HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2015 CLR Ashbaugh (3)COUNCIL MEETING: Woloz 401 Z_
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ITEM NO.: Cl-P--
Y City ®f San Luis Obispo — City Council
Council Liaison Report - Vice Mayor Ashbaugh
June 2, 2015
RE: Homeless Services Oversight Committee — May Meetings
Dear colleagues,
This letter is to report on my participation in the Homeless Services Oversight Council over the past
month. The Council met on Wednesday, May 20 at the Vets Hall. One of the key items discussed
concerned a possible recommendation to the Board of Supervisors that the County support legislation
that would require landlords to consider Section 8 or similar housing vouchers as a source of income
when considering eligibility of a prospective tenant for an advertised rental unit. Objections had been
raised to such a measure in view of the possibility that some landlords might prefer to withdraw rental
units from the market rather than rent them, if required to do so, to households that have been
awarded Section 8 vouchers.
I was actually asked to chair this part of the meeting while the regular Chair, Supervisor Debbie
Arnold, stepped down from the chair's role, due to the fact that as a Supervisor, she will be receiving
the recommendation from HSOC.
During deliberations by the members, most of the HSOC representatives expressed support for this
legislation, citing evidence that where such requirements have been imposed, the utilization rate for
such vouchers has increased.
After the conclusion of debate, HSOC did go on record by a near unanimous vote to recommend to
the Board that the County provide support to such legislation. At this point, no legislator has authored
such a bill in this session, but it is expected to be introduced soon.
The next meeting of HSOC will be July 15, 2015 at 1 pm at the Vets Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
John B. Ashbaugh
SLO CITY CLERK