City Seeks Input on Housing, Community Needs

The city of Glendora is seeking input from residents as city officials prepare to utilize $300,000 in funding for housing and community needs.

The city is hosting a community input workshop 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 in the to prepare for  its One-Year Action Plan, which will outline how the city will spend roughly $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding. One-Year Action Plans are required from cities when awarded money from  the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The community workshop is intended receive input from Glendora residents on long and short-term community needs. Glendora residents, volunteer groups, community-based organizations, and non-profit agencies are encouraged to participate in the workshop.

CDBG grants have been used in addressing city infrastructure deficiencies, developing low-income and senior housing, and addressing the city’s special needs populations.

According to a , there are several areas of improvement regarding housing opportunities for special needs populations.

With Hispanics totaling almost one-third of the population and Asians making up 8 percent, the study identified a need to provide outreach and assistance to a growing lower-income group.

While the city had a 76 percent approval rating for loan applications – higher than the county average of 66 percent – most of the denials were to minority and lower-income communities, said Karen Warner of Karen Warner, Inc, a research firm.

“These are areas the city should look at to make sure that financing is available,” said Warner.

With 28 percent of households headed by seniors and more than 7,000 people identified with special needs, the study recommended an emphasis on city zoning codes to accommodate the group.

Last year, much of the city’s $336,854 in CDBG funding went toward city capital improvement projects such as upgraded signals and crosswalks. Funding went toward the completion of an and other City Hall projects to make the building handicap accessible.

The city also used $57,000 of last year’s CDBG funding to – Cory’s Kitchen Food Bank, Citrus College Orfalea Family Children’s Center, the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless, EYE-DAS, Glendora Reads!, YWCA San Gabriel, Valley Meals on Wheels, Glendora Welfare Association, Shepherd’s Pantry and YWCA San Gabriel Valley WINGS.

However, with an expected reduction in CDBG funding from last year, the city may need to cut back on program funding.

“As a forewarning for the next budget year, all these groups, including the city, should be anticipating cuts,” said City Manager Chris Jeffers. “Because it becomes very clear from the dialogue in Washington that for 2012, further cuts will be asked of and made.”