Housing Assistance Program
The goal of the Housing Assistance program is to improve and increase
the supply of affordable housing for low and moderate income families
in the City of Whittier. The Housing Assistance Program is focused
on low and moderate income households and was established to reflect
a comprehensive approach to housing in Whittier. This program
is used to fund a large variety of housing programs using tax
increment revenue from all four of Whittier’s redevelopment
project areas, as well as, Community Development Block Grant and
HOME funds provided by the federal government.
In addition to assisting over 50 households per year in fixing
up their homes, past accomplishments of the Housing Assistance
Program include the completion of a six unit single family home
project on Penn Street and the rehabilitation of the 50-unit historic
Hoover Hotel.
On June 10, 2008, the City of Whittier adopted an Inclusionary
Housing Ordinance that requires new housing developments with
seven or more dwelling units to provide a portion of the new units
to low- and moderate income buyers or tenants. It is anticipated
that the provisions will produce a significant number of affordable
units in Whittier for generations to come.
Housing Rehabilitation Program
Whittier's Housing Rehabilitation program is charged with assisting
in the maintenance and improvement and rehabilitation and/or preservation
of low and moderate income housing. This is achieved by providing
low interest loans and/or deferred loans to eligible families.
The program was designed to provide loans that are intended to
correct housing deficiencies for low to moderate income homeowners
who would not be capable of receiving conventional home repair
loans in the private market. The loans are also intended to help
arrest neighborhood decline by providing financial incentives
to improve housing in targeted areas that contain a high level
of blighted properties.
The City's financing assistance to homeowners is to be used for
improvements such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, windows, stucco,
painting, flooring, and other repairs to eliminate code violations,
incipient code violations and slum/blight conditions. The Housing
Rehabilitation program is funded by Community Development Block
Grant Funds (CDBG) and Home Funds.
In addition to the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program, the City
offers several grant programs. The scope of work covered under
the grant programs is more limited and households must still qualify
as low or moderate income.
Goals of the Housing Rehabilitation Program:
- To improve the quality of Whittier's low and moderate income
housing stock through provision of low interest and/or deferred
home rehabilitation loans.
- To eliminate visual and economic blight.
- To encourage private investment in the community.
- To ensure development of real property to its highest and best
use.
- To promote the preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing
stock occupied by low and moderate income persons.
- To provide safe, decent and sanitary housing for low and moderate
income persons.
HOME Program
The HOME Program is designed by U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to assist low and very low income families
in securing affordable housing. The Participating Jurisdiction
(City) is free to decide how to spend the funds within certain
guidelines. This program is distinct from the CDBG program in
that it can only be used for housing, not for economic development
or social services. Pursuant to the 5-Year Consolidated Plan and
Annual Action Plan, HOME funds are proposed to be spent on owner-occupied
rehabilitation loans and new housing construction.
For more information on Housing Programs or for a copy of the
current annual Action Plan, call (562) 464-3380.
Housing Rights Center
The Housing Rights Center provides telephone and in-person counseling
for City of Whittier tenants and landlords regarding their respective
rights and responsibilities under California law. In addition,
the Housing Rights Center provides services in three other areas:
1) discrimination complaint investigation, 2) enforcement and
legal services, and 3) education and outreach. Individuals may
contact the Housing Rights Center toll free at (800) 477-5977
or visit their website at www.hrc-la.org.
The Housing Rights Center's mission is to actively support and
promote freedom of residence through education, advocacy, and
litigation, to the end that all persons have the opportunity to
secure the housing they desire and can afford, without regard
to their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national
origin, familial status, marital status, disability, ancestry,
age, source of income or other characteristics protected by law.
|
