Housing Element
Adopted Housing Element
Salinas City Council adopted the 2023-2031 Housing Element on December 5, 2023! The state found this document to be in substantial compliance on February 8, 2024. The full document and previous drafts are linked below.
WHAT IS THE HOUSING ELEMENT?
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Required part of the General Plan
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Establishes the City's goals and policies for addressing housing needs
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Updated every eight years. Must be reviewed and certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
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Implements Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION (RHNA)
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RHNA is the number of homes the City of Salinas is required to plan for (allocated by the State of California)
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Allocation is divided into different income levels
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Salinas RHNA: 6,674*
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Salinas 2023-2031 RHNA by Income Level:
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Very Low: 920
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Low: 600
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Moderate: 1,692
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Above Moderate: 3,462
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*This number is triple what is was in 2015 because of the continued need for housing.
WHAT IS THE CITY'S ROLE IN HOUSING?
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Create the environment for housing production (rules, procedures, incentives)
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Housing programs
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Monitoring safety - through code enforcement
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Grant/gap funding and special projects
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But not a housing developer
SITES INVENTORY MAP
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The Sites Inventory map shows the land available for development within city limits
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The figure to the Right is the 2023-2031 Draft Housing Element Sites Inventory
TIMELINE
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May 2023: 30-day Public Review Period
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June 2023: Housing Element Draft sent to HCD for a 90-day review period.
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September-October 2023: Draft is returned to the City from HCD. Planners will review draft.
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November 2023: City review.
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December 2023: (Expected) City Council Adoption.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Following the adoption of the 2015-2023 Housing Element, the City has continued extensive bilingual community outreach.
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(25) Twenty-five community workshops exploring housing topics
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(12) Twelve AVP & Visión Salinas Housing Working Group Meetings
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(4) Four citywide budget meetings for 2023-2024 budget cycle
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(40) Budget pop-up activities for 2023-2024 budget cycle
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(6) Visión Salinas pop-up activities
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(3) Housing Element Workshops
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(95) Ninety-five house meetings facilitated by GPU Ambassadors reaching over three hundred and forty (340) residents in Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui.
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GPU Ambassadors presentations and community conversations reaching over one thousand two hundred (1,200) farmworkers.
*Ambassador Tool Kit
*GPU Ambassadors used a tool kit to facilitate discussions around housing and other topics.
FEEDBACK INCORPORATED TO 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT
GOAL 1: Increase Housing Supply and Opportunities for All.
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Housing diversity
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Assess developer fees
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Convert parking lots into housing
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Parking mitigation
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Mixed use development
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More multi-family housing, tiny homes
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Promote ADU construction
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High density housing
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Permit streamlining
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Parking Reduce parking requirements
GOAL 2: Provide Tenant Protections
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Anti-displacement policies
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Prevent gentrification
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Retaliation prevention
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Policies to keep landlords accountable
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Eviction protections
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Housing education- City's role, tenants’ rights, landlord rights, homeownership, housing fraud
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Programs for landlords (financing) to make units ADA accessible, up to code, fix homes in poor conditions
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More homeowner relations/communication w/ City Rental housing inspections
FEEDBACK INCORPORATED TO 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT
GOAL 3: Access to Safe and Healthy Housing for All Residents.
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Promote adaptive reuse projects
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Rehab projects, retrofitting current stock
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Incentivize homeowners (loans) for home renovations
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Climate resilient housing: solar, water conservation
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Clean/remove toxic waste close to housing
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Collaborate with County, State and churches to provide housing services
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Address health and safety concerns
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Blight around homeless encampments
GOAL 4: Advance Housing Affordability and Opportunity at all Income Levels.
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Rent control, Rent stabilization
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Local preference policy
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Inclusionary lottery
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First-time homebuyer programs
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Education, trainings
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Homeless support
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Programs to reduce homelessness
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Housing for homeless
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Mental health support, rehab programs
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Donation stations, food banks, soup kitchens, more shelters
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Housing for people with disabilities
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Farmworker housing
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More control/coordination with H2A/temp worker housing
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Local preference for farmworkers
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Work with Ag companies to build housing
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Transit oriented development
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Housing for single moms, childcare
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Land Trusts
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Work with districts to create housing for staff
FEEDBACK INCORPORATED TO 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT
GOAL 5: Stabilize and Support Neighborhoods.
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Beautification programs
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Recognize your neighbor program
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Resources for undocumented residents
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Legal services for renters
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Redevelopment in underutilized sites
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Development on City owned land
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Code enforcement to mitigate resident concerns
HOUSING SURVEY RECURRING THEMES
Apart from the cost, what other difficulties have you encountered with housing?
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Hostility and lack of response from landlords, high utility bills, lack of parking, lack of public space, lack of privacy, noise complaints, application cost, issues due to lack of credit history, lack of safety/lighting/security, difficulties renting due to undocumented status.
Have you felt discriminated against when seeking housing?
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Yes, because of my family size.
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Yes, because of my work, my income, my language skills, and my skin color.
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Yes, because of my legal status.
What type of housing services would you like to see?
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Low income housing programs, funds for maintenance of existing housing, security/safety, childcare, washer/dryer services, free internet, financial help, first-time homebuyer programs, programs for undocumented residents, support for utilities, tenant support.
KEY HOUSING ACTIONS
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Prohousing Designation: Funds will be used towards the development of affordable housing and First Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program.
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Pre-approved ADU plans.
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Re-establish Low-Interest House Rehabilitation loans and grants.
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Supporting Renters: rental assistance, rental registry program, Fair Housing services, etc.
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Homeless Services: Salinas Outreach Response Team (SORT), Project Homekey, SHARE Center, Encampment Resolution Grant, and more!
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In-fill development and future growth areas.