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The city of Saratoga is making strides in complying with the housing standards set by the Association of Bay Area Governments, despite a long battle and unsuccessful pleas with the organization to reduce the numbers of low-income housing allocations from 539 to 223 units.
According to the numbers pulled by Community Development Director Tom Sullivan, who updated the current housing element and spearheaded the overwhelming project of finding suitable locations for the homes, the city has obtained 514 permits to build homes accommodating groups with very low income to those with above moderate levels.
"We've done a wonderful job," said Sullivan.
Of the 514 new housing units, 49 fall under the very low income category, which is 26 below the number set by the organization. Of the 36 allotted for the low-income group, only one building permit has been issued.
In addition, 108 units are set aside for the moderate-income group.
ABAG's housing allotment is not a legal mandate, but it does have incentives for the city. Under the state housing law, cities qualify for community development grants only after meeting the organization's standards.
This is important for many residents like housing advocate Betty Feldheym, who said that complying with ABAG would be a step towards creating affordable housing for residents who really need it.
"The housing crisis in the county is awful," said Feldheym. "There are people sleeping in their cars and under bridges. There are undoubtedly people with low-income levels in Saratoga, but it's just not as obvious as it is in other cities."
Feldheym, who works with clients at the Low-Income Self Help Center in San Jose, said that a majority of those affected by the rising cost of homes are seniors, custodians, restaurant employees and nurses. She said that many end up compromising their health insurance in order to meet living expenses.
"Residents should not have to pay more than 30 percent of their income to pay for housing," she said.
Feldheym, who is also the co-chairwoman of the Housing Committee, has been a major activist in obtaining local endorsements from various nonprofit organizations and city officials for the National Housing Trust Fund, which is a federal legislation that would serve as a source of revenue for the production of new housing and the preservation of existing homes that residents with low income can afford.
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