Housing and Community Development

The City Council of Salinas has long been an advocate for housing to be affordable across the economic spectrum of our residents. The large majority of housing constructed within the City is developed by the private sector. Housing and land use policies set out in the Salinas General Plan guide this development. The HOUSING ELEMENT of the City's General Plan seeks to promote equal housing opportunity and to encourage the development and retention of housing that is suitable for all our residents, including groups that may have special housing needs. Such groups include the disabled, seniors, large households, farm workers, homeless, and single parent households. Regulatory controls, such as the Zoning Code and the Uniform Housing Code, set the parameters for the development of new housing and for the maintenance of existing residential units. In addition, financial assistance programs (such as loans or mortgage revenue bonds) are targeted to portions of the housing market under served by the private sector.

The Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) oversees the production of affordable units mandated by regulatory controls - such as Inclusionary Housing and units produced as a result of density bonus. Such units are targeted to lower income households; once developed, they need to be monitored so that affordability is maintained over time. HCD staff assist with the development and implementation of housing policy, and, together with the redevelopment Department, provide staff support to the City Council's Housing Subcommittee.

The Housing and Community Development Division administers federal grants received by the City to maintain and improve both specific lower income neighborhoods and affordable housing throughout the City. US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds are used to provide low interest loans to rehabilitate homes and to support the development of housing by nonprofit organizations. HUD funds are also employed to help supply necessary infrastructure (e.g., parks, streetlights, water mains) to once-neglected neighborhoods. And finally, HCD oversees the use of HUD funds set aside to support necessary public services to populations most in need of assistance. These include at-risk youth, seniors, the disabled, and the homeless.

The City of Salinas neither owns nor manages any housing units. Public housing within Salinas is operated by the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey (831-424-2892).

Mailing Address:
200 Lincoln Avenue, Salinas CA 93901

Telephone Number:
(831) 758-7334

TDD users may contact the California Relay Service:
1 (800) 806-4474

Fax:
(831) 758-7234

E-mail:
Housing and Community Development

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.