FULLERTON : Affordable Housing Topic for Workshop

City officials will hold the first of two public workshops today to discuss a plan to provide more affordable housing in Fullerton over the next five years.

The plan, called the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, was drawn up in response to federal laws that require annual reviews of the city’s affordable housing needs and its plans to expand the stock of available residential units.

The city’s current programs include rehabilitation loans, bond financing, shared housing and support of federal rental assistance programs.

Over the next year, city officials plan to launch a program to acquire and rehabilitate affordable housing using 20% of the city’s redevelopment revenue. In addition, the city will develop a first-time home buyer’s program and participate in a mortgage credit certificate program in which homeowners get a monthly tax credit in lieu of income tax deductions at the end of the year.

City officials say that, in general, the number of households and those needing assistance will grow at the same rate as the population over the next five years. The city projects a 1% annual growth rate over the next 10 years, or 1,500 new residents and 380 new households a year.

According to the proposal, Fullerton has a relatively large supply of affordable rental and ownership housing, but more is needed. A market analysis showed that the need was greatest for very-low-income renters, defined as a family of four with an annual income of $26,100 or less.

A study included in the plan showed that 4,022 very-low-income renters were paying more than 30% of their gross monthly income for housing. In addition, 1990 census figures showed that the city had 27 homeless people, although housing officials estimate the number at 50 to 100.

The study also showed that overcrowding in the city grew by 136% from 1980 to 1990. According to census figures, 4,518 households--or 11% of all households in the city--were overcrowded. In 1980, 1,908 households--or 5% of the total in Fullerton--were overcrowded. Federal guidelines define overcrowding as 1.01 or more people per room in a household.

Today’s workshop, geared toward nonprofit agencies, will start at 6:30 p.m. at Fullerton City Hall, 303 W. Commonwealth Ave. A second workshop is scheduled Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. The document is available at Fullerton’s Development Services Department and at the Main Library. Call (714) 738-6878 for details.