Cities Break Rules on Housing for Poor Residents

SACRAMENTO —  Nearly one-fourth of all California communities are building no housing for the poor, despite state-mandated plans that require each community to construct its share of low-income housing, according to a survey by the California Coalition for Rural Housing.

The study found that plenty of homes are being built for the wealthy, but only 16% of the housing needed for low-income people is being constructed. The study found that only 97,424 low-income housing units were built statewide through the end of 1989--at least 500,000 housing units less than required under current plans. The survey alleges that 82 community redevelopment agencies violated state law by failing to set aside money for low-income housing in communities that have not met housing goals for the poor.