SR-407-000-04 (7)
f:\atty\muni\strpts\mjm\fairhousing.wpd
City Council Meeting 4-9-2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Assessment of Impediments to Fair Housing Report
Introduction
The accompanying report fulfills the Citys obligation to periodically assess whether there
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are impediments to fair housing in Santa Monica.
Background
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires cities
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that receive federal funding for housing and community development activities to assess
the status of fair housing in their community every five years. The assessment must
provide an overview of the laws, regulations, conditions, and other factors that may affect
access to housing.
Discussion
The attached draft assessment was prepared pursuant to HUD requirements by the City
Attorneys Office and Cotton/Bridges/Associates. It includes input obtained through a
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public consultation workshop that was held by the City on June 19, 2001. The final draft of
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the assessment was made available for public review between March 4, 2002 and April 4,
2002.
The assessment explains that, overall, Santa Monica is doing a commendable job of
promoting affordable housing and preventing housing discrimination. It highlights the
Citys facilitation of a broad range of housing opportunities through dozens of programs
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and the Citys provision of incentives for development of affordable and special needs
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housing projects. The assessment also notes that Santa Monicas Just Cause Eviction and
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Tenant Harassment laws, among others, help to assure that tenants are not discriminated
against by building owners and that the number of Fair Housing complaints received by the
City Attorneys Office has steadily declined in the past five years, from around 12 per year
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to 3 or 4. (This same period has seen a dramatic rise in the number of Tenant Harassment
complaints, but very few of these have alleged discrimination.) The assessment also
observes that home loan practices for the City show no discernable discrimination on the
basis of any suspect classification. Finally, the assessment notes that the greatest
impediments to available housing in Santa Monica continue to be the cost of housing
which is uniformly high and is not related to housing discrimination.
Financial/Budget Impact
There is no financial or budget impact.
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Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council review and receive the assessment.
PREPARED BY: Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
Adam Radinsky, Consumer Protection Attorney
Claudia Thompson, Legal Admin. Staff Asst.
ATTACHMENT: Assessment of Impediments to Fair Housing Report
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