Willow Glen Resident

News

San Jose explores ways to deal with housing dilemma

By Monica Heger

The shortage of affordable housing combined with a stagnant economy and budget cuts does not bode well for San Jose's low-income residents.

Every year, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city is charged with drafting a plan that addresses housing and community development needs.

The public is given an opportunity to comment on the plan and express its concerns. The city council meeting on April 11 marked the beginning of the public hearing, which will end on May 5.

The plan for fiscal year 2006-07 gave an overview of different affordable housing programs it would fund, as well as programs that aid the homeless population. It also identified home ownership programs. Included in the plan was a projection for the development of about 1,000 new units for extremely low, very low and low-income individuals or families.

However, some told the council that the plan did not adequately address the needs of extremely low-income families and the homeless population.

Saul Wachter, from the Affordable Housing Network, told council members at the April 11 public hearing there is a shortage of 24,800 units for extremely low-income families and that the city needs do a better job of addressing that gap.

Sandy Perry from the Community Homeless Alliance Ministry agreed and said, "A higher percentage of funds needs to be allocated to extremely low-income families."

Perry said according to the plan, the city will create only 5 percent of the needed 24,800 units over the next five years.

"That's inadequate," Perry said, "because they're meeting the need for ELI units in 100 years. It goes against our moral principles to allow people to be homeless in the richest valley in the richest country in the world."

The public comment period for the plan will end on May 5. The final plan is set to be adopted at the city council meeting on May 9.