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Fillmore council approves $500,000 loan for 50-unit Fillmore Terrace supportive housing project
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Summary
The Fillmore City Council unanimously authorized a $500,000 deferred loan from the former redevelopment housing set‑aside to help finance Fillmore Terrace, a 50‑unit permanent supportive housing development by People's Self Help Housing Corporation. The funding aims to strengthen the project's low‑income housing tax credit application.
The Fillmore City Council voted unanimously Jan. 27 to authorize a $500,000 deferred loan from the city's former Redevelopment Agency housing set‑aside to support the Fillmore Terrace, a 50‑unit permanent supportive housing project developed by People's Self Help Housing Corporation.
City staff told the council the loan will be structured as a deferred residual receipt loan with a 55‑year term and an interest rate of 0 to 3 percent and that the city plans to use the funds to make the project more competitive for low‑income housing tax credits. Staff reported the project's total development cost at $16,768,332 and said the financing package includes state and county sources, a Ventura County Housing Trust Fund contribution and other loans referenced in the staff report.
"Fillmore Terrace is an example of quality affordable housing that the city of Fillmore can have, and that the city of Fillmore desperately needs," said Gabrielle Vignon, executive director of House Firm Workers, who urged the council to approve the staff recommendation and noted the development would help the city meet RHNA obligations. "We agree that city council should appropriate $500,000 from the RDA housing set‑aside fund and authorize the assistant manager to enter into an agreement with People's Self Help Housing." (Gabrielle Vignon, Executive Director, House Firm Workers)
Developer and staff presentations said the project will include a unit mix of 20 one‑bedroom, 14 two‑bedroom and 14 three‑bedroom units; 13 units will be reserved for people experiencing homelessness, five for households with qualifying developmental disabilities and 24 for farmworker households. The project includes community space, supportive services offices, outdoor courtyards, a playground and a common laundry area.
Daisy Miguel of the developer said the project will have an on‑site property manager and supportive services staff (the latter not on site 24 hours); the team also plans surveillance cameras and lighting improvements as part of the design. "We will have a full‑time staff person. We will have a property manager on‑site in addition to our supportive services staff," Daisy Miguel said.
Council members asked whether veterans could be prioritized; staff replied there is no veteran‑specific set‑aside but veterans who meet the income and eligibility criteria could be placed in units. Staff also explained that tax‑credit scoring challenges for rural projects make local public finance commitments more important in the application process. Staff said the request is time‑sensitive because public funding letters must be included with a 4 percent low‑income housing tax credit application in early February.
Council member Brogi moved the appropriation, Council member Villasenor seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The council directed staff to finalize the loan agreement and return the executed documents as required. Construction permits were reported to be in their fourth plan check with the goal of issuing permits by spring.
