MO 2002-041 to 2002-045 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW DRAFT large share of take-home pay. Both of these factors limit the amount of disposable income available for housing. In 2000, there were over 1,800 single mothers with children under 18 in San Leandro, representing 6 percent of the City's households. Current data on poverty status for these households is not available, but in 1990, single mothers were much more likely to be lower income than households in the general population. The mean income for single mothers was $27,649, compared to $46,314 for all families. Adjusting for inflation, the mean income for single mothers in San Leandro today is estimated to be about $40,000 a year. At that level, most single mother households meet the definition of "very low" or "low" income. Assuming the poverty rate remained constant between 1990 and 2000, there are approximately 300 single mother households below the poverty rate today. These households would benefit not only from affordable housing, but also from affordable child care and job training programs. Large Families For the past 40 years, average family size in San Leandro has been smaller than the County as a whole. However, the number of "large" families (five persons or more) is on the rise in the City. Large families are more likely to experience overcrowding, and may have less disposable income available for housing due the larger number of dependents and other household expenses. This is particularly true for lower income renters. As mentioned earlier, most of the City's rental housing stock consists of one and two bedroom apartments and is not well suited for large families. In 1990, there were 2,216 households in San Leandro with five or more persons, representing about 7.6 percent of all households in the City. This was an increase over the 1980 figure of 2,009 large households (7.3 percent of the total). The 2000 figure is not yet available but is expected to be substantially higher than either the 1980 or 1990 figures. Of the 2,216 large households in the City in 1990, 750 contained six persons or more. About 36 percent of the City's large family households were renters, many in units with two bedrooms. Persons with Disabilities Disabled persons may require housing with specific physical attributes, such as wheelchair ramps, elevators, and proximity to transit and social services. Many disabled households have limited income for housing, either because they are unable to work or because they have significant health and medical expenses. Table 3-13 presents census data on the disabled population in San Leandro. 2000 Census data on the number of persons with disabilities in San Leandro is not yet available. In 1990, about one in every eight San Leandro residents had either a mobility limitation or a work disability. About half of the residents reporting a disability were over 65. Many of these residents lived in skilled nursing and residential care facilities in 1990; this continues to be the case today. The cost of skilled nursing is beyond the means of many elderly persons. Many residents must rely on familial assistance to meet basic needs. San Leandro has a number of housing projects specifically developed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Fuller Lodge (2141 Bancroft) is a 26-unit rental housing complex for the developmentally disabled. An expansion of 16 new units has recently been approved and should be completed during the HOUSING ELEMENT 3-17 SAN LEANDRO GENERAL PLAN 44a9