City Exceeds Goals for Low-Income Housing

Though many cities in Orange County have had difficulty meeting housing quotas for low-income families because land costs are so high, Cypress has exceeded its regional quotas, according to a staff report issued this week.

The city’s General Plan Annual Report, presented to the City Council by Community Development Director Chris Kelly, listed goals and quotas imposed on cities by state and federal laws, including adequate housing for varying levels of income.

As of this year, the report says, Cypress has achieved 118% of its goal for new housing for very-low-income families and 109% for lower-income families.

Very low income is defined as a household of four people with a total annual income not exceeding $30,650. Lower income is defined as a household of four with annual income from $30,651 to $41,600.

The regional housing needs assessment by the Southern California Assn. of Governments assigned Cypress a goal of 104 units of very-low-income housing and 127 units of lower-income dwellings.

Kelly’s report states that the city has completed or is building 123 units in the very-low-income category and 139 units of lower-income housing.

The report said that the only level of housing still needed in the city is in the “moderate-income” range. That is defined as a household of four with total annual income from $61,301 to $73,550.

The Southern California Assn. of Governments has given Cypress a goal of 175 new units of moderate-income housing. Kelly’s report said the city so far has added 135 units, or 76%.