More affordable housing for Pasadena, not a futile attempt to fight the state's requirements!

 The City Council of Pasadena is unhappy with the state's new Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) numbers requiring that it plan for 5,000 new units of affordable housing so it is planning to spend tax-payer money on a futile appeal. This appeal will almost certainly fail since the state has determined that local municipalities need do their utmost to address California's severe and growing housing crisis. Please join us by contacting the City Council to let them know you support more affordable housing in our city. To make a public comment, go to:   http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2020%20Agendas/Oct_26_20/agenda.asp

This is a letter written by Jill Shook on behalf of Making Housing and Community Happen, followed by a letter from POP! (Pasadenans Organizing for Progress), written by Rick Cole

Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council,

Yes, the 9,409 RHNA allocation for Pasadena of total new housing units in the next eight years (5,960 to be affordable at various income ranges) is indeed a high number, but not impossible. 

It’s easy to resent the SCAG, but thankfully this time these numbers are reflecting the real need: 23,000 on Pasadena’s section 8 waiting list, 50% of Pasadena is spending more than 50% of their income on housing, 527 counted as homeless, and 700 PUSD students experiencing homeless and 19% of all PCC students are homeless. Each of these statistics are outrageous and you have the power to help them become housed. What kind of city do you want?  A city known for its compassion or for its exclusion? 

Please pass a policy that would allow churches to supply a portion of this need. With only the 17 churches interested so far, 1,177 units could be accommodated. Pasadena already has over 740 ADUs – it’s part of the historic character of our community. This could be tripled with the right incentives. There are many main corridors with businesses that would appreciate the infusion of more folks close by to help our city thrive, not just survive. 

Please search your hearts, change your vote, and save our tax payer’s money on a needless appeal. Certainly there is enough creativity and compassion in our great city to meet this urgent need.

             Thank you!! Jill Shook, director of MHCH—Making Housing and Community Happen

Letter from POP!:

The staff accurately outlines the very narrow grounds available to Pasadena to appeal its Regional Housing Needs Allocation.  It is clear that Pasadena has little likelihood of prevailing – and even if it were to do so, any reduction is likely to be minimal.  While we acknowledge the Council’s concerns about the fairness and practicality of Pasadena’s allocation, the City staff’s time and attention would be more productively devoted to addressing the magnitude of the affordable housing challenge, regardless of the outcome of the appeal.  

The City has only one year to submit to the State a realistic Housing Element plan for building in the next cycle at least 5,000 affordable units of housing when it has produced less than 250 during the current cycle.  Pasadenans Organizing for Progress strongly supports the recommendations of Making Housing and Community Happen to involve a true cross-section of our community to solve this challenge together.  

We are encouraged by the Council’s verbal embrace of Councilmember Kennedy’s call for a goal of building 1000 affordable units in the next three years.   Those homes are urgently needed by thousands of Pasadenans facing eviction or struggling to make their rent.  That’s where your focus should be now!