HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/1/2020 Item 7, Wendt
From:Wendy Wendt <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Comment for City Council Meeting Sept 1, 2020 - Agenda Item 7 REVIEW OF
THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
First 5 San Luis Obispo County and our partners on the We Are the Care Initiative appreciate the City Council’s continued
support to address the child care crisis and hope that the Housing Element can serve as another mechanism to support
creative innovation.
Upon the review of the draft Housing Implementation Plan for the 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation, We are
the Care partners recommend the following:
Recommendation 1:
That policies in Goal 2 (Affordability), Goal 6 (Housing Production), and Goal 8 (Special Housing Needs) include
language to support the provision of affordable on-site child care facilities. Additional innovative practices such as these
were presented in 2019 at the Annual League of Cities conference in a session entitled, Promoting the Power of General
Plans: A Strategy to Support Early Childhood Development, which encourages cities to incorporate child care and social
services into affordable housing.
Appendix B for Housing Needs, states that Extremely Low-Income Households can benefit from supportive housing
with on-site services, such as childcare. Later in Appendix B under Female-Headed Households, the document
acknowledges that “the single parent must settle for a small dwelling that does not meet the household’s needs, or
must spend an excessively large share of the household's monthly income on housing and childcare.” The document
suggests housing opportunities can be improved through “city policies calling for the provision of affordable childcare,
and by locating family-oriented housing developments close to major employment areas, transportation facilities and
shopping.” However, these identified needs are not listed directly in the draft Housing Element. We recommend that
consideration is taken that single-parent and female-headed households contribute a higher percentage of their income
to housing costs and access to affordable and convenient child care is paramount.
Recommendation 2:
That Goal 7 (Neighborhood Quality) includes additional language that addresses the critical need to maximize outdoor
spaces including those in proximity for the purpose of maximizing outdoor learning environments and play for a range of
age groups.
Recommendation 3:
That Goal 4 (Mixed-Income Housing), Goal 6 (Housing Production), or Goal 8 (Special Housing Needs) include the
promotion of intergenerational facilities- such as senior centers and childcare centers. Intergenerational facilities are
beneficial to both the older and younger generations of SLO City, and is a creative opportunity to address child care
needs.
Again, we thank you for your continued support in creating a connected community for our children and families.
Sincerely,
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Wendy L Wendt, Executive Director
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
3220 S. Higuera Street #232
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-781- 4058 (office); 805-550-6904 (cell)
How are the Children?
-Masai Greeting
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