CHOA Efforts
CHOA’s main 2 efforts are:
- Short-term efforts: What can be done now to reduce homelessness?
- Housing Element: This is the long-term effort to build more housing and affordable housing in Arcadia.
Below, we share details of these 2 efforts.
Short-term
Our short-term efforts are centered around the question, “What can be cone right now?”. Much of this is around communicating to groups, sharing what services CHOA knows about, and promoting new efforts that individuals and churches can start. Below is the list of these efforts, and resource lists.
Homeless Stakeholders group
CHOA is part of the Homeless Stakeholders group. This group is put together by the City of Arcadia, to get perspectives from many view points across the city, and includes other organizations in the ctiy, like the School District, the Police and Fire Department, the USC Arcadia Hospital, and of course residents and business representatives. This group meets quarterly, and review what is the law, and where is there agreement, and what are possible solutions. Below is the web page for this group on the City of Arcadia’s website.
Quick resourse lists
Arcadia Interfaith Action Group (AIAG)
From what CHOA knows, there is only one group that connects many faith communities together. This is the Arcadia Interfaith Action Group, for years connecting 8 Arcadia faith communities of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, among others. CHOA joins their monthly meetings, and updates them on matters of homelessness and affordable housing. CHOA looks forward to future collaboration with the Arcadia Interfaith Action Group.
Housing Element
The Housing Element is a 8 year plan, that is part of the city’s General Plan. This cycle is unique, in that the State of California has charged cities across the state to build both more housing, and more affordable housing. This is called the the RHNA quota, for Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Arcadia is to build 3,214 more housing units in this 8 year span, including 1,600 Affordable Housing units. See the RHNA quotes for all cities in Southern Californin in the link below.
One can easily see how this will change Arcadia. Developments, like the Alexan mix-use project near REI and the Rusnak auto dealership pictured on the left is one example. The plan is NOT to rip up single-family homes. Rather, the plan is to spread this higher density development across Arcadia, around the Gold Line station, along 1st Avenue and Live Oak Avenue, and some around Baldwin Avenue and Foothill Avenue. This also allow to revitalize those areas. Think of Myrtle Street in Monrovia, and Old Town in Pasadena, with many housing built around businesses. See the City of Arcadia web page below for more details and summary videos.
There is so much to know, and learn, about the Housing Element. We break up the topics in small chunks, so you can pick and choose, and absorb them in smaller portions. We do not want to discourage you if this post is too long.
- Inclusionary Ordinance: For new residential development, what percentage should be for Affordable Housing in Arcadia? Currently, it is 0%. Pasadena has 20%. Read our May newsletter to understand a bit more of the Inclusionary Ordinance is about.
- Definition of Affordable Housing: Either for renting an Affordable Housing apartment, or buying an Affordable Housing condo, one needs income. Affordable Housing is restricted to those at the lower end of the income spectum. Read our July newsletter to see the income chart, and realize Arcadia already has 3 Affordable Housing units…for years.
- Rezoning:(Rezoning was passed by City Council on Feb. 6, 2024, by a unanimous 5-0 vote. Amazing!) Rezoning is needed for 2 reasons: 1) Allow for residential units in areas where only commercial buildings are located, and 2) increase the density in certain areas, up to 80 dwelling units per acre. The January 2024 newsletter provide more details, and points to links that the city has provided. Review this Zoning map from the city to see the changes yourself. You like where the city has placed all the new residential units? CHOA is pleased how this is so well planned.
