1983 RES NO 4346 - Laserfiche WebLink

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f \r INTRODUCTION. For over 25 years this nation has reiterated its commitment to a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family. As a humane reaction to the deterioration and blight in which so many live, the goal expresses a fundamental purpose which the country must pursue. To some it represents the very essence of society's obligation to its members. Once committed, however, the choice of methods had to be made. Through the years, many programs were initiated to spur the creation of new housinc rehabilitate deteriorating units, and remove unsafe, dilapidated structure: Some of the programs were successful, others resounding failures. Through- out the struggle, however, the principal force for its maintenance was the Federal Government. It was through the federal housing and development programs that so many ideas were developed, tested, applied, and sometimes scrapped. Scope and Purpose: In the 1980s -an increasing number of local governments are being requirec to join the struggle to facilitate decent housing for all segments of thein communities. The California State Legislature, through the requirements of the Housing Element, has placed specific responsibilities on local governments for the identification and evaluation of housing needs, and for a dedication to the satisfaction of those needs by the formulation of housing implementation programs. Specific authority is derived from Section 65302 (c) of the Government Code, requiring a housing element of all city and county general plans, which: 1. Consists of "standards and plans for the improvement of housing and for the provision of adequate sites for housing," and 2. Makes "adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community." The law further requires that housing elements be developed pursuant to regulations established by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. The Department revised these guidelines in November, 1977, and all cities and counties are required to update their housing elements in accordance with the revised guidelines. The following overview out- lines the requirements for the revised housing element. The revised Housing Element Guidelines (HEGs.) provide a regulatory frame- work which focuses on two fundamental components of the local planning effort: 1. The evaluation of the housing needs of all economic segments of the community, and 2. The development of a housing program which makes adequate pro- vision for these identified needs (Section 6416) . The evaluation of housing needs is to consist of an analysis of the capaci. of the existing housing supply to provide all economic segments of the community with decent housing which: