Housing Santa Cruz County will take positions on key affordable housing issues and policies and, at times, mobilize community members to advocate. If you or your organization would like to request support or endorsement for your project or policy proposal, here’s how it works:

Any individual or organization can submit a request for a policy or project by completing the form and answering questions through the form below.

The completed and accepted request must be submitted at least 21 days before the (jurisdictional) decision-makers will make their decision. (Exceptions can be allowed when 21 days is not feasible.)

After submittal of the form, the Policy/Endorsement Committee of HSCC will review within 10 days and forward recommendation to our Governing board. The Governing Board will review the recommendation and act will attempt to act within 7 days (A decision could be delayed if a full Board meeting is needed for a full discussion of the issue).

Approval of policy or project action requires 60 percent support of Governing Board members. The Governing Board will determine which items will receive basic support (letter from HSCC and posting in appropriate places) or full activation (with action notification and request to everyone on our email list).

Here are the principles and criteria that will guide our decisions. Please read these carefully before submitting.

We will support:

government policies and community solutions that clearly facilitate the creation of permanent housing units that serve primarily working families and individuals below the County’s median income levels or that serve our most vulnerable residents
government policies that preserve current housing opportunities for these populations
specific housing development projects whose primary focus is providing housing for these populations
specific programs that provide for housing-related emergency relief and supports to these populations

We have a particular (but not exclusive) interest in:

Projects that are 100 percent affordable for extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income households

Projects that are specifically geared to vulnerable populations such as seniors, farmworkers, persons with disabilities and individuals exiting homelessness

Efforts that increase the amount of funding for new housing units for low, very low and extremely low-income households

Workforce housing projects with some affordability and local preference requirements

Projects that take maximum advantage of job centers and transportation corridors

While market rate housing is not a primary focus of our advocacy, we may choose to advocate for mixed-income projects that include more than the minimum requirement for units to house targeted lower income populations and projects that (help) meet our community’s RHNA target allocation for below market rate housing. We may also consider a project that provides significantly more public benefits than what is minimally required.

Projects must be located in Santa Cruz County. Policy proposals must have a direct link to affordable housing creation or preservation for residents and workers in Santa Cruz County.

To submit a request for support or endorsement, please complete the form below:

Name

First Name

Last Name

Your organization

If not applicable, write N/A.

Phone

(###)

###

####

Website (if available)

http://

Who is/are the primary sponsor(s) of the project or policy?

Please provide a description of the policy or project in 300 words or less. (300 words... no more) Include address and project name, if applicable.

For policy proposals only: What is the tangible affordable housing impact of this proposed policy? (100 words or less)

If not applicable, write N/A

For projects only: What is the total number of housing units involved? What percentage of the units in the project will have legally binding affordability requirements and at what level (low income, very low, etc.)? Please give a breakdown of unit sizes (typical sq. footage and bedrooms).

If not applicable, write N/A

For projects only: Tell us about the current use on the site. Is there residential displacement? If so, how will it be addressed?

If not applicable, write N/A

For projects only: What are the primary funding sources? What funding is truly committed?

If not applicable, write N/A

Please describe how this project/policy meets our HSCC criteria and principles listed above (200 word limit)

What is the nature of opposition to this project/policy (if any)? Please include names of key orgs or individuals leading opposition. (200 word limit)

Who are other project supporters? Who else have you reached out to for support?

What is the date/time the meeting at which a decision on this project/policy is expected to be made or discussed (if known)? How can HSCC help?

If HSCC were to send a one paragraph action alert about this to its members, what would you like it to say? (100 word limit)

Housing Santa Cruz County will take positions on key affordable housing issues and policies and, at times, mobilize community members to advocate. If you or your organization would like to request support or endorsement for your project or policy proposal, here’s how it works:

Here are the principles and criteria that will guide our decisions. Please read these carefully before submitting.

Housing Santa Cruz County

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