Representatives of Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley - all with the lowest rates of low- and very-low income housing - spoke of their efforts in providing “affordable housing” but did not specify low- and very-low income dwellings.Santa Paula’s present rate is about 53 percent of low- and very-low income housing.Oxnard’s reduction granted by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) could be based on past and future action: Oxnard city officials provided SCAG with records of the $9 million effort to build affordable housing over the past decade.In addition, Oxnard has joined with nine other cities throughout the state in creating the Pacific Housing & Finance Agency, which will help prospective buyers with $80 million in loans for moderate- to low-income units.Pacific Housing has created a lease-purchase program to expand home ownership opportunities in the state.
Oxnard lowers future requirements for low-income housing
September 08, 2000
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesOxnard has become the first - and only - Ventura County city that has been able to lower the number of low- and very-low income housing units it must build to meet state mandates.The Southern California Association of Governments last month allowed Oxnard to reduce the affordable housing units it needs to build in the next five years from 1,211 to 922, almost a year after the Ventura Council of Governments endorsed the state plan .The City of Santa Paula also appealed the number of low- and very-low income housing units it must build in the future, noting that it already has one of the highest percentages of affordable houses in the county. The appeal by the city was denied.The housing numbers have been the topic of ongoing controversy with wealthier cities backing leaving the original numbers - which require Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Simi Valley, among others, to build little affordable housing although their percentages are barely are above double digits - in place.Last September, the Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG) voted to adopt the state goals although several cities objected, including Santa Paula and Oxnard.The vote meant that each county city must devote from 30 to 39 percent of all new development to low- and very-low housing.City Manager Peter Cosentini testified in September 1999 at the VCOG hearing that cities must equally share responsibility for housing; Moorpark, which has the lowest amount at 17 percent of low- and very-low income housing, is required in the future to build such housing at a lower percentage rate than Santa Paula.
