The CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) wants your input on housing needs in our communities. Please complete the survey (also available in Spanish) and share with individuals you serve, as they are looking for input from a broad array of sources. See the email below for more information!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 19, 2019 California's Department of Housing Asks Californians to Share Their Thoughts on Housing Needs and Challenges in Their Communities SACRAMENTO - The state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released a surveyasking for Californians - from renters, homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness to developers, real-estate professionals, elected officials, and people living in rural communities - to share their opinions on housing and community needs and challenges within their neighborhoods. In addition to the survey, in August 2019, HCD will begin hosting focus groups in inland, central, and northern California to collect additional input. The results from both the survey and the focus groups will be used as part of a large-scale planning effort to provide context for U.S. Census data and data provided by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Californians interested in housing and community issues, particularly in rural areas, are encouraged to complete the survey (hacer la encuesta en español) by October 1, 2019. "This survey is the first step in creating California's five-year plan that examines the housing and community development needs throughout the state," said Ben Metcalf, California Department of Housing and Community Development Director. "The plan also spells out how federal funds will be used to address those needs and improve the quality of life for Californians." Known as California's "Consolidated Plan," the five-year plan will be submitted to HUD and will guide how the state will spend the estimated $120 million received annually from various HUD-funded programs. Much of that funding is provided to jurisdictions that do not receive funding directly from HUD (known as "non-entitlement jurisdictions"), which are typically smaller and located in rural areas. When approved, the plan will allow HCD to administer funds in non-entitlement areas for the following federal housing and community development programs:
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (administered by the California Department of Public Health). HCD also administers the federal National Housing Trust Fund, which is partnered with Housing for a Healthy California to fund affordable homes across the state. "You can't achieve Governor Newsom's vision of a 'California for All' without tackling the housing crisis," said Director Metcalf. "And, as we all know, any worthwhile plan to address a challenge as big and pervasive as housing affordability has to begin with input from those who are most affected. Public participation is always step one. We're asking Californians to weigh in and share their opinions in this survey." HCD is partnering with numerous statewide and regional groups to promote the survey and its importance for Californians and their communities. Dates and details for the public focus groups will be posted on HCD's Event Calendar at the bottom of HCD's homepage and via email announcements. To sign up to receive HCD's email announcements, visit HCD's homepage. On the right side of the page, click on "Email Sign up." The California Department of Housing and Community Development is dedicated to the preservation and expansion of safe and affordable housing, so more Californians have a place to call home. Our team works to ensure an adequate supply of housing for Californians and promotes the growth of strong communities through its leadership, policy and program development. For more information, please visitwww.hcd.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter, @California_HCD; Facebook, @CaliforniaHCD; and LinkedIn. ### |
Copyright © 2019 California Department of Housing and Community Development |
Comments (1)