HomeMy WebLinkAboutCESAR COVARRUBIAS, KENNEDY COMMISSION ,Xennedy
September 15, 2020
www.kennedycomniission.org
17701 Cowan Ave.,Suite 200
Irvine,CA 92614
949 250 0909
Mayor Dr. Allan Bernstein
City of Tustin
300 Centennial Way
Tustin, CA 92780
RE: Tustin Housing Authority Annual Report
Dear Mayor Dr. Allan Bernstein and City Council Members:
The Kennedy Commission(the Commission) is a broad based coalition of residents and
community organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families
earning less than$27,000 annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has
been successful in partnering and working with Orange County jurisdictions to create effective
housing and land-use policies that has led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower
income working families.
The Commission would like to commend the City commitment to providing housing options
such as transitional housing, permanent housing, and rental housing to Tustin residents. While
the city's effort to provide much needed housing, it is also clear that these efforts are only
meeting a small percentage of the City's lower income housing needs. It is important the City
review its progress towards meetings its Regional Housing Needs Allocation(RHNA).
For the 2014-2021 Housing Element planning period, the City has a R14NA of 283 very low- and
195 low-income households. Per RHNA progress reports submitted to the California Department
of Housing and Community Development, the City has built 102 or 36% of the 283 very low
income units and 74 or 38% of the 195 low-income units. However, for the above moderate
income units, the City outperformed and exceeded the RHNA by constructing 1,184 or 225% of
the 525 above moderate-income RHNA. While 257 above moderate units were added in 2019,
no units were added at the very low and low income levels. With a remaining RHNA need of
302 lower income homes, it is important the City prioritize the development of new affordable
homes. In addition, the City needs to move forward in developing affordable housing on the
City owned sites identified as opportunity sites in the Tustin Legacy planning area as part
of their commitments to address affordable housing needs in the City.
The Commission looks forward to partnering with the City to increase affordable home
opportunities for lower income households in the City. Please keep us informed of any updates
and meetings regarding strategies to increase affordable homes for lower income households in
the City. If you have any questions, please free to contact me at (949) 250-0909 or
cesarc@kennedycommission.org.
Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
Working for systemicchange resulting in the production of homes1 1 Orange County'slow-income 1 1