Support American Lung Association at Ontario Reign Hockey Games

(Ontario, Calif.) Inland Empire residents can enjoy a professional sporting event while at the same time helping the American Lung Association in California.

The Inland Empire chapter has partnered with the Ontario Reign to raise money.  The Ontario Reign will donate a portion of the proceeds to the chapter for tickets ordered for either the Friday, Oct. 30 home opener or the Saturday, Oct. 31 “Go Green Night” through a special promotion.

“Ontario Reign games are great fun for the whole family, and for that reason, many of us at the American Lung Association in California have been supporting them since their first season last year,” said Terry Roberts, director of the Inland Empire chapter. “Now they’re helping us. By working together, we can have fun and help the Inland Empire to breathe better.”

To receive tickets that are part of the fundraiser, call Gregory R. Mejia at (909) 941-7838. The tickets Mejia is making available will be the regular admission price of $12, but anyone who orders through him will not have to pay a $3 per ticket surcharge that is levied on tickets bought at Citizens’ Business Bank Arena, the home of the Ontario Reign.

The American Lung Association was established in 1904 and was instrumental in its first 52 years in nearly eradicating tuberculosis. In 1956, it expanded its mission to fight all forms of lung disease. In its last five decades, it has also strived to reduce tobacco use and air pollution, both of which are serious threats to lung health.

What is low-income housing?

An example of low income housing in the city of San Bernardino.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  "There are many myths about low in come and affordable housing. Many people think they know what it means but they really don't," said Emil Marzullo, interim executive director of the San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.

The truth is the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) says that a family of four with a total annual household income between $33,000 to $53,000, which is 50 percent to 80 percent of the Inland Empire area’s median income, is considered low-income.

“That defines a lot of people in the Inland Empire," Marzullo said.

Here are more definitions.

What is the average income of the residents of the City of San Bernardino?
The average annual income of residents in the City of San Bernardino is $28,741.   However, this not the income calculation used to determine housing income for federal or state funding or rental purposes. The income used is the Metropolitan Service Area or MSA data. San Bernardino’s area is defined as the Riverside-Ontario-San Bernardino Metropolitan Service Area, where the annual median income for a family of four is $64,500. 

So, when the City of San Bernardino talks about low income, it is using the federally defined annual median income for a family of four of $64,500.

What are Annual Income and Median Income and how do they work?
Annual income is the total household income for everyone working for one year. The income calculation used to determine housing income for federal or state funding or rental purposes is the Metropolitan Service Area or MSA, created by The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for comparison of income and other reasons.

The Riverside-Ontario-San Bernardino Metropolitan Service Area consists of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Because of higher income, cost of living (including the cost of housing) is higher in some parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 

Cities with a higher cost of living include: Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Redlands, Upland, Montclair, Chino, Chino Hills, Corona, Menifee and Temecula.

What is low-income housing?
Monthly rent or housing payments of up to $1,334 for a family of four qualifies as low-income housing in the Riverside-Ontario-San Bernardino Metropolitan Service Area.

What does affordable housing mean?
Affordable Housing" is defined as housing for low to moderate-income households.
Moderate-income households are defined, as households having annual incomes between 80 percent and 120 percent of the Metropolitan Service Area’s median income. For our area that is an annual income of $53,000 to $79,920 for a family of four.

Who are low-income households?
A family of four with a total annual household income from $33,000 to $53,000 is considered low-income.
 
People with low income include: about 30,000 local university and college students, butchers, bakers, executive secretaries, truck drivers, teachers, cashiers, administrative assistants, restaurant servers, hosts, dishwashers, psychiatric aides, house cleaners, telemarketers, file clerks, gaming dealers, bartenders and 347 job categories of skilled, semi-skilled and professional workers. 

"Low income people are our friends and neighbors," said Marzullo.

-end-

   

EDA Set to demolish up to 184 apartments

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  "The 19th and Sunrise area has a history of police and code enforcement involvement and is a blighting influence on the surrounding community," said Emil Marzullo, interim executive director of the San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.

A major problem with the area is that it has changed owners over the years. When it was built there was one owner of the 61 multifamily fourplexes.  The owner had the resources to maintain the properties in good condition, rent to good people and evict those who were not," said Marzullo.

“About 20 years ago that company sold the multiplexes and now we have many different owners with many different standards for renting,” he added. “Some have no regard for their properties and have allowed them to decline into unlivable conditions. A number of the properties are rented to people who cannot rent anywhere else.  Some are forced to pay first class rents of $1,200 or more a month for very poor quality housing.”

The redevelopment agency and the San Bernardino City Council have agreed the time is right to immediately stabilize the area of the city adversely affected by this poorly maintained and operated residential housing complex.

The agency’s plan is to use a non-profit housing developer to purchase and rehabilitate 100 units of apartments for rent.  The agency is purchasing the remaining 46 four-plex buildings, with up to 184 apartments set for demolition.

The vacant land will be used to build new single family housing and senior housing in the next few years as the housing market improves.

There are currently 244 low-income apartment units within 61 fourplexes and 10 vacant lots at the 19th and Sunrise project area.

When complete the 19th Street and Sunrise area will have:
•    100 units of rental apartments for families of four that make up to $53,300 a year.
•    40 – 55 single family homes for sale to families of four who make up to $77,400 a year.
•    65 units of senior apartments for rent to households that make up to $42,650 a year for a family of two. 

The end result will deliver 205 to 215 units of housing – 144 fewer apartments and 31 to 41 fewer housing units than when the agency started.

Agency staff has determined the best method for acquiring, rehabilitating and operating apartments for rent would be through a non-profit company that could perform all of these functions on the agency’s behalf. The agency selected Mary Erickson Community Housing through a competitive application process.

Mary Erickson Community Housing is a non-profit agency specializing in housing, with greater capacity than the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency for rehabilitating and professionally managing apartments for low to moderate-income families.

Mary Erickson Community Housing was founded in 1991. Its namesake was a retired schoolteacher who was devoted to the principals of community participation and well being. The company established its first affordable housing complex in San Clemente and has since grown to include multiple properties serving hundreds of diverse, hard working, low income families in Southern California including: Moreno Valley, Corona, Loma Linda, Riverside and now San Bernardino.
Preventing future multiple owners
To make sure the rental apartments can never be sold to multiple owners and create unsafe and unregulated conditions again, as the properties are purchased the deeds will be changed to make them each one parcel.
• 15 separate apartment complexes on the north side of 19th Street will become one complete parcel.
• 10 fourplexes on the south side of Sunrise Lane will become one complete parcel.

Current and Future Residents
Current residents will be asked to apply to live in the newly renovated apartments. Mary Erickson Community Housing will have active on site management, new rental agreements and new rules designed to keep the neighborhood safe and attractive.

Mary Erickson Community Housing also provides life skills education to help all residents gain skills to better manage their families and finances.

Phase 1
Currently, Mary Erickson Community Housing is purchasing the vacant, foreclosed and boarded up properties in the19th and Sunrise area.

Mary Erickson Community Housing has already acquired three properties and expects to begin construction in the coming weeks to rehabilitate those apartments. Phase 1 is complete when the 15 separate apartment complexes on the north side of 19th street and the 10 fourplexes on the south side of Sunrise Lane are acquired and rehabilitated. 

For its investment with Mary Erickson Community Housing for the apartments, the agency will receive half (50 percent) of any “surplus cash flow” after all operating expenses and debt service payments have been made on each property acquired, rehabilitated and placed into service by Mary Erickson Community Housing.

Phase 2
Concurrently, the agency is also purchasing properties in the area bounded by 19th Street to the north, Sunrise Lane to the south, Guthrie to the east and Argyle to the west. These properties will be acquired and demolished. The initial cost to the agency is $1.6 million.

Phase 3
When cleared and available the agency will prepare 12 parcels of the land for senior housing and issue a request for proposal to build 65 units of senior apartments. The project will be funded from future agency and developer funds.

Phase 4
In the future as housing demand returns the agency will issue a request for proposals to build 40 – 55 single family homes. The project will be funded from future agency and developer funds. The number of homes depends on the lot size for the homes.

For more information on this project call the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency at (909) 963-5020 and ask for Sam Hughes.

-end-