4A Public Hearing 2014 1006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WORKING DRAFT FOR HCD REVIEW EVALUATION OF 2010 ELEMENT 2-43 SAN LEANDRO HOUSING ELEMENT Policy 60.7 was to provide residents with information on how to avoid predatory lending. This was a problematic issue at the time of the last Housing Element Update (in the midst of the foreclosure crisis). Protection from predatory lenders is a component of the housing counseling services offered by several non-profit and quasi-governmental entities. The policy can probably be merged with others like it under Goal 55 (see Policy 55.5). Goal 60 included an objective of following up on 100 percent of all fair housing complaints received. The City’s ADA and Section 504 Coordinators respond to all complaints and/or grievances with regard to reasonable accommodations. If City staff cannot handle a fair housing inquiry/complaint, it is referred to ECHO Housing, the City’s outsourced fair housing service provider. ECHO conducts an annual investigation of local property owners/managers to test for fair housing/discrimination concerns. Its findings are reported to the City Council, and ECHO staff follows up with all property owners/managers who may have shown potential discrimination. Between 2011 and 2013, ECHO provided information on 35 fair housing inquiries or allegations of discrimination in San Leandro, affecting 71 clients. There were three action items listed under Goal 60. These are listed in Table 2-8 below Table 2-8: Progress on Implementing Actions for Goal 60 (Fair Housing) Action Summary Progress 60.01- A Continue to contract with ECHO Housing for fair housing assistance and the investigation of discrimination complaints. ADVANCE. The City implements this federally mandated action on a continuous basis. It provides an annual payment to ECHO for these services, and will continue to do so in the future. Because of the loss of the Redevelopment Agency, the payment is now made from the General Fund. 60.06- A Work with ECHO Housing to conduct fair housing training sessions for landlords and property owners, tenants and homebuyers, realtors, and the public at large. In addition, support ECHO’s targeted audits to gauge the level of discrimination in the rental housing market. ADVANCE. Between 2011 and 2013, ECHO Housing’s counselors conducted 28 fair housing training sessions, including 5 sessions for 159 landlords and property managers; 2 fair housing sessions for 55 persons; 5 sessions for 19 tenants or potential homebuyers, 1 session for 70 realtors, and 15 general presentations for 394 persons. ECHO also conducted audits to determine where differential treatment of prospective tenants was present. ECHO also participates in the annual Rental Housing Owners Association Management Fair Housing Training, providing outreach to landlords on fair housing. 60.06- B Use public service announcements, newspaper ads, educational fliers, and other media to raise community awareness about fair housing and the need for affordable units. ADVANCE. This is an ongoing activity led by ECHO Housing with financial support from the City. During the past 7 years, ECHO has provided public service announcements to local radio and television stations, distributed educational flyers and posters, and partnered with the City to recognize “Fair Housing Month” every April. These initiatives should be continued in the future. “ACHIEVED” indicates the action has been accomplished, while “ADVANCE” means it is on-going or should be carried forward to 2015-2023. “REPLACE” means the action should be replaced with a new or modified program to carry out the policy. “REVISE” means action should be updated.