Affordable housing needed in city of Calabasas

By Michael Picarella Acorn Staff Writer

The Calabasas Education Commission recently discussed the lack of affordable housing in the city, and the commissioners—along with the city and Las Virgenes Unified School District officials—worry that good teachers might be difficult to keep or attract if local housing isn’t available at a reasonable price.

The city can subsidize affordable housing programs, even with state cutbacks, according to Calabasas City Councilman Barry Groveman.

"It’s a matter of cutting waste, setting priorities and spending funds properly," Groveman said.

According to sources, the median price for a home in Calabasas is well in excess of $700,000. And moderate income for a family of four in Los Angeles County is $55,100.

Calabasas does offer affordable housing, including 140 units at Malibu Canyon Apartments, 120 units at Malibu Meadows Apartments, six units at Malibu Creek Condominiums, and mobile homes at Calabasas Village Mobile Estates for senior citizens, but most of it is occupied. Even so, the number of affordable units isn’t enough to meet demand, according to Groveman and others.

"Historically, the city has failed to adequately address affordable housing," Groveman said. "The only city program is the Residential Rehab Program (CBDG), in which we provide grants and loans to rehab single family homes including mobile homes." For more information about the program, call the city at (818) 878-4225.

First-time homebuyers can look into first-time homeowner loans, according to Calabasas associate planner Dustin Woomer. But the turnaround time might discourage a teacher who’s considering a job in the city, he said.

"This is a pressing issue and it’s going to become more and more difficult to get affordable housing as the housing prices keep going up," Woomer said.

California requires that cities and counties identify affordable housing every five years in what’s called a housing element. Calabasas was to conduct a housing element by June 2005, but the state extended the deadline to June 2006, according to Groveman.

Las Virgenes Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Steve Hanke said that the lack of affordable housing in the area hasn’t been an issue with the district’s teacher recruiting efforts at the moment.

"However, we have had conversations in the past about looking for ways to augment or to assist beginning teachers when coming into the school district because of the costs of the housing," Hanke said. "At this particular point in time with the budget and fiscal crisis as it is in California, we have not been able to do something in that nature."

Groveman said he hopes to make affordable housing a priority.

"There is approximately $1.5 million in the city’s housing trust fund," Groveman said. "How these funds will be spent will be determined when we develop an affordable housing program, which is long overdue."

But a specific situation might demand a solution before June 2006. On Jan. 1 of this year, residents of Calabasas Village Mobile Estates at 23777 Mulholland Hwy. were expected to pay an 8 percent rent increase. As a temporary fix, the city adopted an interim two-year senior voucher program that would give about $75 to $100 a month to qualified senior citizens or disabled people in need.

"This is only a start and must lead to long-term solutions for seniors," Groveman said. The city could also possibly provide temporary assistance for those who seek affordable housing, if the situation calls for it, he said. But that’s not been explored yet.

The Calabasas Education Commission mentioned the possibility of corporate sponsorship of affordable housing programs or public or private partnerships.

"I applaud the education commission for getting into this," Groveman said. The topic will go before the council sometime in the future. Groveman looks forward to discussing it, he said.

"We can’t expect to attract the best teachers if they cannot afford to live here," Groveman said. "We have both a legal and civic responsibility to provide adequate affordable housing for seniors, teachers and others who contribute to the quality of our community."