Friend of CHOA,
Hope you are well. More and more efforts on housing are going on, in Arcadia. This newsletter is just an update of continued efforts. Serving is needed, especially in the new area of Safe Parking. Advocacy continues, such as speaking for affordable housing in Arcadia.
Here is what is in this newsletter:
- 12 days to go until CHOA’s next Sharing Session, our in-person gatherings, to give you all updates on what is going on. The main focus of this gathering is Safe Parking. You and your church can be change agents; be part of something new in Arcadia. Come and see, and hear what is going on. We meet on the morning of Saturday, April 20th, from 9:30am to 11:30am, at Hills Church.
- We met with Mayor Pro Tem Michael Cao, on building affordable housing, made possible by the Housing Element. We had another good gathering, sharing our perspectives and stories.
- Arcadia Interfaith Action Group’s Day of Prayer gathering, on the National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2nd, 7pm-8pm, at Santa Anita Church. We provide some more details below. Join this corporate prayer time in Arcadia.
Lots going on. Join us. And pray for housing, and the unhoused…yes, in Arcadia.
Peace,
–Mike Veerman
CHOA Team Lead
12 days to the CHOA Sharing Session on Sat., April 20th
The main topic in this gathering will be the new Safe Parking Program. CHOA will explain what the Safe Parking Program is, and how we envision it to work here in Arcadia. We will also have speakers on the Safe Parking Program, how it is working in Pasadena for 2 years, and what each partner in Arcadia will do. As part of the presentation, we will have key speakers as well:
- Tashera Taylor, CEO of Foothill Unity Center
- Pastor Sharon Richter from Trinity Lutheran in Pasadena (2 years hosting Safe Parking)
We will have Mayor April Verlato, and City Councilmember Eileen Wang joining us as well. So grateful to have our elected officials join us, and share what they see, and have done. Mayor Verlato will give an update on her perspective on housing in Arcadia.
We thank Hills Church and Pastor Walter for hosting our Sharing Session again. They hosted last year, in April 2023 as well. We are so glad and grateful to return to Hills Church. (As a reminder, Hills Church has free food distribution on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.)
Of course, CHOA will also give updates on other key efforts, particularly on the Housing Element, bringing more Housing and Affordable Housing to Arcadia.
See the below flier. Fliers can also be found using the link below.
Join us and learn what is happening on housing in Arcadia. Bring a friend!!
CHOA Sharing Session flier for April 20th
RSVP with the link below, and let us know you are joining us on Saturday morning on April 20th, 9:30am to 11:30am.
RSVP for April 20th
Meeting with Mayor Pro Tem Michael Cao in March
CHOA and supporters continue to meet with each City Councilmember, on why we would like to see affordable housing come to Arcadia. 7 of us met with Mayor Pro Tem Michahel Cao in March (see the picture below), sharing our stories and perspectives on housing. This time, we met at the conference room next to the City Council chambers.
Michael Cao has been listening on matters around housing. He joined the Affordable Housing Bus Tour in Pasadena last July, voted for the Rezoning change in Arcadia in early February, and attended the Homelessness Symposium in late February. We commend him for engaging in housing topics, voting for housing, and urge him to vote for the next key decision coming to Arcadia, which involves Affordable Housing.
The next crucial vote is coming in a few months. This is the Inclusionary Ordinance. CHOA will join in on the study session in April to learn about the details. This is a pivotal decision. There are 2 parts:
- First, what percentage will the city set for affordable housing in each new development?
- Second is, if the developer does not want to build affordable units, they need to pay an in lieu fee; what rate will this in lieu fee be? The idea is, the funds from all the in lieu fees accumulate until the city has enough funds to build a development that only includes affordable housing units.
Once CHOA learns all the details, we will share those with you all, and if it looks good, we will urge you to email City Council to vote to pass it. We’ll keep you posted!!
National Day of Prayer with AIAG on May 2nd
The Arcadia Interfaith Action Group (AIAG) welcomes everyone to join them for a gathering of prayer on Thursday, May 2nd, 7pm to 8pm, at Santa Anita Church (226 W Colorado Blvd Arcadia, CA 91007). The Arcadia Interfaith Action Group consists of 7 faiths: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Sikh, and Baháʼí.
They are the only group where faith leaders regularly meet in Arcadia. They meet monthly. One of the CHOA team members has been attending their monthly meetings for a year now.
Join AIAG for a time of prayer…for peace, locally and world-wide.