Big news! We’ve added new housing program data - check them out under “Housing Programs” on each city page.

Foster City

Housing Element Status
Certified
Rent Burden
34%
rent burdened
Affordable Housing Production
0%
affordable permits issued
Housing Programs
106
total programs
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Housing Programs

Housing programs are the strategies that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.

6th Cycle Programs

106
total programs

Local housing programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well.

Overview of Program Deliverables

Use the below data to explore this jurisdiction’s approaches to affirmatively furthering fair housing for the 6th element cycle, and review the actions, deliverables, and deadlines committed to for each program.

PROGRAM NUMBER
ACTIONS
DELIVERABLE
DELIVERABLE DATE
H-A-1-a
The City will provide a statistical summary of residential building activity tied to various types of housing, household need, income and Housing Element program targets.
Provide information annually by April 1 as part of the General Plan Annual Progress Report
H-A-1-b
Evaluate residential development proposals for consistency with the 2023-2031 Housing Element Sites Inventory. If a development approval will cause the Sites Inventory to be unable to accommodate all income levels of the RHNA, then additional site(s) shall be added pursuant to Government Code Section 8.HOUSING GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS 65863(b)(1). No later than December 2023, the City will develop a procedure to monitor the development of proposed projects and vacant and non-vacant sites in the Sites Inventory and ensure that adequate sites are available throughout the 6th Cycle Planning Period to meet the remaining RHNA by income category to implement “no net loss” requirements. The City will monitor and report on the “no net loss” requirement on an annual basis with the Annual Progress Report. The procedure will monitor: 1) Unit count and income/affordability assumed on parcels included in the sites inventory as proposed projects, vacant, and underutilized sites. 2) Actual units constructed and income/affordability when parcels are developed. 3) Net change in capacity and income/affordability and a summary of remaining capacity and income/affordability in meeting the City’s remaining RHNA. 4) Within one year of report on the “no net loss”, if necessary, make adjustments (e.g., incentives, rezonings, etc.) or identify additional sites. 5) In 2027 conduct a mid-term evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies in promoting housing opportunities throughout the City, including but not limited to programs geographically targeted in single-family areas, and make adjustments to achieve the quantified objectives by 2031 as called for in H-E-10-a.
Maintenance of Sites Inventory sufficient to accommodate the RHNA
Develop procedure for monitoring by December 2023 and provide information annually by April 1 as part of the General Plan Annual Progress Report; 2027 mid-term evaluation
H-A-1-c
The City will update its Housing Element, consistent with State Law requirements.
Provide the next update by January 2031
H-A-1-d
Any future amendments to the General Plan will be evaluated for consistency with the Housing Element.
Ongoing
H-A-2-a
The City will build on the success of “Home is Foster City” and “Community Dialogue Series” outreach programs to improve citizen awareness of housing needs, rehabilitation and disaster assistance loan subsidy programs, code enforcement, energy conservation programs, fair housing laws and affordable housing resources by: (1) having printed housing information available at City Hall, library, and other key locations; (2) providing public information through articles in the local newspaper, on the City’s website, the digital marquee, social media, and with cable TV public service announcements; (3) using additional methods to reach underserved and/or often underrepresented members of the community, including but not limited to low-income households, renters, and persons with disabilities.
Update website and print materials by December 2023; update social media and local newspaper articles at least once per year
H-A-3-a
The City will update the City’s BMR Administrative Guidelines to provide technical assistance, such as information on applicable regulations and policies and how to coordinate various programs, to non-profit groups organized to encourage provision of affordable housing and sponsors of affordable housing projects and programs. The City will facilitate provision of affordable housing by providing technical assistance in a liaison role with non-profit housing groups and managers of affordable housing units in the City.
Targeting: Citywide
Update City’s BMR Administrative Guidelines and post on the City’s website by December 2023; hold annual roundtable meetings and/or trainings with non-profit housing groups and managers of affordable housing units
H-A-4-a
Work with EMID to develop water conservation requirements and/or increased water supply that will ensure sufficient water capacity to accommodate the RHNA, such as the potential use of water demand offset policies, require new and renovated developments to have “net neutral” water demand, or use of recycled water for irrigation.
Prior to or concurrent with adoption of Housing Element
H-A-4-b
Upon adoption of the Housing Element, Provide a copy to EMID in compliance with California Government Code Section 65589.7
Upon adoption of the Housing Element, Provide a copy to EMID in compliance with California Government Code Section 65589.7
H-A-5-a
Continue to implement the City’s commercial linkage fee on new commercial development as a way to require new commercial development to contribute to the supply of affordable housing and to provide funding for affordable housing programs, including periodic review and update of the fee every five to seven years following the update in 2022.
Total fees collected annually
Review and update by 2028; review and update every five to seven years thereafter
H-A-5-b
Monitor the availability of and apply for local, state or federal funding sources that could be used to provide funding for affordable housing programs.
Number of funding applications annually Quantified Objective: Apply for at least one funding opportunity per year . Targeting: Funding that will expand housing choices in singlefamily areas such as for ADUs, home share programs, and lower-income homeowners.
Report on funding applications to City Council annually in the General Plan Annual Report
H-A-5-c
Provide the necessary legal framework to be able to accept grants and donations to the City Affordable Housing Fund as a qualified trust fund from County, State, or Federal programs; employers; organizations; and individual donors. Evaluate potential sources of reliable funding for affordable housing programs.
Recommend legal framework to City Council by December 2023
H-A-5-d
As part of the annual budget, allocate funds from the City Affordable Housing Fund or other sources to fund programs to address housing needs identified in the Housing Element and based on timing commitments specified for each program, that may include but are not limited to: (1) Staffing and other resources to administer housing programs. (2) H-B-2-a: Lower Income Homeowner Rehabilitation. (3) H-B-2-b: Facilitate Non-Profit Rehabilitation and Maintenance Assistance. (4) H-D-4-b: ADU Financial Incentive Program. (5) H-F-2-a: Emergency Housing Assistance. (6) H-G-2-b: Fair Housing Training for Landlords and Tenants.
Amount of funding allocated annually
Implement funding for programs as part of the annual budget process
H-A-5-e
Develop a funding program and outli
Within five (5) days of adoption
H-A-4-c
Work with EMID on updates to the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and other policies and procedures to ensure implementation of the required priority for water and sewer service for developments with units affordable to lower-income households, as required by California Government Code 65589.7.
Assist with update of next UWMP by 2025
H-A-4-d
Work with EMID to develop, promote, and implement water conservation methods and programs for new and existing developments, such as low flow fixtures, rebate programs, “lawn begone”, etc. Improve promotion by providing information on conservation programs to building permit applicants.
Improve Building Division website and handout information on conservation programs by December 2023
H-A-6-a
Establish and post a list of local labor unions and apprenticeship programs on City’s website and encourage the developers and contractors to hire local labor.
Establish the list by December 2023. Bi-annually update the list or upon requests from the local unions to be added to the list.
H-B-1-a
Continue the existing Zoning and Building Code Enforcement and Property Maintenance programs. In addition, continue the mandatory fire code inspection program. Provide referrals to assistance programs in cases where owner is eligible per H-B-2-b.
Percentage of cases closed within 60 days.
Continue to implement program Performance metric: Close 90% of code enforcement cases within 90 days
H-B-2-a
The City will provide or partner with a regional program to provide rehabilitation loans, energy improvement such as weatherization or solar, disaster assistance programs, and proactive outreach to lower-income homeowners.
Number of new loans by 2031 . Targeting: Increased outreach for program participation to owners in census tracts with higher reported cost burden, 6082 and 6083
Implement program by December 2024 Quantified Objective: 18 new loans by 2031 or 3 per year, half of which being very low income and half of which being low income
H-B-2-b
The City will initiate a rebate program to provide up to $5,000 in funding to very lowincome homeowners who cannot otherwise afford the repairs. Eligible repairs include weatherization of doors and windows, broken windows and doors, installation of smoke detectors, water-heater replacement, electrical/mechanical work, plumbing repairs, solar photovoltaic, and accessibility improvements. The City will identify possible non-profit organizations (such as Rebuilding Together Peninsula, churches, service clubs, or Girl or Boy Scouts) that can provide assistance/proactive outreach and will provide information on the City’s website and handouts at City Hall.
Number of units assisted by 2031 . Targeting: Increased outreach for program participation to owners in census tracts with higher reported cost burden, 6082 and 6083
Implement program by December 2024 Quantified Objectives: 6 units improved with assistance by 2031 or one very low-income owner unit improved with assistance per year
H-B-3-a
The City will continue to encourage Energy Conservation measures by enforcing CALGreen Energy requirements and continue to waive building permit fees for solar permits (photovoltaic panels). The City will continue the solar photovoltaic $1000 rebate program as long as funds are available.
Number of electric vehicle charging and photovoltaic permits issued per year
Continue to implement program Quantified Objectives: Issue 15 electric vehicle charging and 50 photovoltaic permits per year
Displaying 1 - 20 of 106
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