BREA : Housing Program to Emphasize Income

City officials have found that an affordable-housing program for senior citizens has not reached many of those most in need, prompting changes in the rules governing the program.

The City Council voted 3-0 this week to make changes in the Brea Senior Subsidy Program so that poverty is weighed more heavily in determining who receives housing help from the city. Mayor Burnie Dunlap and Councilwoman Kathryn E. Wiser were absent.

“This has been a fine program but we found that there were some inequities,” Councilman Glenn G. Parker said.

Under the 4-year-old program, applicants receive points for financial need, age and years of Brea residency. Those with the most points are placed at the top of a waiting list to determine who will be placed in subsidized senior-citizen housing around the city.

But under the old system, applicants received more points for their age and length of Brea residency than they did for having low incomes. Therefore, an older, longtime resident of the city would have an advantage in getting housing over a poorer but younger senior citizen who is either not a resident or hasn’t lived in Brea for many years, officials said.

Now, more points will be awarded for low-income senior citizens and less points will be given for age and length of residential status.

There are 181 people on the waiting list. Only 105 people are helped through the subsidy program, which pays part of their rent in senior citizen housing complexes each year. Applicants must make less than $26,600 a year and be at least 62.