The Santa Monica City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping its lowest-income residents housed.
On Tuesday evening, the city council heard public comments and a staff presentation on the Santa Monica Housing Authority’s (SMHA) five-year plan for 2025-2030 (Agenda, Item 12a) and its goals for keeping extremely low, very low, and low-income residents housed through the six federal housing voucher programs it administers.
The SMHA administers roughly 1,750 rental assistance vouchers each year.
The SMHA is required to submit an annual Public Housing Authority Plan and progress report to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to inform the agency, the public, and housing voucher holders of updates to its mission and goals. According to a city staff report, “The SMHA’s mission mirrors that of HUD’s, focusing on promoting adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity, and a discrimination-free, suitable living environment.”
In October 2020, the city council, along with tenant representatives who together make up the Housing Authority Board (HAB), passed the current five-year plan that’s due to expire at the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
The key goals and initiatives of the new five-year plan are:
- “Expand Supportive Housing Solutions
- Actively seek and apply for additional vouchers as they become available.
- Pursue new construction and rehabilitation projects to increase the supply of affordable housing, subject to funding availability.
- Enhance Access to Voucher Programs for Santa Monica’s Vulnerable Populations
- Implement targeted interventions to reduce homelessness among individuals and families.
- Develop prevention strategies to help at-risk households maintain stable housing.
- Promote Excellence and Innovation in Service Delivery
- Foster a client-centered approach that prioritizes responsiveness, empathy, and efficiency.
- Strengthen relationships with current landlords while actively recruiting new property owners to expand housing options.
- Provide education and outreach to reduce stigma and increase awareness of needs-based housing programs.
- Explore innovative database solutions and technology to enhance efficiency and improve customer service.”
The staff report explains “This strategic roadmap will guide SMHA’s efforts over the next 5 years, ensuring its programs remain adaptable to the community’s evolving needs while maintaining compliance with federal regulations.”
This year’s annual progress report includes several pieces of good news on the advancement of the housing goals in the five-year plan concluding on June 30. They consist of:
- Implementing the first benefits increase since the inception of the Preserving Our Diversity (POD) rental assistance program for seniors to combat inflation. The monthly assistance will now average $766 for 205 senior apartment dwellers, up from $510
- City Housing Trust Fund financing of $11,742,234 to The Laurel at 1413 Michigan Avenue to develop 57 units for unhoused residents
- A City Housing Trust Fund commitment of $1,730,153 at 1342 Berkeley Street to build 13 units for young adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness
- Announcing a development at 1318 4th Street of 122 units, 50 of which will be dedicated to permanent supportive housing. The city council approved the development agreement and lease terms last October
- A senior housing development at 1211-1217 14th Street/1402 Wilshire Blvd. that will provide 82 affordable units, 40 of which will be dedicated to permanent supportive housing.
Administrative changes have also come down from the feds. Included in SMHA’s Administrative Plan for 2025-2026 is a new approach to housing inspections, NSPIRE, that “prioritizes health, safety, and functional deficiencies over appearance-related issues.” It establishes a single standardized inspection criteria for people under four voucher programs. This HUD change took effect in October 2023 and has already been incorporated into SMHA’s operations.
There are also some anticipated changes to the implementation of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA), which will modify income review requirements and establish maximum asset limits for voucher holders. According to the report, “These efforts reflect SMHA’s commitment to improving operational efficiency, expanding affordable housing opportunities, and adapting to evolving federal requirements.”
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya inquired about the public input process and how many voucher holders submitted comments. SMHA Administrative Analyst Patrick Komesu said that while the public comment period for voucher holders is only 45 days following the plan going public, the department now accepts feedback throughout the year. He says this year-round feedback period has increased overall public participation in the development of the plans.
“Participation in this was what I had hoped for,” he said.
But resident Denise Neal questioned why only voucher holders are invited to comment publicly on the SMHA plan. She feels unhoused residents should also have a voice in what’s being considered, as they may one day benefit from a voucher program. Instead, she says, they are being pushed to the bottom of the list.
“After 30-plus years of trying to obtain a voucher, it never happened for my family,” she said. “And now it’s happening with my children, whose father passed away.”
All told, the council, acting with a public member as the Housing Authority Board, not only unanimously approved the SMHA’s five-year plan, but also adopted the 2025-2026 Annual Plan for the previous 5-Year Plan for fiscal years 2020-2025, and the fiscal year 2025-2026 Santa Monica Housing Authority Administrative Plan.
