Executive Board Takes Big Step to Advance RHNA Process
The ABAG Executive Board at its Jan. 21 meeting approved the Draft Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Methodology and Final RHNA Subregional Shares. Marking a major milestone in the multi-year process for the 2023-31 RHNA cycle, the Draft RHNA Methodology and Final RHNA Subregional Shares integrate the Plan Bay Area Final Blueprint data via the 2050 Households baseline. The Executive Board also approved the Regional Planning Committee’s recommendation to include the equity adjustment as part of the Draft RHNA Methodology.
ABAG’s Draft RHNA Methodology largely is the same as the Proposed Methodology released in October 2020, which uses data from the Plan Bay Area 2050 Blueprint as the baseline allocation and includes factors related to access to high opportunity areas and proximity to jobs. However, the Draft RHNA Methodology integrates data from the Plan Bay Area 2050 Final Blueprint and, in response to public comment, incorporates the “equity adjustment” originally proposed by several members of the Housing Methodology Committee. The equity adjustment ensures that all jurisdictions exhibiting above-average levels of racial and economic exclusion take on a fair share of low- and very-low-income RHNA units.
For more information about the Draft Methodology, review the Jan 21 RHNA Executive Board packet materials. ABAG later this month will post the Draft RHNA Methodology report on its website, coinciding with submission of the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for its review, as required by state law. For more information about the remaining phases of the RHNA process, please refer to the schedule of key milestones.
The Executive Board at is January meeting also approved advancement of the Plan Bay Area 2050 Final Blueprint as the Preferred Alternative for the environmental analysis currently underway. With the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s subsequent approval at its own January meeting, the long-range regional plan moves into its final phase, with a focus on implementation.
RHNA Background
California law recognizes that local governments play a vital role in developing affordable housing. In 1969, the state mandated that all California cities, towns and counties must plan for the housing needs of our residents—regardless of income.
This mandate is called the Housing Element and Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA. As part of RHNA, the state Department of Housing and Community Development determines the total number of new homes the Bay Area needs to build — and how affordable these homes need to be — in order to meet the housing needs of people at all income levels.
In a letter dated June 9, 2020, HCD provided ABAG with the Regional Housing Needs Determination (RHND) for the Bay Area for the eight-year RHNA cycle as follows:
Income Category
Percent
Housing Unit Need
Very Low
25.9%
114,442
Low
14.9%
65,892
Moderate
16.5%
72,712
Above Moderate
42.6%
188,130
Total
100%
441,176
Housing Technical Assistance
To assist local governments with updating and adopting their housing elements, ABAG has launched the Regional Housing Technical Assistance program with the support of state funding from HCD. As the Bay Area’s Council of Governments, ABAG is eligible to receive funding from HCD through the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grants program on a population-based formula – totaling roughly $23.9 million. The funding will support work through the end of December 2023.
The ABAG Executive Board at its November 2020 meeting approved the full program design and budget for the Regional Housing Technical Assistance Program, including over $10 million in local REAP grants. The presentation and related documents are available. View the Housing Technical Assistance Program website for more information.
Current Funding Opportunities: Call for Letters of Interest for REAP & PDA Planning and Technical Assistance Grants – Due February 12
ABAG and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission invite local governments to submit Letters of Interest for Technical Assistance and Planning Grants to support Housing Elements and other housing-supportive initiatives as well as Priority Development Areas (PDAs).
This solicitation combines the Regional Early Action Program (REAP) and Priority Development Area Program to streamline the application process and make the most of approximately $12 million in available funding. Every jurisdiction, regardless of whether or not it has nominated a PDA, is entitled to non-competitive funding to support Housing Elements and other housing-supportive initiatives. All jurisdictions may also apply for competitive funding through the REAP and the PDA Programs, with PDA funding set aside for cities with PDAs.
Additional information is available via the recordings of webinars presenting a how to apply, a FAQ document and the webinar presentation. Please view these materials here. Email loi@bayareametro.gov with any questions.
Approved: Plan Bay Area 2050 Final Blueprint
Last month’s approvals of the Plan Bay Area 2050 Final Blueprint by the Executive Board and MTC — both in unanimous votes — mark the completion of the Blueprint phase of Plan Bay Area 2050, which kicked off in fall 2019. The January actions built upon the approval in fall 2020 of key inputs to the Final Blueprint, including the 35 strategies, growth geographies and the final regional growth forecast. The Plan Bay Area 2050 process now pivots to implementation.
While the adopted Final Blueprint focuses on 35 long-range strategies for the region’s future through 2050, the Plan Bay Area 2050 Implementation Plan will zoom into the next five years with tangible actions ABAG, MTC and partner agencies can advance collaboratively to realize the Plan’s adopted Vision and to implement each strategy.
ABAG and MTC held virtual stakeholder workshops in November 2020, followed by a public online survey and community-based focus groups in January 2021. This month, staff will provide an update to the Regional Advisory Working Group (RAWG) and relevant ABAG and MTC committees. An initial set of high-priority implementation actions will be shared, followed by a more comprehensive list later this winter.
Staff expects to finalize the Draft Plan Bay Area 2050 document, the Draft Environmental Impact Report and the Draft Implementation Plan this spring, with robust public engagement and public information efforts planned for late spring. The final Plan Bay Area 2050 remains on track for adoption in fall 2021.
