03 & 27
Jennifer L. Hall
From:Cynthia Guerra <cynthiag@kennedycommission.org>
Sent:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 5:06 PM
To:City Clerk
Cc:Public Comment; Cesar C; paul.mcdougall@hcd.ca.gov; Megan.Kirkeby@hcd.ca.gov
Subject:Letter of re: City Council Agenda Items 1, 3, 14, 27 (4.27.2021)
Attachments:Ltr_Anaheim_ City Council Item 1 & 14 _4.27.2021.pdf; Ltr_Anaheim_ City Council Item
3 & 27_4.27.2021.pdf
Hi,
Please find the attached letter on behalf of the Kennedy Commission addressing the following item on
today's Anaheim City Council meeting agenda (4.27.2021):
Item 1 and 14:
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ANAHEIM AND
ANAHEIM BALLET FOR THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF THE EXISTING CULTURAL
ARTS BUILDING OR LEASE OF A REPLACEMENT SITE
Item 3:
RESOLUTION OF THE ANAHEIM HOUSING AUTHORITY REGARDING ITS
INTENTION TO ISSUE TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS FOR CENTER OF HOPE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING APARTMENTS
Item 27:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM ADOPTING A
RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 147(f) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986 APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY THE ANAHEIM HOUSING AUTHORITY
FOR CENTER OF HOPE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING APARTMENTS
Please confirm receipt of this email and let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Cynthia Guerra
Cynthia Guerra
The Kennedy Commission
Policy Analyst
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
1
April 27, 2021
www.kennedycommission.org
17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92614
Mayor Harry Sidhu and City Council Members
949 250 0909
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Boulevard
Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 3 and 27 Center of Hope Permanent Supportive Housing Apartments
Dear Mayor Harry Sidhu and Council Members:
The Kennedy Commission (the Commission), a broad-based coalition of residents and community
organizations, advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $27,000
annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has successfully partnered and worked with
Orange County jurisdictions to create effective housing and land-use policies that have led to the new
construction of homes affordable to lower-income working families.
The Commission encourages the Anaheim Housing Authority to issue bonds and a tax-exempt
obligation to facilitate the development of the Center of Hope Permanent Supportive Housing
Apartments.
The City has produced insufficient amounts of affordable housing during the current Housing
Element Planning Period (2014-2021) This development will provide much needed affordable housing. For
the 2014-2021 Housing Element planning period, the City has a Regional Housing Needs Assessment
(RHNA) of 1,256 very low- and 907 low-income households. To-date, the City has built 308 or 25% of the
1
1,256 very low-income units and 160 or 18% of the 907 low-income units. However, for the above
moderate-income units, the City outperformed and exceeded the RHNA by constructing 7,644 or 306% of
the 2,501 above moderate-income RHNA.2 The City currently has a remaining RHNA need of 1,695 lower
The 72 units this project will provide are needed to help
income homes.
lower income housing need.
The need to prioritize the production of affordable housing is even more urgent given RHNA
allocations for the 2021-2029 Housing Element planning period. TRHNA allocation for the very
low and low income level for the upcoming planning period are 3,767 and 2,397, respectively.3 That is a total
of 6,164 lower income homes, which is almost three times larger than the previous RHNA allocation at these
levels. The City will have a difficult time meeting its current and upcoming lower income RHNA needs if it
continues to use its available land for the development of above moderate homes. Time is overdue for the
City to develop policies and programs that will increase production at the very low and low income levels.
We look forward to working with the City to encourage effective housing policies that will help create
balanced housing development and create much-needed affordable housing in our local communities. If you
have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (949) 250-0909 or cesarc@kennedycommission.org.
Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
cc: Ms. Megan Kirkeby, Deputy Director, Housing Policy Development, CA HCD
Mr. Paul McDougall, Housing Manager, CA HCD
1 Annual Housing Element Progress Report, March 22, 2021.
20 Annual Housing Element Progress Report, March 22, 2021.
2
3 https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/6th-cycle-rhna-proposed-final-
allocation-plan.pdf?1614911196
Working for systemic change resulting in the production of homes affordable to -income households