RESPONDING TO DISPLACEMENT
CAUSED BY WILDFIRES
Allowing Temporary Placement of RVs on Private Property
As fire evacuees have had to temporarily leave their homes or in some cases have lost their homes, Springfield residents and businesses have reached out to help. Many have offered a landing spot for those with recreational vehicles (RVs). In response, the City Council is considering suspending enforcement of City Codes that prevent occupying in RVs (outside of RV parks or the City's overnight parking program). Council will hold a work session to discuss allowing this approach on Monday, September 28 at 5:30 pm. City Council agenda page.
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RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC
Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Funds
The federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) included a special allocation of funding to help local communities respond to the impacts of coronavirus. This CDBG-CV funding is a separate grant from the entitlement CDBG grants received on an annual basis from the federal government. In recognition of the economic impact the virus has had on the community and the need for housing stabilization, the City Council dedicated $257,237 of these funds toward emergency household assistance (such as rent payments and utility assistance) with a portion dedicated to Latinx households. Lane County is administering these funds on a cyclical basis. In addition, Council approved additional support for meal delivery to seniors, a population particularly vulnerable to the virus. The City has been awarded additional CDBG-CV funds and will go through a public process this fall/winter to allocate those dollars as needed.
White Bird Clinic Outreach
White Bird Clinic has been helping people who live outside to shelter in place based on camp guidelines approved by the City. Outreach staff provide information about COVID-19 as it relates to people living outside and provides information about services where appropriate. They also distribute supplies and provide medical screenings and triage. This outreach effort has successfully protected public health and safety by reducing the spread of the coronavirus and will include additional outreach efforts this fall.
Statewide Policy: Foreclosure Protections
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon's Legislature passed House Bill 4204, prohibiting lenders from pursuing foreclosures against homeowners and other borrowers through September 30. Governor Kate Brown on August 31 issued Executive Order 20-37 to extend the foreclosure moratorium to protect Oregon homeowners and business owners through December 31, 2020. Missed payments will be due at the end of a borrower's loan term, if some other arrangement is not made with the lender.
Statewide Policy: Eviction Moratorium
On June 26, Oregon's Legislature passed an extension of the statewide eviction moratorium in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. House Bill 4213 extends the moratorium on nonpayment and no-cause terminations through September 30, 2020, and includes a six month grace period until March 31, 2021, for tenants to pay back the arrears accrued from April 1-September 30. Landlords are also not allowed to add a late fee or any other penalty on a tenant's nonpayment during this period or report a tenant's nonpayment to any credit reporting agency. The federal Center for Disease Control also issued a temporary halt on many evictions through December 31, 2020.
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Request for Proposals
The 2020 Housing Request for Proposals has been released. The Eugene-Springfield HOME Consortium is seeking proposals for housing developments affordable to low-income persons. Appropriate proposals will request funds for new construction and/or acquisition and rehabilitation of existing non-residential structures or housing to be converted to affordable housing, with priority preference for proposals that create or add units. Letters of intent are due by September 30, 2020, and applications are due by October 28, 2020. More information is available on the City of Eugene website.
Development Code Update Project
Recognizing that the Springfield Development Code is difficult to use, understand, and implement, the Council has directed staff to complete a full Development Code update to resolve the complexities and outdated nature of the code. Phase 1 of the Development Code Update Project focuses on housing and includes updates to the residential zoning districts. These updates are intended to make housing easier to develop through providing clear and objective standards, a more straight forward review path, as well as integrating the state law changes to allow middle housing (HB 2001 as discussed below). Phase 1 began in late 2018 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021. More information available at Springfield Development Code Update Project web page.
The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development has written draft administrative rules to implement House Bill 2001 (HB 2001). HB 2001 requires that cities such as Springfield allow "middle housing" on residentially zoned lots or parcels that allow development of single-family detached homes. Middle housing is defined as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, and cottage clusters. The Land Conservation and Development Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed rules on Friday, September 25. Work sessions on the Development Code Update are scheduled for City Council on Monday, October 5 at 6 pm and Planning Commission on Tuesday, October 6 at 6 pm. Springfield will incorporate the middle housing rules into the draft housing code sections as part of Phase 1 of the Development Code Update Project.
Cornerstone Housing Project
The City awarded $631,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to Cornerstone Community Housing in order to help acquire land and develop a new affordable housing project for low-income families in downtown Springfield. Springfield staff are working with the School District to negotiate the purchase of the former School District Administration Building on Mill Street.
Hayden Bridge Landing
This Homes for Good project consisting of 70 units of one, two, and three-bedroom units for low-income families started construction this past spring on 5th Ave north of Fred Meyer. Completion is expected in spring 2021. The progress of Homes for Good developments can be seen on their construction cameras; see the Homes for Good website. The City of Springfield awarded the project $750,000 in federal HOME funds for construction costs, and a $750,000 loan in federal CDBG funds to acquire the vacant land.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Homeowners in Springfield are taking advantage of system development charge waivers for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).. Since 2018 when Council adopted provisions that make it easier to add a second dwelling unit to a property with a detached single family home, 34 home owners have applied to add an ADU. The City's waiver of SDCs continues through June 30, 2022 and the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission agreed to continue to waive SDCs through this fiscal year (until June 30, 2021). For more information see Accessory Dwelling Units web page.
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SUPPORTING NEEDED SERVICES
Oregon Law Center
Beginning July 1, 2020, the Lane County Legal Aid Office of the Oregon Law Center has been able to better help address legal issues that threaten housing for low-income residents in Springfield. Funding was awarded by City Council through its allocation of federal CDBG funds, helping to pay for an additional part-time staffer dedicated to residents in Springfield. More information can be found at Oregon Law Center.
Overnight Parking Program
Due to continued housing instability, the City continues to see high demand for the Overnight Parking Program. The Program allows individuals and families to legally sleep in their vehicles in church parking lots and on industrially-zoned properties. Host sites must be administered by a City-approved agency. In addition to Catholic Community Services and St. Vincent de Paul, the City has now also approved Carry It Forward as a program administrator for sites in Springfield.
Springfield Home Repair Program
The City provides grants with federal CDBG funds to very-low income homeowners to make repairs or to improve accessibility to their homes. The City hires local contractors to complete these repairs and improvements. On September 21, the City Council is scheduled to approve a special procurement process that would allow the City to enter into annual contracts with contractors who would take on these repairs/improvements on a rotating basis. As part of this process, Council would increase the grant amount available to $10,000 per household over a five year period. For more information, see the Home Repair brochure and application form.
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