Chino council approves $804,000 PLHA application to aid homeless students and first-time buyers

The Chino City Council voted unanimously Feb. 18 to authorize submission of a Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) application under Senate Bill 2 that would make $804,000 available to the city for programs over the five‑year period ending in 2023 as collected by the state.

Tracy Rossetti Smith, the city’s senior management analyst, told the council staff proposes to allocate 60% of the funds to long‑term rental assistance and related housing placement costs for families with children enrolled in Chino Valley Unified School District who have been identified under the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act, paired with comprehensive case management. The remaining 40% would be set aside to support first‑time homebuyer opportunities through low‑interest down‑payment loan programs and by partnering with developers on affordable infill homes.

Warren Morillion, director of development services, said the $804,000 is the city’s PLHA allocation for the 2019–2023 collection period. When asked how the program could help low‑income homebuyers given high housing prices, Morillion said the city’s $320,000 down‑payment assistance allocation is intended to help buyers with down payments rather than to fund construction or acquisition.

Councilmember Curtis asked whether certification of the city’s housing element was a prerequisite; staff confirmed the city’s now‑certified housing element cleared that limitation. Councilmembers discussed partnering with Habitat for Humanity to leverage land or sweat‑equity construction models as one route to make the down‑payment assistance stretch further; staff said those conversations are underway and the housing subcommittee will be briefed on program design.

Mayor Unisim Ulloa declared the public hearing closed after no public comments were received. Councilmember Flores moved to adopt the resolution authorizing submittal of the PLHA application; Councilmember Lucio seconded the motion. The roll call vote was unanimous and the resolution passed.

The resolution will be submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review as required by the PLHA program guidelines.

“This funding will be used to connect families to stable housing and to create targeted down‑payment pathways,” Morillion said during the presentation.