Glendale Sets Aside Housing Funds

Yielding to a state law that took effect last year, Glendale City Council members Tuesday set aside 20% of the city’s redevelopment revenue for low- and moderate-income housing.

Sitting as the Redevelopment Agency, the members voted 4 to 0 to use most of the $2.93-million fund for housing for the elderly. The state law, enacted in 1988, requires that the city put aside 20% of its redevelopment tax revenue each year for housing.

Housing Director Madalyn Blake reported that the money will help low-income property owners repair their homes to meet zoning and fire protection requirements, build housing for senior citizens, provide rental assistance to low-income renters, help families with their mortgage payments and provide bonuses to developers to build affordable apartments.

Council members also directed Blake to write into the program limits to the total rental assistance a family could receive and the length of time a family could stay in the program.

Councilwoman Ginger Bremberg said in a telephone interview that she was against a rental assistance program at a local level without a limit on time and amount.

She said other cities with such programs have had to cut their budgets for such things as parks to pay for families’ staying on the program for years. “I don’t want to see it happen to Glendale.”

Bremberg said there should also be a thorough investigation of the need and Glendale residency of each family.

Councilman Larry Zarian said he wanted to make sure that people will not think the program is a giveaway.

“This is transitional money until a couple could get on their feet,” he said.