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City of San Leandro 2023-2031 Housing Element Update 3-28 Chapter 6, Housing Plan, the City will amend the municipal code to allow emergency shelters by right in at least one additional zoning district than IL, where emergency shelters could be close to public transit and medical, social, and/or commercial services. The City will also amend the Zoning Code to permit shelters larger than 25 beds with a use permit in zoning districts where emergency shelters are permitted. AB 139, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, mandates that emergency shelters may only be subject to those standards which apply to residential and commercial development within the same zone, except that a city can apply standards regulating the number of beds, parking for staff provided that the standards do not require more parking for emergency shelters than other residential or commercial uses within the same zone, length of stay, and other minor standards. The San Leandro Zoning Code states that an emergency shelter requires an adopted management plan that includes hours and staffing, provides sufficient waiting area, parking and loading facilities, and 24-hour restrooms. The Zoning Code does not have specific standards related to the requirements discussed in AB 139. If these requirements are arbitrarily applied, this could be a constraint on housing for unsheltered persons. The City will revise the emergency shelter provisions in the Zoning Code to address identified constraints and to be consistent with AB 139, as specified in Program 16 of Chapter 6, Housing Plan. Low Barrier Navigation Center With the adoption of AB 101 in 2019, cities are required to allow low barrier navigation centers as a permitted use in mixed use zones and other nonresidential zones permitting multi-family residential development. Per AB 101, a low barrier navigation center is defined as: “a Housing First, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing.” When compared to traditional emergency shelters, low barrier navigation centers may provide more services and additional flexibility to clients, such as allowing pets or permitting partners to share living space. AB 101 also requires local jurisdictions to act on a complete application for a low barrier navigation center within 60 days. As San Leandro’s Zoning Code has not been updated to permit low barrier navigation centers, this is considered a constraint to housing for unsheltered individuals and the City will revise emergency shelter provisions in the Zoning Code, consistent with AB 101. The City is currently in negotiations to purchase a motel to develop a short- term low barrier navigation center with shelter/housing units and will take actions, including apply for State Project Homekey funding, to open a facility during the Housing Element planning period, as specified in Program 16 of Chapter 6, Housing Plan. Supportive and Transitional Housing When compared to emergency shelters, transitional housing is intended to accommodate people experiencing homelessness and their families for a longer time period, typically 6 to 18 months, while residents stabilize their lives and can move into permanent housing. Supportive housing is affordable housing with access to on- or off-site support services that help individuals or families with barriers to employment or housing stability, such as people experiencing homeless, or people with disabilities, and other special needs populations. Transitional Housing is defined as rental housing developments operated under program requirements that call for the termination of assistance at some predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six months.