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WORKING DRAFT FOR HCD REVIEW <br /> <br /> <br />EVALUATION OF 2010 ELEMENT 2-42 SAN LEANDRO HOUSING ELEMENT <br />Goal 60: Fair Housing <br /> <br />The final goal in the Housing Element was to ensure that all persons have freedom of choice as to where <br />they live. The goal was followed by several policies providing the framework for the City’s anti- <br />discrimination initiatives and its public education and outreach efforts around fair housing laws and the <br />need for affordable housing. This goal continues to be relevant and should be retained. Seven policies <br />were included, as indicated below. <br /> <br />Policy 60.1 encouraged and supported programs to eliminate housing discrimination. The policy remains <br />valid. It provides the basis for the City’s agreement with Eden Council for Hope & Opportunity (ECHO) <br />Housing to investigate discrimination claims and educate tenants and landlords about their rights. The <br />policy should be carried forward into the updated Element. <br /> <br />Policy 60.2 recommended that non-discrimination be required as a condition of approval for City- <br />approved housing programs. The policy is implemented through the City’s contracting and procurement <br />procedures. It remains an important policy and should be retained in the updated Element. <br /> <br />Policy 60.3 was to provide information and referral services to families and individuals to help them find <br />suitable housing and overcome financial barriers to obtaining such housing. The policy is implemented <br />by the City’s Housing Services Division, ECHO Housing, and local social service organizations. Under <br />the auspices of this policy, the City provides annual funding to organizations such as Davis Street Family <br />Resource Center and Building Futures for Women and Children to assist families in need. It also helped <br />support the Housing Resources Center funded by Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing funds. <br /> <br />Policy 60.4 was to ensure that the City’s housing programs are well publicized, and are made known <br />through a variety of media, including the Internet. The policy is implemented by the Housing Services <br />Division on an ongoing basis and remains relevant. The City continues to provide information on <br />housing programs, and makes a variety of materials available at City Hall, the libraries, and local social <br />service offices. <br /> <br />Policy 60.5 was to provide web-based materials in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese. <br />Spanish and Chinese continue to be the two largest non-English languages spoken in San Leandro and the <br />policy remains applicable. Most of the information on the City’s website has been translated. As noted in <br />this chapter under Goal 58, a variety of measures have been implemented to improve language access. <br /> <br />Policy 60.6 promoted public education on fair housing requirements and the need for affordable housing <br />in the community. It also sought to address misconceptions about affordable housing, and to build <br />broader acceptance of such housing. This continues to be an important public policy objective, and <br />should be retained. It is implemented in part by the City and in part by the housing advocacy groups and <br />non-profits that are active in the area. The County conducted an Analysis of Impediments to Fair <br />Housing in 2009 and is working on another in 2014. <br /> <br />