affordable housing | Valley Public Radio

Clovis Must Zone For Low-Income Housing According To Court Ruling

By Soreath Hok • May 10, 2021

A recent ruling on a lawsuit filed in 2019 says the city of Clovis must begin the process of building more high-density, affordable housing and has been violating a state law by not doing so.

Attorney Patience Milrod, executive director of Central California Legal Services, says Clovis has traditionally zoned for single family homes, pricing out low-income residents.

Fresno City Manager Presents $25 Million Homeless And Housing Development Plan For Next Budget Year

By Soreath Hok • Apr 29, 2021

It’s estimated that from 2019 to 2020, Fresno’s homeless population increased by almost 70%. City Manager Tommy Esqueda is certain that number has continued to grow this year.

“We don't have enough housing capacity available to get folks out of the shelters we’ve invested in, and so we have more people on the street,” he said.

During Wednesday’s city council meeting, Esqueda presented a $25 million housing development plan for the next fiscal year.

Retro Report Explores The History Of Evictions In Fresno

By Kathleen Schock • Dec 18, 2020

The nonprofit news organization Retro Report is working on a documentary project looking at the high eviction rates of three cities in the U.S., including Fresno. According to Retro Report Field Producer Daniel Casarez, the roots of Fresno’s eviction rates go all the way back to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and the discriminatory practice of redlining. That’s when people of color are denied access to housing and loans within specific neighborhoods. Valley Edition Host Kathleen Schock spoke with Casarez about the project.

Fresno Housing Advocates on Eviction and COVID-19

By Kathleen Schock • Aug 7, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended most evictions in April. But now state lawmakers are debating whether to lift the moratorium, leaving renters who have lost their jobs to the pandemic facing an uncertain future.

New Study 'Evicted in Fresno' Finds Highest Rates of Evictions Are In South Fresno

By Monica Velez • Nov 4, 2019

Thousands of people in Fresno County are evicted from their homes every year.

Lawsuit Alleges City Of Clovis Has 'No Willingness' To Follow Affordable Housing Law

By Laura Tsutsui • Oct 25, 2019

The City of Clovis is being sued for its lack of affordable housing. A lawsuit filed in Fresno County Superior Court Wednesday alleged that the city isn’t in compliance with state housing law, and is discriminating against low-income people by not planning for high density housing.

In The Studio: Valley Homelessness, 'You're Not There, You Don't Exist, You're Invisible'

By Kathleen Schock • Sep 20, 2019

Renters in Fresno County need to make about twice the minimum wage to be able to afford the median monthly rent. Conditions like high rents contribute to the ongoing issue of homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley.

Valley Affordable Housing Projects To Get Cap-and-Trade Funds

By Joe Moore • Oct 13, 2016

A number of affordable housing projects in Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties are getting a financial boost from the state’s cap-and-trade program. The state’s Strategic Growth Council announced Wednesday that the four developments will receive around $50 million from the program, which aims to reduce residents’ reliance on cars, through supporting "transit-oriented" development.

Lawsuit Alleges Fresno Doesn't Have Enough Affordable Housing

By Jeffrey Hess • Feb 18, 2016

Affordable housing advocates have filed a lawsuit against the city of Fresno, claiming it has failed to make enough land available for low cost housing.

Residents of southwest Fresno say the city has failed to re-zone some 700-acres of land it promised to set aside for multifamily homes and apartments.

Attorney Ashley Werner with the Leadership Council for Justice says Fresno is facing an affordable housing crisis.

Fresno City Manager Responds To Bee Article On "Suspending" Summerset Village Fees

By Joe Moore • Jan 14, 2016

City of Fresno officials are promising today they still plan to hold the owner of the Summerset Village apartments accountable for hundreds of code violations. The statement from City Manager Bruce Rudd comes just hours after the Fresno Bee reported that the city's code enforcement department has suspended $290,000 in fines against property owner Chris Henry.

New Buyer, Restoration Plan Emerges For Historic Hotel Fresno

By Joe Moore • Nov 17, 2014

The historic Hotel Fresno, a landmark on the city's skyline since 1912, could soon be reborn as the latest residential development in the downtown district.

The Fresno City Council is set to vote Thursday on a plan that would allow potential new owners APEC International, LLC to move forward with the $21 million restoration project. Their vision would transform the vacant hotel into a 70 unit apartment building.

Cap-and-Trade Money Would Go To Affordable Housing and Transit Under Proposal

By Amy Quinton - Capital Public Radio • Apr 14, 2014

Money generated from California’s cap-and-trade program would go to mass transit, sustainable affordable housing and high speed rail under a proposal by Senate leader Darrell Steinberg. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, Steinberg is backtracking from his previous proposal.

Failed Downtown Fresno Housing Project Leaves City Holding The Bag

By Joe Moore • Apr 8, 2014

When it was first announced nearly seven years ago, the Bastian Court apartment complex was supposed to be an important part of a revitalized downtown Fresno. The city council liked the vision so much that they approved spending over $3 million in low-income housing funds on the project.

But now the land that was once slated for a five story mixed-use building near the former Fresno Met Museum sits vacant, and could soon have a new owner - the City of Fresno.