Affordable Housing Consulting Services for Local Governments

Planning

What are the affordable housing needs of your jurisidication? How are you going to meet those needs? What types of resources will you require? I can help you with the analysis and planning necessary for an effective, comprehensive housing program. Whether you are starting fresh, or need someone who can bring a fresh approach to existing programs, I have the experience you need for local use, Consolidated Plans, and Housing Element updates.

Policy

What are the affordable housing goals of your jursidiction? How well do your policies reflect and support those goals? My experience in Housing Policy analysis and development can strengthen your housing programs. Whether a complete overhaul is needed, or just some fine-tuning, I can look at the housing needs in your jurisdiction and calibrate your programs to better meet those needs.

Implementation

Does your jurisdication have well-defined goals and plans, but needs help to get its programs off the ground? I can work with you to get approvals from your governing body, as well as creating step-by-step action and implementation plans, staffing plans, and access to vital capital to bring your plans to life.

Community Education and Acceptance

One of the biggest challenges facing affordable and/or supportive housing development is community opposition. Neighborhood opposition can be expensive, sometimes bringing about the death of a development project. Addressing community concerns early can mean the difference between success and failure of an affordable and/or supportive housing development. On a policy level, developing good communication between local government and citizens provides opportunities for community education, causing fewer acceptance problems later. Whether the issue is one key development, or a comprehensive education program, I can develop, coordinate and facilitate the process. Your community will feel its needs are being heard, and your affordable housing programs will be more successful.

Strategy

An effective affordable housing program is the product of careful planning and strategizing. Identifying key players, cultivating allies, "selling" the program, and using the positive impact to do it again takes work. My experience in law, local government, and working in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors in a variety of capacities have honed my skills as a strategist. By focusing on relationships, I get results.

General Plan Housing Elements and Consolidated Plans

By statute, each local government in California is required to adopt a comprehensive General Plan to govern its land use and planning decisions. The Housing Element is one of the seven required elements of this plan. Housing Element law mandates that a local government adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community.

A Housing Element is a complex, detailed five-year planning document. Broadly, it requires that the community:

• Plan for the housing needs of all of its residents, including the homeless;
• Analyze the resources available to meet those needs, as well as local constraints to housing development;
• Establish goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing;
• Include residents and community groups in the process of preparing the Housing Element; and
• Do all of these things within the context of the needs, resources and constraints identified.

The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviews housing Elements for compliance with State law. Communities whose Housing Elements fail to receive approval from the State are subject to costly litigation. If a community fails to adopt a Housing Element, or adopts one that is found to be inadequate by HCD, then its entire General Plan is invalid. Further, a court can order the local government to halt all development of any kind.

Localities must comply with their adopted Housing Elements, and this requires funds. Funds are available from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but access to these funds requires the development of another planning document, a Consolidated Plan.

The creation of a Housing Element or a Consolidated Plan is not an overnight process. It is time and labor intensive. Busy governmental staff often cannot be stretched to incorporate these necessary projects into their workloads. This is where hiring a consultant can make the difference.

I can work with your local government staff to determine need, and to strategize effective and comprehensive ways to meet that need. She can take this information and create a Housing Element, a Consolidated Plan, or both, that will meet State and Federal requirements as well as the needs of your local community. With my help, your community can continue to grow and improve through all kinds of development, and can avoid costly litigation through compliance with applicable laws.