The Milpitas Housing Element update has been certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), signifying the City’s substantial compliance with State Housing Element law. Milpitas is the first city in Santa Clara County and one of the very few cities in the region to have a certified Housing Element in substantial compliance with State law, marking the City’s important role in serving as a model for other cities in making housing a top priority.
The City recognizes the urgent need for increasing housing to support its diverse workforce and offer its residents of all income levels, age groups, and special needs, sufficient housing opportunities and choices. The Housing Element ensures that Milpitas can appropriately plan and provide opportunities for the private market to adequately address housing needs across diverse groups and income levels. Moreover, the Housing Element provides a coordinated strategy for producing needed housing and meets a variety of State and local community design, transportation, economic development, and sustainability values that are consistent with the City’s adopted General Plan.
Adopted by the Milpitas City Council on January 24, 2023, the draft Housing Element, Resolution, and General Plan Amendment (GP23-0001) is the sixth update and will shape and guide housing development through 2031. The Housing Element update builds on previous City plans, goals, objectives, and strategies to ensure that the City meets the housing needs of current and future Milpitas residents.
The Assessment of Fair Housing provides for future action in four core fair housing issues: segregation, racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty (R/ECAPs), disproportionate housing needs (including those associated with displacement), and disparities in access to opportunity.
Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano shared, “The plans laid out in the City’s Housing Element illustrate our continued commitment to make housing in Milpitas more affordable and accessible to workers and families of all income levels. I am extremely proud that Milpitas has the distinction of being the first city in Santa Clara County to comply with State Housing Element law. It is a critical step in ensuring that our City continues to be more livable and equitable for everyone.”
“I am grateful to the City Council for their leadership and guidance, City staff for their vision and remarkable work, the State for our successful partnership, and the Milpitas community for their engagement. The collaboration resulted in the development of our City’s Housing Element update, which will serve as a roadmap to ensure that we continue to prioritize and meet the housing needs of current and future Milpitas residents,” said Acting City Manager Ashwini Kantak.
While Milpitas has long had an active set of housing programs, much of the activity has been dependent on Federal and State funding resources. Moving forward, all policies and programs will be focused on maximizing the development of affordable housing, effectively utilizing funding for affordable housing activities, providing housing for special needs populations, and providing housing for all economic segments of the community. The certification of the City’s Housing Element will further enable Milpitas to apply for HCD’s Prohousing Designation Program and access additional state funding for housing programs.
The updated Housing Element PDFs including the HCD substantial compliance letter dated May 17, 2023, and additional information can be found here: https://milpitashousingelement.com/.