The Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved a letter of support for a proposed co-living ordinance during its April 8 meeting, while also reviewing significant changes to the city's rental homes program for future homebuyers.

The board voted 6-0 to support the co-living ordinance, which aims to provide diverse housing options including affordable units at 30% of area median income levels. City Planner Emily Horseback presented the final ordinance, which expands the definition of family to allow six or fewer unrelated adults or any number of related adults with minor children. The ordinance requires co-living developments to have five or more units, with shared kitchens and a minimum 70-square-foot unit size.

"This is providing housing choices that could have flexible leases with a 30-day minimum, good for students, seniors, mobile professionals," Horseback said. The ordinance will proceed to a public hearing at City Council by the end of April.

Staff also presented proposed changes to the Rental Homes for Future Home Buyers program, including moving from a waitlist to a lottery-based application system. Assistant HRA Administrator Salvador explained the current waitlist, closed since 2023, had a low success rate with many applicants no longer responding or qualifying when contacted.

Other proposed changes include removing ongoing income limits for participants, allowing them to increase earnings without losing program eligibility, and adding financial hardship provisions that would let participants access their escrow savings to cover rent during extended difficulties. The program currently serves 21 households and has facilitated one home purchase this year, with two others in progress.