Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2024-2025
• Agency Response
Response to:
Housing For Whom?
Housing For Whom? An Investigation of Inclusionary Housing in the City of Santa Cruz
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 3 findings
F1
Page 11
The contradictory entries on the City’s website and in the City’s legal documents on whether Inclusionary Housing is restricted to Low, Very Low and Extremely Low income levels or whether it includes the Moderate income level is a major discrepancy with consequences about who is eligible for and who obtains Inclusionary Housing.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Page 11
The City has no data on whether Inclusionary Housing is occupied by income-verified local residents and local workers. Both groups are given preference for housing as required by Ordinance. Without data, neither the City nor the community can be assured that such housing is meeting its intended purpose.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Page 11
The City has no data on the percentage of units in Inclusionary and 100% Affordable Housing projects that are rented to UCSC students. This leaves the City and the public unable to assess the impact of UCSC on the local affordable housing supply. Such data is important for the City’s ongoing negotiations with UCSC to build more on-campus housing.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 11The main function of the Civil Grand Jury is to improve transparency and accountability in local government. If adopted, the four recommendations from the Civil Grand Jury will help the City clarify its Inclusionary Housing regulations. Doing so will provide the City and the community with clear data on which to base claims and conclusions about who occupies affordable housing in the City of Santa Cruz.