers income categories by race/ethnicity, tenure, household size, household issues, and age of housing. Household issues may include units lacking complete kitchen or bathroom, overcrowded conditions (more than one person per room), housing cost burden (housing costs exceeding 30% of gross income), and severe housing cost burden (housing costs exceeding 50% of gross income).

Table 12: City of Visalia Renter Income Distribution Overview Total Renter
Households
Percent Extremely
Low Income
Percent Low
Income
Percent Moderate
Income
Percent
Middle/Upper Income
17,915 13.7% 18.9% 18.9% 48.5%
City of Visalia Owner Income Distribution Overview
Total Owner
Households
Percent Extremely
Low Income
Percent Low
Income
Percent Moderate
Income
Percent
Middle/Upper Income
25,950 6.6% 8.1% 12.7% 72.6%
City of Visalia Total Households Income Distribution Overview Total
Households
Percent Extremely
Low Income
Percent Low
Income
Percent Moderate
Income
Percent
Middle/Upper Income
43,865 9.5% 12.5% 15.2% 62.8%
Sources: HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (“CHAS”) Data, 2022 1-Year ACS

Low to Moderate Target Areas
The map on the following page displays block groups within Visalia where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the median household income.

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Income by Household Characteristics
CHAS data cross-references household attributes with income to show, for example, which income range has the most housing problems. As highlighted below, the lowest income households tend to face the most significant challenges when it comes to housing pro blems, which consist of lacking plumbing facilities, lacking kitchen facilities, having greater than 1.51 people per room, having 1.01 to 1.5 people per room, and housing cost burdens.

Table 13: Housing Problems by Income
Renter Households
0-30% AMI 30-50% AMI 50-80% AMI 80-100% AMI >100%
AMI Total
Lacking
Complete
Plumbing or
Kitchen
45 45 95 15 240 445
Overcrowded
(1.01 to 1.50
people per
room)
270 310 280 250 370 1,480
Severely
Overcrowded
(>1.51 people
per room)
170 115 95 70 60 505
Housing Cost
Burden >50% of
income
1,665 960 360 55 10 3,050
Housing Cost
Burden >30% of
income
2,140 2,645 1,890 490 335 7,500
Source: CHAS 2016-2020

Table 14: Housing Problems by Income
Owner Households
0-30%
AMI
30-50%
AMI
50-80%
AMI
80-100%
AMI
>100%
AMI Total
Lacking Complete
Plumbing or Kitchen 0 10 55 0 50 115
Overcrowded
(1.01 to 1.50 people
per room)
90 70 65 165 200 585
Severely
Overcrowded
(>1.51 people per
room)
0 4 10 75 175 265
Housing Cost
Burden >50% of
income
1,220 990 495 100 135 2,940
Housing Cost
Burden >30% of
income
1,410 1,350 1,925 580 1,245 6,510
Source: CHAS 2016-2020

A further breakdown by the 2022 1-Year ACS was used to provide additional detail as the total number of occupied housing units that have one of the four housing problems. 847
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Table 15: Lacking Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities
Owner and Renter Households
Without Complete Plumbing Facilities Without Complete Kitchen Facilities Owner Occupied 47 103
Renter
Occupied 0 236
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Table 16: Over Crowding
Owner and Renter Households

1.01 to 1.50
Occupants per Room

1.51 to 2.00
Occupants per Room

2.01 or more Occupants
per Room
Owner Occupied 623 106 241
Renter Occupied 1,770 66 192
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Income by Race and Ethnicity
The following table provides data on previously defined income categories by race and ethnicity. Non - Hispanic White households make up the largest share of total households at 49.0%, followed by Hispanic or Latino at 32.5%. A larger share of one race/ethni city households have lower incomes as compared to the city as a whole. For example, 45.6% of Black or African American households are lower to moderate income households, while 49.4% of households that self -reported as “Other” have lower to moderate incomes. American Indian or Alaska Natives have the highest proportion of middle to upper income households at 66.3%, followed by Non-Hispanic White households at 61.2%.

Overall, 60.3% of Visalia’s total households have middle to upper incomes, with 5.0% earning an acutely low income, 6.1% earning an extremely low income, 11.8% earning a very low income, and 16.9% earning a moderate income.

Source: 2018-2022 5-Year ACS
*The 2018-2022 5-Year ACS showed 0 Pacific Islander households; therefore, data from 2016-2020 was used.

Table 17: Income by Race and Ethnicity (2018-2022) City of Visalia Total Households Non-Hispanic
White
Hispanic or
Latino
Black or
African
American
Acutely Low 2,815 5.0% 1,519 5.5% 478 2.6% 65 6.1%
Extremely Low 3,477 6.1% 1,943 7.0% 842 4.6% 150 14.1%
Very Low 6,711 11.8% 2,600 9.3% 2,601 14.1% 45 4.2%
Moderate 9,585 16.9% 4,054 14.5% 3,089 16.7% 226 21.2%
Middle/Upper 34,253 60.3% 17,056 61.2% 11,067 60.0% 565 52.9% Total HH 56,841 100% 27,865 100% 18,453 100% 1,067 100% Total
Lower/Moderate
Income
Households
22,588 39.7% 10,116 36.3% 7,009 38.0% 486 45.6%
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Income by Race and Ethnicity (2018-2022) City of Visalia (continued) Asian Am. Indian or
Alaska Nat./ Other
Pacific
Islander*
Other
Acutely Low 86 4.0% 21 4.3% - - 646 8.0%
Extremely Low 146 6.7% 14 2.9% - - 382 4.7%
Very Low 204 9.4% 35 7.1% 5 - 1,222 15.1%
Moderate 376 17.3% 87 17.7% - - 1,754 21.6%
Middle/Upper 1,328 61.1% 324 66.3% - - 3,913 48.3%
Total HH 2,174 100% 489 100% 5 100% 8,108 100%
Total Lower/Moderate
Income Households
811 37.3% 156 32.0% 5 100% 4,004 49.4%
Source: 2018-2022 5-Year ACS
*The 2018-2022 5-Year ACS showed 0 Pacific Islander households; therefore, data from 2016-2020 was used.

Racially or Ethnically Concentrated Areas of Poverty
To be considered a racially or ethnically concentrated area, the non-white population must be greater than 50%, while neighborhoods of “extreme poverty” are regarded as census tracts with 40% or more of individuals living at or below the poverty line. Acco rding to the California Department of Public Health, the 2024 Federal Poverty Level is $20,783 for one individual, calculated by multiplying the national federal poverty level by 138%.

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Housing Profile
Housing Growth
The total number of housing units within the City of Visalia is 48,441 as of the 2020 US Census. This is a

9.6% increase from the 2010 US Census (44,205 housing units).

Table 18: City of Visalia Housing Unit Growth
(2010-2020)
2010 2020 Percent Growth
44,205 48,441 9.6%
Source: US Census, 2010 and 2020

Housing Unit Type
The housing stock within the City of Visalia is primarily single-family homes (1-unit, attached and detached).

In 2022, 76.6% of the housing stock consisted of single -family homes. Comparatively, in 2010, this figure was slightly higher at 77.8%. This indi cates a shift towards more multi -family developments within the city over the past twelve years. Notably, all housing unit types have experienced growth during this period, except for 10-to-19-unit buildings.

Source: 2022 1-Year American Community Survey (ACS)

Condition of Housing Units
A key indicator of the condition of housing units is the year the unit was built. The following tables display how many units were built within certain decades, as well as the percentage built before and after 1979, as many homes built before 1979 may contain lead-based paint.

Table 20: Housing Unit by Year Structure Built
Year Structure Built Number % of Total Units
Built 2020 or later 92 0.2%
Built 2020 to 2019 4,162 8.8%
Built 2000 to 2009 9,703 20.6%
Built 1990 to 1999 6,384 13.5%
Built 1980 to 1989 7,715 16.3%
Built 1970 to 1979 9,224 19.5%
Built 1960 to 1969 3,499 7.4%
Built 1950 to 1959 3,270 6.9%
Built 1940 to 1949 1,794 3.8%
Built 1939 or earlier 1,348 2.9%
Total 47,191 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ASC Housing Summary ESRI Forecasts for 2017-2021.

Table 19: City of Visalia Housing Unit Growth by Type
(2010-2022)
2010 2022
Unit
Type
Number of
Units
Percent of
Total
Number of
Units
Percent of
Total
1-unit, detached 32,460 74.8% 35,913 72.5%
1-unit, attached 1,315 3.0% 2,050 4.1%
2 units 2,410 5.6% 2,727 5.5%
3 or 4 units 2,484 5.7% 3,798 7.7%
5 to 9 units 1,299 3.0% 1,388 2.8%
10 to 19 units 607 1.4% 346 0.7%
20 or more units 1,148 2.6% 1,569 3.2%
Mobile home 1,605 3.7% 1,709 3.4%
Boat, RV, van, etc. 42 0.1% 50 0.1%
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Table 21: Age of Housing Stock
Total Housing Units Percent Built before 1979 Percent Built After 1979 47,191 40.6% 59.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ASC Housing Summary ESRI Forecasts for 2017-2021.

Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Although lead -based paint is hazardous, especially to children under six years old, it presents an opportunity for rehabilitation and mitigation, improving the long -term safety of the community. As can be seen in the table below, 16.8% of owner -occupied ho using units were built before 1980 with children present. Among renter -occupied households, this number increases to 28.8%, indicating there may be children at risk of being exposed to lead-based paint in both owner and renter-occupied housing units.

Table 22: Risk of Lead Based Paint Hazard
Owner-Occupied Renter-Occupied
Number Percentage Number Percentage
Total Number of Units
Built Before 1980
9,445 100% 8,495 100%
Housing Units Built
Before 1980 with
Children Present
1,585 16.8% 2,445 28.8%
Source: Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) 2016-2020

Housing Tenure (Own versus Rent and Vacant Units)
According to the US Census Bureau, 61.4% of households within Visalia own their homes, while 38.6% rent their homes. Homeownership is projected to increase until 2028, when the projected ownership percentage is 66.4%. Additionally, there is an overall vacancy rate of 3.9%, which is projected to decrease to 3.6% in 2028, indicating a further tightening in the market. According to the US Census Bureau, the rental vacancy rate in Visalia is 2.4%, showing that the rental housing market is even tighter than the owner- occupied housing market.

Table 23: City of Visalia Households by Tenure
2020 US Census
Census 2020 2023 2028
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Housing Units 48,513 100.0% 50,138 100.0% 50,824 100.0% Total Occupied Units 46,631 96.1% 48,166 96.1% 48,996 96.4% Owner-Occupied
HHs/Householder
28,653 61.4% 31,504 65.4% 32,532 66.4%
Renter-Occupied
HHs/Householder
17,978 38.6% 16,662 34.6% 16,464 33.6%
Vacant Units 1,882 3.9% 1,972 3.9% 1,828 3.6%
Source: US Census Bureau, Esri

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), developed by the Census Bureau for HUD, contains information on low - and moderate -income households and specifically identifies four primary housing problems experienced by households:1) housing unit lacks complete kitchen facilities; 2) housing unit lacks complete plumbing facilities; 3) household is overcrowded; and 4) household is cost burdened.

Of the renter occupied households within the City of Visalia, 51.5% fall within the low- to moderate-income bracket, and 55.2% experience one of the four CHAS -identified housing problems. These numbers are substantially higher than that of the owner -occupied housing units, of which 27.4% are earning a low -to moderate-income, and 26.1% are facing at least one of four housing problems.

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Table 24: Tenure Profile
Tenure Percent of All
Households
Percent Low and
Moderate Income
Housing Problems
Owner-Occupied 61.4% 27.4% 26.1%
Renter-Occupied 38.6% 51.5% 55.2%
All Households 100.0% 37.2% 37.3%
Source: CHAS 2016-2020, US Census Bureau

According to the 2022 1-Year American Community Survey (ACS), 98.2% of owner-occupied units have two or more bedrooms, while only 86% of renter-occupied units have two or more bedrooms. Additionally, there are a total of 28,743 owner-occupied units compared to 18,232 renter-occupied units.

Table 25: Unit Size by Tenure
Owners Renters
Number Percentage Number Percentage
No Bedroom 291 1.0% 993 5.4%
1 Bedroom 220 0.8% 1,561 8.6%
2 or 3 Bedrooms 19,539 68.0% 13,693 75.1%
4 or more
Bedrooms
8,693 30.2% 1,985 10.9%
Total 28,743 100.0% 18,232 100.0%
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Housing Costs
Over the past five years, the median home value in the City of Visalia has increased by 54.1%, with the median gross rent increasing by 53.4%. These increases are substantially greater than the previous five- year increase (2012-2017) of 43.8% and 4.3% for home value and gross rents, respectively.

Table 26: Median Home Value and Gross Rent
(2017-2022)
2012 2017 2022 Percent
Change
(2012-2017)
Percent
Change
(2017-2022)
Median Home
Value
$162,600 $233,900 $360,500 43.8% 54.1%
Median Gross
Rent
$927 $967 $1,483 4.3% 53.4%
Sources: 2012, 2017, and 2022 1-Year ACS

Rents in the City of Visalia are higher than the payment standard allotted by the Housing Authority of Tulare County for one - and four -bedroom units. The rents for all unit sizes exceed the overall rents in Tulare County as a whole. As remote work opportunities across various sectors became more available during the coronavirus pandemic, high earning households took advantage of the opportunity to reloc ate which contributed to a population increase and a surge in housing demand within the City of Visalia. A direct result in the surge in housing demand was a signi ficant increase in housing costs, which has resulted in lower - income Visalia residents no longer being able to afford to reside in their homes.

During the COVID -19 pandemic, remote work opportunities across various sectors expanded. Wealthier households seized this chance to relocate, resulting in a population surge in the City of Visalia. Recent data reflects a correlation between Visalia’s recen t population growth and the City’s substantial rise in housing demand, which, in turn, has resulted in escalated housing costs. As a result, lower-income residents in Visalia have experienced challenges being able to afford current housing prices. Current housing costs are reflected in the table below.

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Table 27: Average Rental Housing Prices
Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4+Bedroom
Housing Authority
Payment Standard
$1,270 $1,286 $1,689 $2,352 $2,478
City of Visalia $1,239 $1,490 $1,641 $2,003 $2,599
County of Tulare $879 $1,311 $1,510 $1,776 $2,421
Sources: Housing Authority County of Tulare (recent as of 4/8/2024); CoStar; Apartments.com (recent as of 4/8/2024)

For extremely low -income, very low -income, and low -income renters and homeowners, what would be defined as affordable (spending 30% of income or less on housing costs) is unachievable in the City of Visalia. With an average studio rental rate of $1,239, no extremely low- or very low-income household could afford a studio apartment in the City of Visalia, even if there were eight people within that household. An eight-person low-income household could not even comfortably afford a three-bedroom unit within the City of Visalia. As costs of homeownership are even greater than costs of renting due to increased utilities, property taxes, and insurance, owning is an even greater challenge for those households making less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). T he following charts show affordable rental rates and mortgage amounts for households making less than 80% of the AMI within the City of Visalia.

Table 28: City of Visalia Housing Affordability
Extremely Low-Income Renter Households (30% AMI)
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Extremely Low-Income
Annual Income
$18,450 $21,100 $25,820 $31,200 $36,580 $41,960 $47,340 $52,720 Affordable Gross Rent $461 $528 $646 $780 $915 $1,049 $1,184 $1,318 Utility Allowance $165 $184 $208 $242 $278 $316 $344 $377 Insurance $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16
Affordable Net
Rent
$281 $328 $422 $522 $621 $717 $824 $925
City of Visalia Housing Affordability
Very Low-Income Renter Households (50% AMI)
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Very Low-Income
Annual Income
$30,800 $35,200 $39,600 $43,950 $47,500 $51,000 $54,500 $58,050 Affordable Gross Rent $770 $880 $990 $1,099 $1,188 $1,275 $1,363 $1,451 Utility Allowance $165 $184 $208 $242 $278 $316 $344 $377 Insurance $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16
Affordable Net
Rent
$589 $680 $766 $841 $894 $943 $1,003 $1,058
City of Visalia Housing Affordability
Low-Income Renter Households (80% AMI)
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Low Income
Annual Income
$49,250 $56,250 $63,300 $70,300 $75,950 $81,550 $87,200 $92,800 Affordable Gross Rent $1,231 $1,406 $1,583 $1,758 $1,899 $2,039 $2,180 $2,320 Utility Allowance* $165 $184 $208 $242 $278 $316 $344 $377 Insurance $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16 $16
Affordable Net
Rent
$1,051 $1,207 $1,359 $1,500 $1,605 $1,707 $1,820 $1,927 Source: HUD User: Income Limits; Housing Authority of Tulare County; MarketWatch.com: Renter’s Insurance *Utility allowance assumes all utilities are being paid for by resident and was calculated using one bedroom less than person s in household (e.g. studio utilities used for a 1-person household). The average difference in utility allowance between 1 person through 6 person families was taken and added to the 6-person family utility allowance for the 7-person family utility allowance, and the same was done for the 8-person family.
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Table 29: City of Visalia Housing Affordability
Extremely Low-Income Owner Households (30% AMI)
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Extremely Low
Income
$18,450 $21,100 $25,820 $31,200 $36,580 $41,960 $47,340 $52,720 Affordable Monthly
Home Costs
$461 $528 $646 $780 $915 $1,049 $1,184 $1,318
Utility Allowance $172 $194 $218 $255 $290 $329 $372 $403 Insurance $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117
Taxes $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228
Affordable
Mortgage Amount
-$56 -$12 $82 $180 $279 $375 $466 $569
City of Visalia Housing Affordability
Very Low-Income Owner Households (50% AMI)
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Very Low Income $30,800 $35,200 $39,600 $43,950 $47,500 $51,000 $54,500 $58,050 Affordable Gross
Rent
$770 $880 $990 $1,099 $1,188 $1,275 $1,363 $1,451
Utility Allowance $172 $194 $218 $255 $290 $329 $372 $403 Insurance $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117
Taxes $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228
Affordable
Mortgage Amount
$253 $341 $427 $498 $552 $601 $645 $702
City of Visalia Housing Affordability
Low-Income Owner Households (80% AMI)
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Low Income $49,250 $56,250 $63,300 $70,300 $75,950 $81,550 $87,200 $92,800 Affordable Gross
Rent
$1,231 $1,406 $1,583 $1,758 $1,899 $2,039 $2,180 $2,320 Utility Allowance $172 $194 $218 $255 $290 $329 $372 $403 Insurance $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117 $117
Taxes $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228 $228
Affordable
Mortgage Amount
$714 $867 $1,019 $1,157 $1,263 $1,364 $1,463 $1,571
Sources: HUD User: Income Limits; Housing Authority of Tulare County; Smartasset.com; Insurance.com

HUD’s fair market rents for the Visalia-Porterville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) are shown below.

From 2023 to 2024, the fair market rents in the MSA have increased by 16.7%, a substantial one -year increase. Additionally, the fair market rent am ounts provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) within the MSA are substantially lower than the rental rates within the City of Visalia and Tulare County, which highlights rental units within the City of Visalia and Tulare County no t being affordable as defined by HUD.

Table 30: Final FY 2023 and 2024 FMRs by Unit Bedrooms
Visala-Porterville, CA MSA
Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom
FY 2024 FMR $977 $989 $1,299 $1,809 $2,065
FY 2023 FMR $825 $848 $1,116 $1,552 $1,790
Source: HUD User, 2024

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Housing Problems
HUD assesses housing need within a community according to several criteria:

• The number of households that are paying too much for housing • The number of households living in overcrowded units
• The number of households living in substandard housing conditions.

CHAS data below provides further details on housing cost burden and overcrowding. Both federal and industry standards define housing affordability thresholds as households not paying more than 30% of their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on housing costs. A household spending more than this amount is considered “cost burdened,” while a household allocating over 50% of their AGI to housing costs is classified as “severely cost burdened.”

Housing affordability is not inherently a fair housing concern. However, as evident from the charts in the preceding section, lower income disproportionately affects the availability of affordable housing options.

Consequently, this situation may lead lower-income households to reside in substandard housing.

Cost Burden
According to CHAS data from the 2016 -2020 ACS, 2,940 (11.3%) owner households are severely cost burdened within the City of Visalia. Of these, 1,710 are considered to be extremely low income (earning <30% of the AMI). In total, there are 3,050 renter house holds who are severely cost burdened, with 2,455 of these households being extremely low income.

Table 31: Total Percentage of Owner and Renter Cost Burden >50% Owner % Owner
Households
Renter % Renter
Households
Cost Burden
<=30%
19,340 74.5% 10,260 57.3%
Cost Burden >30%
to <=50%
3,570 13.8% 4,450 24.8%
Cost Burden >50% 2,940 11.3% 3,050 17.0%
Cost Burden Not
Available
110 0.4% 155 0.9%
Total 25,960 100.0% 17,915 100.0%
Source: CHAS 2016-2020

Table 32: Cost Burdened Renters by Income
Total Number of Renter Households
Household Income <= 30% HAMFI* 2,455
Household Income >30% to <=50% HAMFI 3,395
Household Income >50% to <=80% HAMFI 3,385
Household Income >80% to <=100% HAMFI 2,385
Household Income >100% HAMFI 6,300
Total 17,915
Source: CHAS 2016-2020 *HAMFI – HUD Area Median Family Income

Table 33: Cost Burdened Owners by Income
Total Number of Renter Households
Household Income <= 30% HAMFI 1,710
Household Income >30% to <=50% HAMFI 2,110
Household Income >50% to <=80% HAMFI 3,290
Household Income >80% to <=100% HAMFI 2,310
Household Income >100% HAMFI 16,535
Total 25,950
Source: CHAS 2016-2020

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Overcrowding
Households with 1.01 to 1.5 persons per room are considered overcrowded, while households with more than 1.51 persons per room are considered severely overcrowded. According to the 2022 1 -Year ACS, there are currently 970 total overcrowded owner-occupied units (3.4%) and 2,028 total overcrowded renter- occupied units (11.1%).

Table 34: Over Crowding
Owner and Renter Households

1.01 to 1.50
Occupants
per Room
>1.51
Occupants
per Room
Total
Overcrowded
Total
Occupied
Units
Percent
Overcrowded
Owner-Occupied 623 347 970 28,743 3.4%
Renter-Occupied 1,770 258 2,028 18,232 11.1%
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

Substandard Housing
As defined by HUD, housing without full plumbing and full kitchen facilities are considered substandard.

Without full plumbing and kitchen facilities is defined as:

• Without hot and cold piped water, a flush toilet and a bathtub or shower • Without a sink with piped water, a range or stove, or refrigerator

According to the most recent CHAS data, there are currently 445 renter households that are lacking complete plumbing or kitchen facilities, and 115 owner households lacking complete plumbing or kitchen facilities. It should be noted that 50 of the owner ho useholds with substandard housing make greater than 100% of the AMI, implying these homes may be undergoing renovations or are not full -time homes.

The 2022 1 -Year ACS provides further detail that there are 47 owner occupied homes lacking complete plumbing facilities and 103 owner occupied homes lacking complete kitchen facilities. There are 236 renter occupied homes lacking kitchen facilities and 0 renter occupied homes lacking complete plumbing facilities.

Table 35: Housing Problems by Income
Renter Households
0-30%
AMI
30-50%
AMI
50-80%
AMI
80-100%
AMI
>100%
AMI
Total
Lacking Complete
Plumbing or Kitchen
45 45 95 15 240 445
Housing Problems by Income
Owner Households
0-30%
AMI
30-50%
AMI
50-80%
AMI
80-100%
AMI
>100%
AMI
Total
Lacking Complete
Plumbing or Kitchen
0 10 55 0 50 115
Source: CHAS 2016-2020

Table 36: Lacking Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities
Owner and Renter Households
Without Complete
Plumbing Facilities
Without Complete Kitchen Facilities
Owner-Occupied 47 103
Renter-Occupied 0 236
Source: 2022 1-Year ACS

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Homelessness Statistics
National Homeless Estimates
The “Annual Homeless Assessment Report (“AHAR”) to Congress” prepared by HUD provides the best and most comprehensive insight into the current state of homelessness in the United States. It should be noted that the 2021 national Point-in-Time (“PIT”) counts were considerably impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the public health crisis, HUD encouraged c ommunities to determine whether conducting an unsheltered PIT count posed a high risk of exacerbating COVID -19 transmissions, given the lack of widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines at the time. As a result, less than half of communities conducted a full sheltered and unsheltered count. While this report includes some data on all people in sheltered locations in 2021, incomplete unsheltered data is not included. Analysis of changes over time are generally limited to those between 2022 and 2020 or earlier. Key changes in the sheltered population between 2021 and 2022 will be included in text boxes at the end of each chapter.

Key findings of the report with respect to the number of Homeless include/indicate:

On a Single Night in January 2023
• 653,100 people – or about 20 of every 10,000 people in the United States – experienced homelessness across the United States.
• Six in 10 people experiencing homelessness stayed in sheltered locations, and four in 10 were unsheltered, that is, staying in a place not meant for human habitation. • More than two-thirds of all people experiencing homelessness were in households with only adults (72%). Households with only adults staying in unsheltered locations comprised the largest single segment of the total population experiencing homelessness (37%), followed by individuals staying in shelters (35%). Twenty -eight percent of people experiencing homelessness did so as part of a family with at least one adult and one child under 18 years of age, and most people in families were sheltered.
• Less than one percent of people experiencing homelessness, 3,240 people, were unaccompanied children, people under 18 without a parent or guardian present.

Changes in Homelessness over Time
In 2022 and into 2023, many pandemic-related restrictions that were in place for emergency shelters during the PIT counts in 2021 expired.
• The number of people experiencing either sheltered or unsheltered homelessness increased substantially between 2022 and 2023, increasing by 70,642 people (or 12%). • Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people counted in unsheltered locations rose by ten percent or 22,778 people. The number of people staying in shelters increased by fourteen percent between 2022 and 2023 (47,864 more people).
• Given the recent increases in both the sheltered and unsheltered population, the number of all people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January is 0.9 percent higher (5,846 more people) than it was in 2007, when this data was first collected. Unsheltered homelessness increased by 0.3 percent (753 more people) over the longer period, despite steady increases over the past three years, with 30,530 more people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in 2023 than in 2020.

Demographic Characteristics of All people Experiencing Homelessness The AHAR has been reporting demographic information on people experiencing homelessness on a single night since 2017. In 2023, the ways in which people identified their gender changed considerably, expanding the gender identity categories to include “quest ioning” and allowing people to select more than one gender. As a result, any comparisons made to prior years should be viewed with caution as they are not exact comparisons.
• The demographic characteristics of people experiencing homelessness vary considerably by household type and shelter status and reflect the large percentage of individuals among the total population experiencing homelessness. Detailed characteristics are shown separately for individuals in Section 2 of this report and for families with children in Section 3. 857
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

• More than three-quarters (76%) of all people experiencing homelessness were adults aged 25 or older (494,048 people), 17 percent were children under the age of 18 (111,620 children). Seven percent were young adults aged 18 to 24 (47,436 young adults). • Among people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, nine of every ten people were adults aged 25 or older.
• Children – either in families or on their own – were most often staying in sheltered locations (59%) with 14,180 children counted in unsheltered locations in 2023. • Six of every 10 people experiencing homelessness were men or boys (61% or 395,160 men and boys), 38 percent were women or girls (250,009 women and girls), and one percent were transgender (4,087 people), did not identify as singularly female or male (3,089 people) or were questioning their gender identity (759 people). More than half of all people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who identified as transgender, not singularly female or male, or questioning were more likely to be in unsheltered locations versus sheltered locations (2% vs. 1%). • Nearly 4 of every 10 people experiencing homelessness identified as Black, African American, or African (37% or 243,624 people). A higher percentage of people in shelter identified as Black (45% or 176,325 people) compared to people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered locations (26% or 67,299). Half of all people experiencing homelessness identified as White (50% or 324,854 people). A higher share of the unsheltered population identified as White (57%) than the sheltered population (45%).
• Of the remaining 13 percent, six percent identified as more than one race, four percent identified as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous, two percent as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and two percent as Asian or Asian American.
• Almost one third of all people experiencing homelessness, 28 percent, were Hispanic or Latin(a)(o)(x) (counting people of all races who identify as Hispanic or Latin(a)(o)(x)). The proportion is slightly higher for people staying in unsheltered versus shel tered locations (28% and 26%).

Changes in Demographic Characteristics of All People Experiencing Homelessness Nationwide • National increases in homelessness were driven by increases in sheltered population among people over the age of 25. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people aged 25 and older who were experiencing sheltered homelessness increased by 29,071 people. Mean while, the number of unsheltered children (under age 18) increased by 13,112 people and the number of young adults (ages 18 to 24) increased by 5,681 people.
• Between 2022 and 2023, unsheltered homelessness rose by five percent among women and girls (3,380 people) and by two percent among men and boys (3,057 more people). These increases among the unsheltered population were offset by similar decreases in the sh eltered population.

Sheltered homelessness declined by three percent among women and girls between 2020 and 2022 (3,988 fewer people) and one percent among men and boys (2,432 fewer people). • Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness who identified as transgender or not singularly female or male increased in both sheltered and unsheltered locations.

The number of people who identified as transgender, not singularly female or male, or questioning their gender who were experiencing sheltered homelessness increased by thirty -one percent (798 more people). Unsheltered homelessness increased by fifteen percent among people who identified as neither female nor male (243 more people) and ten percent among people who identify as transgender (197 people). However, as noted above, these comparisons – as well as those for people identifying as any gender – should be viewed with caution due to the changed data collection methodology.
• Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness who identified as Black, African American, or African increased by fourteen percent (21,768 more people). The number of people who identified as more than one race declined by one percent (297 people). • Over the same time period, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased among all other racial groups, including an 18 percent increase among American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous.
• The number people experiencing homelessness who identified as Hispanic or Latin(a)(o)(x) increased by twenty-eight percent between 2022 and 2023. This reflects a considerable increase 858
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

in the number of people who identify as Hispanic and were experiencing sheltered homelessness, which increased by forty-three percent (33,772 people) between 2022 and 2023.

Nationwide Homeless Statistics

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

State of California CoC Homeless Estimates
Continuum of Care (“CoC”) Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations Reports provide counts for sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons by household type and subpopulation, available at the national and state level, and for each CoC. The reports are based on Point- in-Time (“PIT”) information provided to HUD by CoCs in the application for CoC Homeless Assistance Programs. The PIT Count provides a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night during the last ten days in January.

The HUD 2023 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations report offers an insight into the number of homeless individuals residing in the State of California. The report indicates that there was an estimated 154,028 homeless households within the State of California as of 11/20/2023. Of these individuals, 110,451 were considered to be “unsheltered” while the remainder (43,577) were considered to be in a shelter of some sort –either an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Age/Household Type
Across the entire homeless population, 10,096 were between the ages of 18 and 24, while 145,154 were over the age of 24. Homeless households with at least one adult and one child numbered approximately 25,483 and those comprised of only children totaled 66 6. Overall, the study indicated that across all households there were 181,399 homeless persons.

Demographics
Of the 181,399 homeless individuals:
• 66,951 were Hispanic/Latino (36.9%)
• 114,448 were non-Hispanic/non-Latino (63.1%)
• 60,459 were female (33.3%)
• 117,492 were male (64.8%)
• 3,189 were considered transgender or non-conforming (1.8%)

Table 37: State of California Breakdown by Race
Sub-group Number of
Individuals
Percentage of All Homeless
Individuals
Black/African-American 53,369 29.4%
White 96,385 53.1%
Asian 7,012 3.9%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 8,589 4.7%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 3,413 1.9%
Multiple Races 12,631 7.0%

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Other Reporting Information
Several other populations/classifications of homeless individuals were also reported in the HUD 2023 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations report. The number of homeless individuals within these subgroups is represented in this table, as well as the percentage of all homeless individuals that fall into these subgroups. It is important to note that individuals may belong to multiple categories of sub -group (such as an individual who is severely mentally ill a nd is a veteran). The following are further sub-groups of the homeless population:

Table 38: State of California Homeless Sub-Group Populations Sub-group Number of
Individuals
Percentage of All Homeless
Individuals
Severely Mentally Ill 45,222 24.9%
Chronic Substance Abuse 43,047 23.7%
Veterans 10,589 5.8%
HIV/AIDS 3,353 1.8%
Victims of Domestic Abuse 34,445 19.0%
Unaccompanied Youth 10,173 5.6%
Parenting Youth 1,046 0.6%
Children of Parenting Youth 1,173 0.6%

Table 39: State of California CoC Homeless Estimates
(2016-2023)

Year Number
Homeless of
Households
% Change Number
Homeless of
Persons
% Change
2016 99,675 - 118,142 -
2017 114,072 14.4% 134,278 13.7%
2018 109,394 -4.1% 129,792 -3.3%
2019 127,448 16.5% 151,278 16.6%
2020 136,358 7.0% 161,548 6.8%
2021* 42,309 - 57,468 -
2022 145,854 - 171,521 -
2023 154,028 5.6% 181,399 5.8%
Average 126,690 7.9% 149,708 7.9%
*In 2021, HUD gave communities the option to cancel or modify the unsheltered survey portion of their counts based on the potential risk of COVID -19 transmission associated with conducting an in -person survey. As a result, HUD has excluded the unsheltered population sub-totals and all unsheltered sub-population data for this reporting period. The user is cautioned that the total homeless counts reported here are missing data. Users may refer to the CoC -level reports to review the unsheltered PIT count numbers for CoCs that conducted an unsheltered PIT count.

CA-513: Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties CoC
The HUD 2023 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations report offers an insight into the number of homeless individuals residing in the CA -513:

Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties CoC. The report indicates that there were 1,284 homeless households within CA-513: Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties CoC as of 11/19/2023. Of these households, 997 were considered to be “unsheltered” while the remainder (287) were considered to be in a shelter of some sort –either an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Age/Household Type
Across the entire homeless population, 203 were between the ages of 18 and 24, while 1,267 were over the age of 24. Homeless households with at least one adult and one child numbered approximately 191 and those comprised of only children totaled 0. Overall, the study indicated that across all households there were 1,470 homeless people.

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Demographics
Of the 1,470 homeless individuals:
• 728 were Hispanic/Latino (49.5%)
• 742 were non-Hispanic/non-Latino (50.5%)
• 557 were female (37.9%)
• 909 were male (61.8%)
• 4 were considered transgender or non-conforming (less than 1%)

Table 40: Breakdown by Race
Sub-group Number of
Individuals
Percentage of All Homeless
Individuals
Black/African-American 158 10.7%
White 1,114 75.8%
Asian 11 0.7%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 124 8.4%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 12 0.8%
Multiple Races 51 3.5%
Hispanic/Latino 728 49.5%
Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino 742 50.5%

Other Reporting Information
Several other populations/classifications of homeless individuals were also reported in the HUD 2023 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations report. The number of homeless individuals within these subgroups is represented in this table, as well as the percentage of all homeless individuals that fall into these subgroups. It is important to note that individuals may belong to multiple categories of sub -group (such as an individual who is severely mentally ill a nd is a veteran). The following are further sub-groups of the homeless population:

Table 41: Homeless Sub-Group Populations
Sub-group Number of
Individuals
Percentage of All Homeless
Individuals
Severely Mentally Ill 547 37.2%
Chronic Substance Abuse 542 36.9%
Veterans 92 6.3%
HIV/AIDS 16 1.1%
Victims of Domestic Abuse 132 9.0%
Unaccompanied Youth 72 4.9%
Parenting Youth 2 0.1%
Children of Parenting Youth 3 0.2%

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Table 42: CA-513: Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties CoC
Estimates (2016-2023)

Year Number
Homeless of
Households
% Change Number
Homeless of
Persons
% Change
2016 626 - 792 -
2017 716 14.4% 853 7.7%
2018 801 11.9% 967 13.4%
2019 908 13.4% 1,064 10.0%
2020 1,105 21.7% 1,297 21.9%
2021* 373 - 494 -
2022 1,082 - 1,235 -
2023 1,284 18.7% 1,470 19.0%
Average 932 16.0% 1,097 14.4%
*In 2021, HUD gave communities the option to cancel or modify the unsheltered survey portion of their counts based on the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission associated with conducting an in -person survey. As a result, HUD has excluded the unsheltered population sub-totals and all unsheltered sub-population data for this reporting period. The user is cautioned that the total homeless counts reported here are missing data. Users may refer to the CoC -level reports to review the unsheltered PIT count numbers for CoCs that conducted an unsheltered PIT count.

Visalia, CA Homeless Estimates
The Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance (“KTHA”) conducts a Point in Time count within Kings and Tulare County, and further breaks down the data by city, including the City of Visalia. The following homeless information for the City of Visalia is taken from the KTHA 2023 Point in Time Report.

Table 43: Homeless Populations, City of Visalia
Sub-group Number of
Individuals
Percentage of All Homeless
Individuals
Unsheltered 294 67.7%
Emergency Shelter 83 19.1%
Transitional Housing 57 13.1%
Veterans 37 8.5%
Disabled 161 37.1%
Unaccompanied Youth 25 5.8%

Age/Household Type
Across the entire homeless population, 28 were between the ages of 18 and 24, 27 were under the age of 18, and 379 were over the age of 24. There were 25 homeless unaccompanied youth and overall, the study indicated that across all households there were 434 homeless persons.

Demographics
Of the 434 homeless individuals:
• 203 were Hispanic/Latino (46.8%)
• 222 were non-Hispanic/non-Latino (51.2%)
• 9 were an unknown ethnicity (2.1%)
• 139 were female (67.7%)
• 294 were male (32.0%)
• 1 were considered transgender or non-conforming (less than 1%)

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Table 44: Breakdown by Race
Sub-group Number of Individuals Percentage of All Homeless Individuals
Black/African-American 27 6.2%
White 332 76.5%
Asian 5 1.2%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 35 8.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 3 0.7%
Multiple Races 12 2.8%
Unknown 20 4.6%

Table 45: City of Visalia Point in Time Trends (2016-2023) Year Number of
Homeless
Individuals
% Change Number of Chronically
Homeless Individuals
% Change
2016 322 - 78 -
2017 410 27.3% 130 66.7%
2018 462 12.7% 115 -11.5%
2019 481 4.1% 111 -3.5%
2020 540 12.3% 167 50.5%
2021* - - - -
2022 469 - 108 -
2023 434 -7.5% 133 23.1%
Average 445 9.8% 120 25.0%
*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data was not collected for 2021.

National Veteran Homeless Estimates
“The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (“AHAR”) to Congress” is produced annually and is the single federal estimate on veteran homelessness.

The 2021 national Point -in-Time (PIT) counts were considerably impacted by the COVID -19 pandemic.

During the public health crisis, HUD encouraged communities to determine whether conducting an unsheltered PIT count posed a high risk of exacerbating COVID -19 transmissions, given the lack of widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines at the time. As a result, less than half of communities conducted a full sheltered and unsheltered count. While this report includes some data on all veterans in sheltered locations in 2021, incomplete unsheltered data is not included. Analysis of changes over time are generally limited to those between 2023 and 2022 or earlier. Key changes in the sheltered population between 2021 and 2022 will be included in text boxes at the end of each chapter. Communities began reporting PIT data on veterans experiencing homelessness in 2009. As such, this report uses 2009 as the baseline measure of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States.

Key findings of the report with respect to the number of Homeless Veterans include/indicate:

On a Single Night in January 2023
• 35,574 veterans were experiencing homelessness in the U.S., approximately seven percent of all adults experiencing homelessness.
• Of every 10,000 veterans in the United States, 22 were experiencing homelessness. It is somewhat more common for veterans to experience homelessness than for all people in the United States (20 people out of every 10,000).
• Nearly all veterans were experiencing homelessness as individuals, 98 percent. Of those individuals, thirty percent (10,533 veterans) had chronic patterns of homelessness. • About six in 10 veterans experiencing homelessness were staying in sheltered locations (56% or 20,067 veterans). This is higher than the share of all individuals experiencing homelessness who were sheltered, 49 percent.
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• Two percent of veterans experiencing homelessness (720 veterans) were in family households with children (representing 694 households). Overall, 38,893 people experiencing homelessness were in households that included a veteran.
• Veterans experiencing homelessness as families with children were sheltered at a higher rate than veterans experiencing homelessness as individuals (77% vs. 56%), but at a lower rate than all families with children experiencing homelessness (91%).

Changes in Veteran Homelessness over Time
Given that more than half of communities did not conduct full unsheltered counts in 2021, changes over time are limited to those between 2023 and 2022 or earlier. • Between 2022 and 2023, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness increased by seven percent (2,445 more people). The increase occurred in both sheltered and unsheltered locations. • HUD began collecting data on veterans experiencing homelessness in 2009. Overall, veteran homelessness decreased by fifty -two percent between 2009 and 2023 (37,793 fewer veterans).

This decrease occurred across sheltered and unsheltered locations, both of which also decreased by fifty-four and forty-eight percent, respectively (23,342 fewer sheltered veterans and 14,451 fewer unsheltered veterans).

Demographic Characteristics of Homeless Veterans
The AHAR has been reporting demographic information on people experiencing homelessness on a single night since 2017. In 2023, the ways in which people identified their gender changed considerably, expanding the gender identity categories to include “quest ioning” and allowing people to select more than one gender. As a result, any comparisons made to prior years should be viewed with caution as they are not exact comparisons.
• Men accounted for almost nine of every ten veterans experiencing homelessness in 2023 (88% or 31,231 veterans), which is close to the 90 percent of all homeless veterans in the U.S. who are men.
• Women veterans experiencing homelessness were much more likely to be in a household with a child under 18 years of age (8%) than their male counterparts (1%). • In contrast to the population of individuals experiencing homelessness, in which women were more likely to be sheltered, women veterans experiencing homelessness were more likely to be found in unsheltered locations than their male counterparts (54% vs. 42%). • The highest percentage of veterans experiencing homelessness were White (57%), followed by veterans who were Black, African American, or African (31%). This pattern is consistent across veterans experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness. • People who identify as Black, African American, or African were considerably overrepresented among veterans experiencing homelessness. Black veterans comprised 36 percent of veterans experiencing sheltered homelessness and 25 percent of veterans experienci ng unsheltered homelessness compared with 12 percent of all U.S. veterans. Conversely, while 57 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness were White, they were underrepresented compared to their share of all U.S. veterans (75%).
• The percentage of veterans experiencing homelessness who identify as Hispanic/Latin(a)(o)(x) was considerably smaller than the percentage of Hispanics among people experiencing homelessness as individuals (13% vs. 24%).

Changes in Demographics over Time
• The only demographic group that did not see an increase between 2022 and 2023 was veterans who identify as gender questioning, which stayed approximately the same (9 fewer veterans). • From 2022 to 2023, the largest percentage increase in veterans experiencing homelessness occurred among those who identify as Asian or Asian American (fifty-one percent increase, or 204 more veterans).
• Both male and female veterans experiencing homelessness increased, with an additional 1,839 male veterans experiencing homelessness between 2022 and 2023.

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Nationwide Homeless Statistics

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Based on the research conducted from multiple sources, it is clear that veterans make up a disproportionate share of homeless people and are overrepresented. It is estimated that veterans represent anywhere between 6.6 and 26 percent of the homeless population but only 8.3 percent of the civilian population 18 years and older.
• 6.6 percent of the homeless population are Veterans
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• “Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness: The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.“

• 16 percent of the homeless population are Veterans
• Abt Associates Inc. and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans.
• Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress”

• 23 percent of the homeless population are Veterans
• U.S. Interagency Council on the Homeless (USICH)
• “The Forgotten Americans-Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve”

• 26 percent of the homeless population are Veterans
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• “Vital Mission-Ending Homelessness Among Veterans”

Additional homelessness and Veteran data within the State of California, Tulare County, and the City of Visalia is reported by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Housing Assistance Council, and the United States Census Bureau.
• 40.9 percent of homeless Veterans are unsheltered
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• “State of Homelessness: 2022 Edition”

• 10,395 (6.1 percent) homeless people were Veterans within the State of California during 2022
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• “SOH: State and CoC Dashboards”

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• 1,288 (9.4 percent) of Veterans within Tulare County are below the poverty line • United States Census Bureau
• S2101: Veteran Status – 2022 ACS 1-Year Estimates

• 4,858 (35.6 percent) of Veterans within Tulare County have a disability • United States Census Bureau
• S2101: Veteran Status – 2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates

• 469 (8.0 percent) of Veterans within the City of Visalia are below the poverty line • United States Census Bureau
• S2101: Veteran Status – 2022 ACS 1-Year Estimates

• 2,213 (37.8 percent) of Veterans within the City of Visalia have a disability • United States Census Bureau
• S2101: Veteran Status – 2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates

• 1,235 people were homeless within CA-513: Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties CoC during 2022 • National Alliance to End Homelessness
• “SOH: State and CoC Dashboards”

• 67 (5.4 percent) homeless people were Veterans within CA -513: Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties CoC during 2022
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• “SOH: State and CoC Dashboards”

Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk of homelessness because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, dismal living conditions in hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing. It should also be noted that the estimated number of veteran homeless do es not include those who were at risk of homelessness. Based on estimates provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ “Vital Mission -Ending Homelessness Among Veterans” report, an additional 89,553 to 467,877 veterans were potentially at risk of homelessness.

Recent Presidential Administrations’ decisions to drawdown a considerable number of troops from Afghanistan, Iraq and the greater Middle East Region will likely increase the number of veterans throughout the Nation in the next several years. The impact of these decisions on veterans and the time lag between becoming a veteran and potentially experiencing homelessness is not clear. The rate of homelessness among this group could rise as the time since coming home increases. Veterans with personal resources and a strong support network may avoid homelessness for many years or avert it altogether, while others with fewer resources and support may become homeless more quickly.

Public Housing
The Housing Authority of Tulare County (HATC) is the governing body of the Housing Choice voucher program and Public Housing within Tulare County as well as the City of Visalia. These programs work to provide rental assistance to extremely low and very low -income households. Income qualifying residents pay 30 to 40% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) towards rent, while HUD pays the remaining portion of the rent directly to the landlord on behalf of the resident. In total, the HATC provides 1,123 vouchers to residents across the county to help extremely low- and low-income households maintain rental affordability.

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Table 46: Program Type
Public
Housing
Section 8 Vouchers
Total Project
Based
Vouchers
Tenant
Based
Vouchers
Special
Purpose -
VASH
Total Units/Vouchers
in Use
166 1,123 63 1,040 20
Resident Characteristics
Average Annual
Income
$36,040 $25,218 $17,189 $25,816 $19,441
Disabled Families 60 499 45 445 9
Families Requesting
Accessibility Features
12 30 1 29 0
Source: Housing Authority of Tulare County, 2024

Public Housing Units In Visalia
HATC has 179 Public Housing units within the City of Visalia . These units are predominantly within the denser parts of the city, which can be seen on the following page. Each red point on the map represents one public housing unit , while the white dots represent multi -unit developments. In total, these developments account for 110 Public Housing units within the City of Visalia. 869
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City of Visalia Public Housing Units

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Housing Choice Vouchers
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) is a rental subsidy program that helps families and seniors with incomes up to 50% of the AMI. Voucher holders pay 30% of their AGI towards the units contract rent, with the HATC paying the remaining amount through federal funds, up to the payment standards.

The Tenant Based Section 8 HCV Program allows very low -income households to rent units owned by private landlords, so long as the private landlord accepts these vouchers. The average annual income for a Project Based Voucher within the City of Visalia is $ 17,189, while the households with Tenant Based Vouchers have an average income of $25,816. As of April 2024, rents within Visalia range from $1,239 to $2,599 for a studio to four-bedroom unit. These rents range from 86.5% to 181.4% of a household’s income that has a Project Based Voucher, and 57.6% to 120.8% of a household’s income with a Tenant Based Voucher.

Data provided by the HATC indicates they administer 1,123 Section 8 vouchers within the City of Visalia alone. Of these households, 499 (44.4%) are held by disabled families. With nearly half of voucher holders being disabled families, the need for affordable and accessible housing is apparent.

The map on the following page represents units within the City of Visalia with Section 8 Vouchers.

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City of Visalia Section 8 Voucher Units

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Waiting Lists
Currently there are 13,844 families on the waiting list for HCVs in the County of Tulare. Of these families, 9,233 (66.7%) were extremely low income and 3,009 (21.7%) were very low income. Additionally, there are 16,132 families on the waiting list for Pub lic Housing within the City of Visalia. Of these families, 11,333 (70.3%) are extremely low income and 3,143 (19.5%) are very low income. A majority of families on the waiting lists are Hispanic with incomes between 0 to 50% AMI.

Table 47: Demographics of HATC Waiting Lists
Housing Choice
Voucher -
County
Public
Housing -
Visalia
Project Based
Rental Assistance
Number of Families on Waiting List 13,844 16,132 320
Extremely Low Income (0-30% AMI) 9,233 11,333 213
Very Low Income (31-50% AMI) 3,009 3,143 72
Low Income (51-80% AMI) 1,135 1,212 27
Families with Children 7,748 8,568 11
Elderly Families 1,063 1,608 265
Families with Disabilities 3,281 3,852 188
Waiting List by Race
White 10,193 12,987 270
Black 2,250 1,856 28
Asian 344 318 11
American Indian/Native Hawaiian 1,057 971 11
Waiting List by Ethnicity
Hispanic 8,255 9,728 127
Non-Hispanic 5,589 6,404 193
Source: Housing Authority of Tulare County, 2024
Assisted Housing
When setting goals to overcome the contributing factors and other related fair housing issues, a balanced approach is recommended. This approach may include place -based solutions to improve areas and pursuing options to increase mobility for protected clas ses. Place-based solutions may include economic development and investments in high poverty neighborhoods, as well as efforts to maintain and preserve the existing affordable rental housing stock. This affordable rental housing stock can include multifamil y and age restricted developments that are funded with additional government assistance to maintain affordability, such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit ( LIHTC) Section 42 tax credits, funding from HUD, HOME Funds. The table on the following page indicates developments within the City of Visalia that were partially funded by these programs and are therefore targeting lower income groups.

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Table 48: Affordable Housing Developments within the City of Visalia Name of
Development
Address Sponsor Funding Sources Year Built/Funds
Provided
# of Units Type/Target
Income Groups
Clark Court 626-630 East
Tulare Avenue
HATC RHCP 1983 24 Supportive
Housing
Visalia Garden
Villas
4901-5075 West
Crenshaw Avenue
HATC LIHTC, RHCP 1987 60 Senior; very low &
low-income
Westport Village 3123 South
Avocado Street
TCHA LIHTC 1989 25 Senior; low &
moderate income
Fairview Village 2700 North Willis
Street
HATC LIHTC,CDBG 1994 8 Very low-income
Willowbrook
Estates
1819 North Tipton
Street
TCHA Visalia RDA,
HOME
1996 10 Low-income
Kimball Court 303 West Kimball
Avenue
HATC Visalia RDA,
LIHTC
1999 95 Senior; very low &
low-income
The Meadows 3900 West Tulare
Avenue
Christian Church
Homes
Visalia RDA 2001 99 Senior; low-
income
Transitional
Mental Health
546 East Tulare
Avenue
TCHA Visalia RDA,
HOME
2003 17 Very low-income
Oak Meadows 111 West School
Avenue
Christian Church
Homes
HUD 2004 60 Senior; low-
income
Mill Creek
Parkway Family
Apartments
3433 Manzanita
Avenue
Buckingham
Property
Management
Visalia RDA 2007 70 Low & Moderate
Income
Robinwood Court 5817-5842 West
Robinwood Court
HATC HOME, Visalia

RDA, LIHTC
2008 10 Very low, low &
moderate-income
TMHSA Housing 653, 657, 701
East Tulare
Avenue
HATC HUD 2009 22 Supportive
Housing
Encina Triplex 301 West Encina Kaweah
Management
HOME, Visalia
RDA
2009 3 Very low-income
Sierra Meadows
Senior
Apartments
1120 East Tulare
Avenue
Christian Church
Homes

HUD, HOME,
LIHTC
2011 43 Senior; low-
income
Paradise & Court
Apartments
1526 South Court
Street
City of Visalia;
VIAAH; Kaweah
Management
HOME, Visalia

RDA, LIHTC
2012 20 Very low-income
Confidential Confidential Confidential Visalia RDA,
HOME
2012 3 Very low-income
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Affordable Housing Developments within the City of Visalia (continued)
Name of
Development
Address Sponsor Funding Sources Year Built/Funds
Provided
# of Units Type/Target
Income Groups
East Kaweah 632-644 East
Kaweah Avenue
TCHA Visalia RDA 2013 8 Very low & low-
income
Highland Gardens 2401 North
Highland Street
Self Help
Enterprises
HOME, LIHTC 2016 36 Very low & low-
income
Santa Fe Triplex 617-619 South
Santa Fe Street
TCHA Visalia RDA 2017 6 Very low &
moderate-income
Encina Self-Help
Enterprises
517-527 North
Encina Street
Self Help
Enterprises
HOME 2018 6 Very low, low &
moderate-income
Town Meadows 115 W. Murray
Avenue
Thomas Safran &
Associates
Development, Inc.

LIHTC, HUD 2018 100 Senior; supportive
housing
Myrtle Avenue
Senior
Apartments
4316 West Myrtle
Avenue
Pacific West
Communities, Inc.

LIHTC 2021 66 Senior; very low &
low-income
Lofts at Fort
Visalia
300 E. Oak Ave Self-Help
Enterprises

LIHTC, HOME,
Visalia RDA
2021 80 Supportive
Housing (40); low-
income
Rancho Colegio North Court Street
and East Glendale
Avenue
Self-Help
Enterprises
LIHTC, HOME 2023 80 Very low-income
Demaree Street
Apartments
North Demaree
Street & Houston
Avenue
Pacific West
Communities, Inc.

LIHTC 2023 222 Very low, low &
moderate-income

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Access to Opportunity
The choice of housing is influenced significantly by its location, not just its affordability. This aspect is crucial because the functionality and well -being of households in the local economy depend on their proximity to essential services like jobs and schools. Ensuring that housing is well-situated relative to these services is vital for economic stability and growth. Additionally, access to reliable public transportation is a fundamental requirement for many individuals and families. For some, the ability to access employment and educational opportunities hinges on the availability of convenient and safe public transportation options, such as bus shelters. This consideration is particularly important for lower -income households or those without private vehicles, highlighting the need for inclusive urban planning that integrates affordable housing with accessible transportation networks.

Public Transit
Visalia Transit (VT) operates twelve (12) bus routes that serve Visalia, Farmersville, Exeter, Goshen, and Tulare. VT connects with Tulare InterModal Express (TIME), Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT), Kings Area Regional Transit and Greyhound. TIME operates seven (7) bus routes that link Tulare and Visalia, facilitating connections with VT and TCaT which operates nine (9) routes connecting to Dinuba, Woodlake, Lindsay, Porterville, Delano, and other locations throughout Tulare County. To accommodate cyclists, all fixed-route buses in Tulare County are equipped with bike racks . The VT fixed route service provides convenient transportation to local schools: Divisadero, Valley Oak, Green Acres, La Joya, Golden West, Mt. Whitney, Redwood, Sequoia, El Diamante, College of the Sequoias, San Joaquin Valley College, Fresno Pacific, Visalia Adult School, and Brandman University . Visalia also provides Paratransit service on the Dial-A-Ride. The Visalia Transit Dial -a-Ride service is a curb -to-curb service designed to provide comparable paratransit service for individuals with disabilities who are not able to use the fixed route service. Coming soon, Visalia Transit is working with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) to participate in a TCAG -funded countywide 3 -year micro transit pilot p roject to provide more efficient and direct connections within the existing transit system countywide.

In addition, Visalia Transit operates the V-Line which provides shuttle service between Visalia and Fresno six times per day, seven days per week for students, travelers, and commu ters. The V-Line connects to the Visalia Airport, Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno State University, and Fresno’s Courthouse Park with connections to the Fresno Area Express, Fresno’s public transit system. The City of Visalia also provides the Sequoia Shuttle during the summer months (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) with service to the Sequoia National Park, as well as the Sequoia Park internal shuttle which provides transportation throughout to this nearby natural resource.

The availability and efficiency of public transit can significantly impact residents' ability to access employment, education, and other essential services. The extensive bus network provided by Visalia Transit, TIME, and TCaT highlights efforts to ensure mobility across the region. However, it is important to assess whether these services are meeting the needs of all residents, especially those from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. Equipping buses with bike racks indic ates an effort to support mult imodal transportation, promoting greater flexibility and access for individuals who may rely on bicycles for part of their journey. This feature is particularly beneficial in increasing the catchment area for public transit users, thereby enhancing accessibility. Furthermore, the integration of services between different transit providers (TIME, TCaT, and VT) suggests a coordinated approach to regional transportation planning. This coordination is essential for creating a seamless travel experience, reducin g barriers to movement, and ensuring that transit-dependent populations can efficiently reach their destinations.

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