REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
City Council Study Session: Update on City's Anti-Displacement Work Plan
Report
BACKGROUND
The Housing Element, one of the required elements of the City's General Plan, includes policies and programs intended to help the City meet the housing needs of all current and future Santa Clara residents. State law requires that local jurisdictions update their Housing Elements every eight years and that the Housing Element be reviewed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). HCD "certifies" housing elements that it determines to be in substantial compliance with State housing law. Since the Housing Element statutes were first enacted, six such cycles of adoption and certification have been completed. The Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the City of Santa Clara is 11,632 units. Throughout the sixth cycle Housing Element Update process, staff conducted a robust community outreach and engagement process with all segments of the community, which helped to shape many of the actions and goals. Planning Commission input and feedback were incorporated, with a final recommendation of adoption to Council. The City Council was engaged throughout the process, provided policy direction, guidance on site selection, and ultimately their support of the Housing Element.
The City's sixth cycle Housing Element was adopted by the City Council on May 7, 2024, and certified by HCD on May 31, 2024.
California Assembly Bill 686 (2018) added a new provision to the housing element laws mandating that sixth-cycle housing elements include programs and activities to "affirmatively further fair housing" (AFFH). Sixth cycle housing elements must include deliberate actions to combat housing discrimination, address segregation, and foster inclusive communities so people of all income levels can live in high opportunity areas near jobs, transit, parks, shopping, and other amenities. Access to opportunity isn't just about creatin...
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