04-16-19 - Item 06 - Request For Letter of Support For Senate Bill 751 (RUBIO) San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust- Mayor JohnsonAGENDA ITEM NO. 6
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina | Office of the City Manager
DATE:April 16, 2019
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:David Carmany
Interim City Manager
SUBJECT:REQUEST FOR LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SENATE BILL 751 (RUBIO)
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST-MAYOR JOHNSON
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council direct the City Manager to send a letter of support to our
legislative representatives for Senate Bill (SB) 751.
BACKGROUND:
Mayor Lloyd Johnson requested this item be agendized to discuss sending a letter of support for SB
751.
DISCUSSION:
California has an affordable housing crisis, which is especially acute in the San Gabriel Valley due
to the high cost of housing, even in formerly affordable communities. The Los Angeles Homeless
Services Authority's 2018 point-in-time count for the San Gabriel Valley found that the number of
unsheltered persons grew to 2,790 people-a 19% increase from the 2017 point-in-time count. In
West Covina, homelessness increased by 75% from 2017 based on the 2018 point-in-time count. In
contrast, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found that homelessness decreased across
the entire county by 3% in 2018.
SB 751 addresses the growing homelessness crisis in the San Gabriel Valley by establishing a San
Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust to receive available public and private funds to finance
affordable housing projects for homeless and low-income populations. Existing law authorizes the
creation of the Orange County Housing Finance Trust, a joint powers authority, for the purposes of
funding housing specifically assisting the homeless population and persons and families of
extremely low, very low, and low income within Orange County.
The Bill was referred to committee as amended on March 27, 2019, and was slated for a hearing
April 10, 2019. At the time of this report, the hearing has been postponed with no date listed.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options:
1.Approve staff's recommendation; or
2.Provide alternative direction.
Prepared by: Nikole Bresciani, Assistant City Manager/Public Services Director
Attachments
Attachment No. 1 - Senate Bill 751