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Arcata hears a 71% RHNA jump; staff flags funding shortfalls for lowest‑income units
Summary
City planners told the council Arcata's RHNA allocation for the seventh cycle represents roughly a 71% increase, with new acutely‑low and extremely‑low income categories that will be difficult to meet without new funding or policy changes. Staff urged regional advocacy and local infill strategies.
City staff briefed the Arcata City Council on the seventh‑cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process and the challenges the city will face meeting a substantially higher housing target.
A staff presenter said the city is confronting "a 71% increase in our RHNA goal," with sharp growth in the number of units required in very‑low, acutely‑low and extremely‑low categories. The presenter explained that the state Department of Housing and Community Development sets a regional need and the Humboldt Council of Governments (HCOG) will distribute that need to member jurisdictions; Arcata and HCOG are working on a methodology to allocate the new numbers.
Staff underscored two practical constraints: declining federal and state funding for deeply subsidized housing and very limited vacant land in Arcata, which pushes most future housing to infill and redevelopment. The presenter noted new requirements for counting extremely low households and the lack of existing funding sources that target the 0–15% AMI band. She said, "This creates a major mismatch between planning requirements and available funding."
Councilors asked clarifying questions about category counts and whether local measures used previously (such as deed‑restricted units) will count; the presenter noted deed‑restricted low‑income units drove prior success and said staff will continue to pursue infill strategies, code changes such as single‑stair building types, and advocacy for RHNA reform at higher levels of government.
No council decision was required at this informational presentation, but staff said HCOG and HCD steps will follow and the council will see additional materials through the fall and into the HCOG allocation meetings.
