Housing policies and programs are the strategies and laws that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.
Local housing policies and programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of policies or programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well. Policies and programs listed here from jurisdictions’ Housing Elements are intended to allow readers to review the text themselves and see if a city or county is doing all they can to reach their affordable housing goals.
To further policy innovation and local action, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) contacted all of the region's jurisdictions to track the adoption of key housing policies throughout the nine county Bay Area in four major categories Protect, Preserve, Produce, and Prevent. This data is from ABAG’s Policies and Program list and was last updated in 2018/2019.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development tracks all of the ongoing and completed programs from 2018 onward and can be seen in the table below.
YEAR | PROGRAM NAME | PROGRAM OBJECTIVE | STATUS | ACCOMPLISHED DATE | HOUSING CYCLE |
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2022 | HE-A.d Develop RHNA Evaluation Procedure | To ensure sufficient residential capacity is maintained to accommodate the RHNA need, the City will develop and implement a formal ongoing (project-by-project) evaluation procedure pursuant to Government Code Section 56863. Should an approval of development result in a reduction of capacity below the residential capacity needed to accommodate the remaining need for lower income households, the City will identify and re-zone sufficient sites to accommodate the shortfall. | Ongoing - evaluated as part of the City's development review process | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2022 | HE-A.f Secondary Dwelling Unit Information Program | The City shall promote the development of secondary dwellings units by continuing to provide informational handouts at the Planning Division public counter and posting information on the City's website. | An informational handout on secondary / accessory units is posted on the City's website and is available at the Planning Division Counter. The City updated its accessory dwelling unit ordinance in 2016 in response to changes in State law and the City further updated its ordinance in 2018 to reflect the 2017 changes in State law. The CIty has also updated its Ordinance to be consistent with the 2019 changes in State law and the new information was posted to the City's website. Currently, the City is in the process is of updating its current ADU ordinance by July 1, 2023 as well as review legislative changes annually in September and update the ordinance as necessary to comply with State law before January 1st of the following year. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2022 | HE-A.g Parking Reduction in CSMU Zoning District | The City shall reduce residential parking requirements in the CSMU to facilitate transit-oriented residential development. | As part of the Station District Specific Plan Update and related Zoning Text Amendments, the City updated the parking standards to add parking maximums to facilitate transit-oriented residential development. | Year 2015 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2022 | HE-A.e Monitor Publicly-Owned Land | The City shall continue to monitor the status of available land owned by Caltrans and other public agencies and actively work with developers that may wish to develop such properties for housing. | Ongoing - monitored on an annual basis | Monitor at least annually | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2022 | HE-A.c Maintain Vacant Land Inventory | The City shall continue to maintain a current inventory of vacant residentially-zoned parcels and associated development potential and a list of recently approved residential projects to assist developers in identifying land suitable for residential development. The City shall continue to annually update the inventory. The City shall continue to make this information available to the public and developers through the City’s website. | Ongoing | Ongoing, update inventory annually | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2022 | HE-A.b Participate in Priority Development Area Program | As a means to assist development of the Station District, the City shall continue to participate in the Priority Development Area (PDA) program, which offers incentives to encourage affordable and high density housing adjacent to transit. The City shall participate through attending PDA meetings, implementing the Station District Plan, and facilitating housing and employment-related development in the Station District. | The City expanded it's PDA to encompass a larger p | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2022 | HE-A.a Rezone Program | The City shall rezone enough land to accommodate the remaining housing need of 154 lower-income and 210 above moderate-income units within two years of adoption of the Housing Element. The City shall ensure that the rezoned sites are large enough to accommodate a minimum of 16 units per site, will permit owner-occupied and rental multifamily residential uses by-right (without a conditional use permit, planned unit development permit, or other discretionary action), and that at least 50 percent of the remaining need will be accommodated on sites zoned for exclusively residential uses. | This program is completed. In Jan 2016, the City Council adopted a General Plan Amendment (CC Resolution #4846-16), Zoning Text Amendment (Ordinance #815-16) and Zoning Map Amendment (Ordinance #816-16) to redesignate two Housing Element rezone sites (PR-3 and PR-4) that together accommodated 136 lower-income units and 188 above-moderate income units resulting in a remaining balance 18 lower-income units and 22 above moderate-income units needed to satisfy the Rezone Program objective. In 2018, the City identified the following three sites to address the remaining need. • Smith Street Mixed-Use Site – 28 expected lower-income units - rezone completed in April 2018 (Ordinance 851-18) • Florence Street Site - 6 expected above-moderate income units - no rezone required • Vallejo Street Site (6 expected above-moderate income units) - no rezone required These 3 sites will provide an expected total of 28 lower-income units and 12 above-moderate income units. Of the 28 lower-income units expected on the Smith Street Mixed-use site, 18 of those are to be counted toward the lower-income required need with the remaining 10 units being counted towards the above-moderate income required need. These 10 units combined with the additional 12 expected above-moderate income units will satisfy the required 22 above-moderate income need. | Rezone land by January 31, 2016 to accommodate fourth Housing Element cycle unaccommodated need of 84 housing units. Rezone to accommodate remaining need within three years of adoption (January 2018). | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-B.a Affordable Housing Ordinance | The City shall continue to implement the Affordable Housing Ordinance. | Ongoing | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-D.d Secure Buildings to Reduce Crime | The City shall continue programs that work with property owners in areas affected by poor building design and disproportionately high levels of criminal activity to add security devices, secure property boundaries, and redesign building elements to reduce crime problems. | Ongoing | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-C.c Section 8 Rental Assistance Program | The City shall continue to support the Alameda County Housing Authority in its continuing administration of HUD Section 8 rental certificates and vouchers to assist very low-income Union City households. | Ongoing | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-F.b Partnerships to Address Homeless Needs | The City shall continue to participate with the appropriate homeless agencies in its efforts to address the needs of Union City residents in need of emergency shelter or temporary housing. | In 2019, the City continued to operate a safe parking program, CAREavan, for homeless individuals/families who are temporarily living in their cars. The program is still operating in 2020 and is a collaborative effort between the City, the school district, and local community and faith based organizations. The program rotates between five participating locations including the City's senior center. All sites offer restroom service throughout the night and the City provides an overnight attendant at each site. Some sites also provide additional services such as showers, laundry, computers, free Wi-Fi, and free phone charging stations for the participants. More than 275 people have enrolled in the program since its inception in June 2016 and on average, the program has 30 cars/ 50 people utilize the program per night. The City pays approximately $85,000/year to cover the cost of the over-night facility attendant. Additionally, the City participated in the bi-annual, county-wide homeless count in early 2019 nd will particpate when the homeless count is brought back online since it had to be paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City continues to coordinate with organizations providing homeless services, other jurisdictions, and EveryOne Home to address homelessness in Union City. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-B.e Promote Affordable Housing | The City shall place general information regarding affordable housing programs as well as promoting specific projects on the City website, in the City newsletter, at City Hall, in the local newspaper, and on local cable access. The City shall also continue to participate in annual housing fairs and other presentation and workshops to promote the City’s housing programs in the community. | Information on affordable housing opportunities is regularly updated and posted on the City's website and is made available at City Hall and community centers. The City maintains an affordable housing interest list and sends notifications to the list when new affordable housing opportunities arise. The City also continues to participate in presentations/meetings to promote the City's housing programs. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-E.a Support Fair Housing Counseling Services | The City shall continue to provide funds and support for ECHO Housing in the operation of its fair-housing counseling services. The City shall continue to coordinate with ECHO in working with rental housing owners and tenants to ensure understanding and compliance with fair-housing laws. The City shall continue to refer housing complaints to ECHO. | The City continues to provide CDBG funding to ECHO Housing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-G.a Promote Weatherization Programs | The City shall continue to post and distribute information on currently available weatherization programs. | Information on weatherization programs is regularly updated and posted on the City's website and is made available at City Hall and community centers. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-F.a Housing for Large Families | Through ongoing discussions with for-profit and nonprofit developers and local realtors, the City shall monitor the needs of large families in obtaining appropriately-sized rental housing. If a need is identified, the City shall work with developers to encourage the inclusion of 3- and 4-bedroom units in new multifamily developments. | The City continues to work with developers regarding housing for large families as projects arise. The City issued entitlements for a project that included (Horner Street Mixed Use) that included 7 three bedroom units (approxiamtely 30 percent of total) and building permits for four townhome units with 3 to 4 bedrooms. The City is in dicusssion with a developer (Integral) to add 10 3 bedroom units as part of a large mixed use development in the City. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-C.b Mortgage Credit Certificate Program | The City shall continue to work with Alameda County to administer the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program. | The City continues to provide funding to Alameda County to administer the Mortgage Credit Certificate Program. In 2018, 1 mortgage credit certificate and 1 refinance mortgage credit certificate were issued for Union City. There were no applicants in 2020. Also in 2020, we were notified by the County that CDLAC would not be providing MCC funds to counties statewide. Alameda County exhausted its 2019 allocation of funds in October 2019. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-B.d Preserve Affordable Units | The City shall continue to implement existing City guidelines for the preservation of affordable units in City-bond and other publicly financed projects. The City shall monitor assisted projects that are eligible to terminate affordability controls and respond to any Notice of Intent or Plan of Action. | In March 2018, the City conducted an onsite monitoring visit and inspection of Wisteria Place Apartments, a 40 unit affordable, senior housing project that received City HOME funds. The City found Wisteria Place Apartments to be in compliance with the HOME regulations. The City continues to conduct desk audits of affordable units. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-G.b Encourage Energy Efficient Appliance Upgrades | The City shall collaborate with PG&E, Alameda County Water District, and non-profit organizations to promote existing financial incentive programs to encourage voluntary replacement of inefficient appliances with new Energy Star appliances. The City shall leverage the Energy Upgrade California platform to promote Energy Star appliances and electronics. | Ongoing - the City promotes the Energy Upgrade program through its website, permit center, periodic workshops, and direct mail. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-C.d Homebuyer Education | The City shall support the efforts of local HUD-approved counseling agencies in their homebuyer-education, post-purchase, and default/ foreclosure counseling efforts. The City shall post information on the City website about foreclosure counseling, toll-free hotlines, foreclosure prevention programs, and other resources available for residents facing possible foreclosures. | The City continues to support local HUD-approved counseling agencies and information on homebuyer education and foreclosure counseling is regularly updated and posted on the City's website and is made available at City Hall and community centers. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
2020 | HE-G.c Energy Upgrade California | The City shall support regional efforts to implement Energy Upgrade California program for residential property owners. The City shall leverage Energy Upgrade California outreach and educational materials to encourage energy efficiency retrofits and the use of energy efficient, low-carbon, or renewable technologies. | Ongoing - the City promotes the Energy Upgrade program through its website, permit center, periodic workshops, and direct mail. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |