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HC 3-27-2025 Written CommunicationsHC 3-25-2025 Item No.3 Funding Allocations Written Communications From:Gia Pham To:Housing; HousingCommission Subject:Request for Full BMR Funds Towards Mary Avenue Villas Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 4:40:03 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, I’m writing to express my strong support for the Mary Avenue Villas project and to thank you for the $1 million in funding that’s been recommended in the current staff report. This is an important step in addressing the deep shortage of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Cupertino. However, we believe that more funding is needed to make this project a reality and ensure it continues to serve Cupertino for years to come. As someone who works closely with people with IDD, I see the struggles firsthand. Many of our clients are just trying to find a stable, affordable place to live—and it’s incredibly difficult. In Cupertino alone, there are 325 individuals with developmental disabilities, including 122 adults. Almost 70% of these adults are still living with their aging parents—not by choice, but because there’s simply nowhere for them to go. Without projects like Mary Avenue Villas, many of them will face even more instability as their caregivers get older. We’re in a crisis. More than half of our IDD clients in Santa Clara County earn 30% or less of the area’s median income—meaning they fall into the extremely low-income category. They can’t afford housing in the Bay Area, and that’s where this project becomes critical. Mary Avenue Villas will provide affordable housing for people who have been excluded from other housing options because of their income. With Mary Avenue Villas, we'll get affordability and inclusivity. IDD and non-IDD residents will live side by side, creating a sense of belonging and fostering meaningful social connections—something that’s desperately needed. As someone who works in this field, I’ve seen the unmet need for affordable housing for IDD residents in Cupertino for years. We’ve had projects that were planned but ultimately shut down, leaving a gap that’s only growing. That’s why I’m urging you to allocate more than the recommended $1 million to ensure this project can succeed and truly meet the needs of our community because the BMR funds are the project main source of funding pool. Mary Avenue Villas aligns with Cupertino’s commitment to inclusion, with its focus on affordable housing and providing assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities. It complements other efforts like the special education programs, group homes, and the new all- inclusive playground at Jollyman Park. The project also supports Cupertino’s Housing Element commitments (HE 2.3.4, HE 2.3.10, and HE 2.3.11), which focus on developing affordable housing for very low- and low-income households, reducing the risk of displacement, and helping special-needs groups like IDD residents. We really believe Mary Avenue Villas can set a new standard for affordable, inclusive housing in Cupertino and benefit the entire community by not being exclusive and instead fostering a real home for its residents so no one is displaced. Please help make that happen by ensuring this project gets the funding it needs. Thank you again for your time and for all that you do to support our community. Warm Regards, Gia Pham From:Sofia Rivas To:communications@housingchoices.org; HousingCommission Subject:Request for Full BMR Funds Towards Mary Avenue Villas Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 9:11:14 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the $1 million in funding recommended in the current staff report for the Mary Avenue Villas project, a crucial step in addressing Cupertino’s shortage of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, I believe additional funding is necessary to fully bring the project to life. The BMR funds are the primary source of funding that will ensure the long-term success of the project and are essential to maintaining affordability for the extremely low-income disability population served. Cupertino is home to 325 residents with developmental disabilities, including 122 adults, and nearly 70% of these adults live with aging parents due to the severe lack of affordable, independent housing. Without projects like Mary Avenue Villas, many of these residents face housing instability as their caregivers age. In my own life, [INSERT PERSONAL STORY OF THE CHALLENGES FACED IN FINDING HOUSING AS SOMEONE WITH IDD OR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH IDD]. Cupertino currently lacks affordable housing for individuals with IDD, causing displacement and unmet needs within the community. By providing deeply affordable housing that integrates both IDD and non-IDD residents, the project will foster social connections, reduce isolation, and demonstrate how inclusive communities can thrive. It also directly supports Cupertino’s Housing Element commitments, including developing very low- and low-income housing, preventing displacement of individuals with IDD, and providing assistance to persons with IDD. Given the history of underfunded or halted affordable housing projects in Cupertino, this project presents an urgent opportunity to address the longstanding unmet need for affordable housing for individuals with IDD. I sincerely appreciate your leadership and commitment to our community. Please prioritize the Mary Avenue Villas with the full funding it needs to succeed, ensuring Cupertino’s IDD residents finally have access to the affordable housing they deserve. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, [Your Name] Sent from my iPhone From:Lucas, Jennifer@SCDD To:HousingCommission Cc:Lucas, Jennifer@SCDD Subject:SCDD letter of funding support for Mary Ave Project Date:Wednesday, March 26, 2025 7:14:38 PM Attachments:Mary Ave Project 3.27.25 Cupertino Housing Commission.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Chair Cunningham and Housing Commission members, Attached is my letter in support of additional funding allocation for the Mary Avenue Housing Project in Cupertino (agenda item #2 under new business for the 3/27/2025 meeting). Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! Respectfully, Jennifer Lucas Manager, Central Coast Office State Council on Developmental Disabilities (650) 714-5168 www.scdd.ca.gov “The Council advocates, promotes & implements policies and practices that achieve self-determination, independence, productivity & inclusion in all aspects of community life for Californians with developmental disabilities and their families." STATE OF CALIFORNIA Gavin Newsom, Governor ●website ● www.scdd.ca.gov ●email ● centralcoast@scdd.ca.gov 2580 N First Street, Suite 240 San Jose, CA 95131 408)324-2106 408)324-2108 fax State Council on Developmental Disabilities March 25, 2025 City of Cupertino Housing Commission c/o City of Cupertino 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 Via email to: housingcommission@cupertino.gov Re: Support for additional funding of Mary Avenue Housing Project Chair Cunningham and Housing Commission members, Our office was happy to learn about the Charities Housing Project on Mary Avenue, an affordable housing development in Cupertino. The Central Coast Office of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) supports the allocation of additional City funds toward this project to support help the development of this important project. The California State Council on Developmental Disabilities is an independent state agency dedicated to advancing systems change, building community capacity, and improving services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. In cities like Cupertino, there is a critical and ongoing need for permanent, affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing. People with IDD are especially impacted by the shortage of housing that meets their unique needs. Funding for this project will directly support the development of 19 dedicated extremely low-income units for individuals with IDD. This effort represents an important step toward increasing affordable housing in Cupertino for low-income families and people with developmental disabilities. Thank you for your commitment in addressing the urgent need for affordable and inclusive housing in our community. Please contact me with any questions. Respectfully submitted, Page 2 Jennifer Lucas, Manager Central Coast Office CA State Council on Developmental Disabilities 2580 N. First Street, Ste. 240 San Jose, CA 95131 Jennifer.Lucas@scdd.ca.gov 408.324.2106 From:Hal and Janet Van Zoeren To:HousingCommission Subject:Slide for 3-27-25 Housing Commision Meeting Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 8:54:13 AM Attachments:Janet Comparison Chart Mary Avenue and Eden.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please show this slide when Janet Van Zoeren asks for it during public input at the meeting. Thank you, Janet Van Zoeren From:orrinmahoney@comcast.net To:HousingCommission Subject:Commission meeting Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 9:40:36 AM Attachments:State of the City.pptx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. I will be supplying public comment tonight and would like to show this one slide. Best, ********************** Orrin Mahoney orrinmahoney@comcast.net Rotary Club of Cupertino *********************** From:Nicky Vu To:HousingCommission Subject:FW: REVISED slide deck for 3/27 Housing Commission Meeting Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 12:09:06 PM Attachments:image001.png Mary Ave Housing Commission Meeting 03.27.25.pptx Hi Lindsay, Forwarding this presentation I received for tonight’s meeting to you. Best, Nicky Vu​​​​ Senior Housing Coordinator Community Development NickyV@cupertino.gov (408) 777-1347 From: Andy Lief <alief@CharitiesHousing.org> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2025 9:33 AM To: Nicky Vu <NickyV@cupertino.gov> Subject: REVISED slide deck for 3/27 Housing Commission Meeting CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hi Nicky, Please use the attached for my 3-minute presentation this evening. Thanks! Andy LiefSr. Project Manager CHARITIES HOUSING Sobrato Center for Nonprofits – San Jose 1400 Parkmoor Ave, Suite 190 San Jose, CA 95126 From:Gia Pham To:HousingCommission Subject:Gia Pham: Submission of Public Comment Slides for Housing Commission Meeting 3.27.25 Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 2:13:43 PM Attachments:Gia Pham Housing Choices Slides Mary Avenue Housing Commission Meeting Slides 3.27.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, My name is Gia Pham, and I am the Communications Coordinator at Housing Choices. While Housing Choices is part of the Mary Avenue Villas team applying for BMR funds and other funding sources being discussed at tonight’s meeting, I will be speaking as a community member during public comment. I am submitting my public comment slides in advance for your review. Please confirm once they have been received and if the PDF format is acceptable. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to speaking with the commission soon. Warm Regards, Gia Pham From:Karen Sidhu To:HousingCommission Subject:Support for Full BMR Funds for Mary Avenue Villas Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 2:26:19 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, Thank you for recommending $1 million in funding for the Mary Avenue Villas project—an essential step in addressing Cupertino’s severe shortage of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, additional funding is needed to ensure the project’s success and long-term affordability for this extremely low-income population. Cupertino has 325 residents with developmental disabilities, including 122 adults. Nearly 70% of these adults still live with aging parents due to the lack of independent housing, putting them at risk of housing instability. Without projects like Mary Avenue Villas, these individuals face displacement and an uncertain future. I implore residents to take on a “YES IN MY BACK YARD” perspective rather than a “Not in my back yard” perspective. Giving mouth service to projects like these and then turning around to delay progress in your own town is not the way to ensure a good future for our children. We will keep having to send our kids out of state if residents keep delaying progress on well planned developments like these. This project will create deeply affordable, inclusive housing, reducing isolation and fostering social connections while aligning with Cupertino’s Housing Element commitments. Given the city’s history of stalled affordable housing projects, this is a rare opportunity to meet a critical, longstanding need. I appreciate your leadership and urge you to fully fund Mary Avenue Villas, ensuring Cupertino’s IDD residents have access to the housing they deserve. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, Karen Sidhu Lifelong Cupertino Resident From:Ellani Nguyen To:HousingCommission Subject:Mary Avenue Villas Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 3:17:10 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, I am writing to you as I am unable to attend this evening in person. As a single mother to a son with developmental disabilites we are pleading that you provide the much needed funding for Mary Avenue Villas, a project that will provide 19 homes for individuals with developmental disabilities (IDD). A much dire need for help from you for our often neglected class of individuals who we often get looked passed. I am my son's voice as he can not stand up and voice his needs. PLEASE, I ask on behalf of many developmental disabled individuals and their families, WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE Please provide the neccessary funding that can help secure Mary Avenue Villas for our voiceless community. Sincerely, Ellani Nguyen From:Sarah Verity To:HousingCommission Subject:letter of support, Mary Avenue Villas Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 3:52:35 PM Attachments:Sarah Verity_Cupertino Housing Commission_03.27.25.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Commissioners, Please accept the attached letter of support for the Mary Avenue Villas. Sincerely, Sarah Verity (she / her) Vice President, Board Relations and Legislative Affairs 350 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 123 Redwood City, CA 94065 abilitypath.org Via Services is now affiliated with AbilityPath, thriving together to provide a lifetime of opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Learn more at abilitypath.org/affiliationFAQ. March 27, 2025 Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, I am writing on behalf of AbilityPath Housing to express my sincere appreciation for the $1 million in funding recommended in the current staff report for the Mary Avenue Villas project, a crucial step in addressing Cupertino’s shortage of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, I believe additional funding is necessary to fully bring the project to life. The BMR funds are the primary source of funding that will ensure the long-term success of the project and are essential to maintaining affordability for the extremely low-income disability population served. AbilityPath Housing provides community-based living arrangements and supportive services that empower adults with developmental disabilities to live their most fulfilling lives. Through thoughtfully designed homes and person-centered support, we are transforming how society thinks about independent living for people with developmental disabilities. Cupertino is home to 325 residents with developmental disabilities, including 122 adults, and nearly 70% of these adults live with aging parents due to the severe lack of affordable, independent housing. Without projects like Mary Avenue Villas, many of these residents face housing instability as their caregivers age. Cupertino currently lacks affordable housing for individuals with IDD, causing displacement and unmet needs within the community. By providing deeply affordable housing that integrates both IDD and non-IDD residents, the project will foster social connections, reduce isolation, and demonstrate how inclusive communities can thrive. It also directly supports Cupertino’s Housing Element (HE) commitments, including developing very low- and low-income housing, preventing displacement of individuals with IDD, and providing assistance to persons with IDD. Given the history of underfunded or halted affordable housing projects in Cupertino, this project presents an urgent opportunity to address the longstanding unmet need for affordable housing for individuals with IDD. I sincerely appreciate your leadership and commitment to our community. Please prioritize the Mary Avenue Villas with the full funding it needs to succeed, ensuring Cupertino’s IDD residents finally have access to the affordable housing they deserve. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, Sarah Verity Vice President, Board Relations and Legislative Affairs From:Bryan Neider To:HousingCommission Subject:Support for the Mary Avenue Villas Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 3:53:35 PM Attachments:image001[33].png Bryan Neider_Cupertino Housing Commission_03.27.25.pdf Bryan Neider_Cupertino Housing Commission_03.27.25[8][63][1].docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Commissioners, Please accept the attached letter of support for the Mary Avenue Villas. Sincerely, Bryan Bryan Neider Chief Executive Officer Pronouns: He/Him/His ************************* AbilityPath 350 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 123 Redwood City, CA 94065 ************************* http://abilitypath.org Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, I am writing on behalf of AbilityPath to express my sincere appreciation for the $1 million in funding recommended in the current staff report for the Mary Avenue Villas project, a crucial step in addressing Cupertino’s shortage of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, I believe additional funding is necessary to fully bring the project to life. The BMR funds are the primary source of funding that will ensure the long-term success of the project and are essential to maintaining affordability for the extremely low-income disability population served. AbilityPath has one of the most comprehensive service portfolios spanning all ages from early intervention for infants to community access and job training for adults and seniors. All programs are designed to prepare children and adults to actively participate in their schools, communities, workplaces, and at home. Cupertino is home to 325 residents with developmental disabilities, including 122 adults, and nearly 70% of these adults live with aging parents due to the severe lack of affordable, independent housing. Without projects like Mary Avenue Villas, many of these residents face housing instability as their caregivers age. Cupertino currently lacks affordable housing for individuals with IDD, causing displacement and unmet needs within the community. By providing deeply affordable housing that integrates both IDD and non-IDD residents, the project will foster social connections, reduce isolation, and demonstrate how inclusive communities can thrive. It also directly supports Cupertino’s Housing Element (HE) commitments, including developing very low- and low-income housing, preventing displacement of individuals with IDD, and providing assistance to persons with IDD. Given the history of underfunded or halted affordable housing projects in Cupertino, this project presents an urgent opportunity to address the longstanding unmet need for affordable housing for individuals with IDD. I sincerely appreciate your leadership and commitment to our community. Please prioritize the Mary Avenue Villas with the full funding it needs to succeed, ensuring Cupertino’s IDD residents finally have access to the affordable housing they deserve. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, Bryan Neider CEO Dear Cupertino Housing Commission, I am writing on behalf of AbilityPath to express my sincere appreciation for the $1 million in funding recommended in the current staff report for the Mary Avenue Villas project, a crucial step in addressing Cupertino’s shortage of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, I believe additional funding is necessary to fully bring the project to life. The BMR funds are the primary source of funding that will ensure the long-term success of the project and are essential to maintaining affordability for the extremely low-income disability population served. AbilityPath has one of the most comprehensive service portfolios spanning all ages from early intervention for infants to community access and job training for adults and seniors. All programs are designed to prepare children and adults to actively participate in their schools, communities, workplaces, and at home. Cupertino is home to 325 residents with developmental disabilities, including 122 adults, and nearly 70% of these adults live with aging parents due to the severe lack of affordable, independent housing. Without projects like Mary Avenue Villas, many of these residents face housing instability as their caregivers age. Cupertino currently lacks affordable housing for individuals with IDD, causing displacement and unmet needs within the community. By providing deeply affordable housing that integrates both IDD and non-IDD residents, the project will foster social connections, reduce isolation, and demonstrate how inclusive communities can thrive. It also directly supports Cupertino’s Housing Element (HE) commitments, including developing very low- and low-income housing, preventing displacement of individuals with IDD, and providing assistance to persons with IDD. Given the history of underfunded or halted affordable housing projects in Cupertino, this project presents an urgent opportunity to address the longstanding unmet need for affordable housing for individuals with IDD. I sincerely appreciate your leadership and commitment to our community. Please prioritize the Mary Avenue Villas with the full funding it needs to succeed, ensuring Cupertino’s IDD residents finally have access to the affordable housing they deserve. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, Bryan Neider CEO