Congressman Panetta Announces $3,865,323 in Federal Funding for Central Coast Affordable Housing

SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced $3,865,323 in Tenant Protection Vouchers for the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz. The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz is among a small cohort of four housing authorities nationally that have been approved to convert public housing program to tenant-based assistance through the Streamlined Voluntary Conversion process. The award of these Tenant Protection Vouchers (TVP) ensures that all families currently in public housing units will have housing mobility.

"As we endure the COVID-19 Pandemic, the central coast of California continues to endure an affordable housing crisis as well. These Tenant Protection Vouchers will ease the pressure on many families during these tough times by providing them a stepping stone upon which they can seek housing in higher opportunity areas, close to good jobs and schools," said Congressman Panetta. "The vouchers allow our Santa Cruz community members to take steps in the right direction towards affordable and proper housing."

"The award of these vouchers is particularly important because it marks the transition from a site-based model to a tenant-based model. So, in addition to providing more mobility to families we already assist, this funding model brings a significant new source of revenue to the Housing Authority, allowing us to expand our programs and services, and providing an opportunity for us to develop or acquire additional units of affordable housing," said Jenny Panetta, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz. Considering the scarcity of affordable units in our community, this funding is going to be a game changer for us."

Tenant Protection Vouchers enables low-income families the right to remain in their unit and continue to pay an affordable rent or have the option to transfer their rental assistance to any unit in the private market. The additional federal money will also allow the Housing Authority to expand existing programs and services and acquire additional units of affordable housing."

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