Former Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard Recognized for His Contributions to Affordable Housing

On May 6, 2015, former Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard was recognized by the Southern California Association for Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH) as its 2015 Housing Hero for his contributions to affordable housing.

Bill Bogaard officially ended his fourth term as Mayor of Pasadena, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy in affordable housing, as well as, smart growth, sustainability, economic development, historic preservation, and many more areas. He created a civic culture where decent, safe and affordable housing is viewed as an official right and where there is broad recognition that a truly dynamic city is also a truly diverse city.

In 2001, under Mayor Bogaard’s leadership, Pasadena courageously adopted a progressive inclusionary housing ordinance, but only by a slim majority due to strong opposition from market rate developers, property owners, realtors, and others. This nationally-recognized ordinance has resulted in the completion of 446 units of affordable housing without using any of federal, State or local affordable housing funding resources. The inclusionary ordinance also generated over $17.3 million in in-lieu fees used to produce additional affordable housing, and there are currently over 250 more inclusionary units in the development pipeline.

Bill Bogaard has been a champion of smart growth. He worked tirelessly on the initial construction of the Gold Line from downtown LA to east Pasadena, and on its pending 2016 expansion from east Pasadena to Azusa. The Gold Line has presented numerous opportunities for transit-oriented development surrounding Pasadena’s 6 stations and additional stations in other cities. The creation of these development opportunities, coupled with the city’s Inclusionary Ordinance has ensured affordable housing is built adjacent to transit stops to make it possible for low income households to live close to the transit on which they depend.

During his tenure, Pasadena has proven to be fertile ground for affordable housing where successful projects have been completed by top-notch non-profit developers and SCANPH members including Abode Communities, Heritage Housing Partners, Habitat for Humanity San Gabriel Valley, Homes For Life Foundation, Southern California Presbyterian Homes, TELACU, and Retirement Housing Foundation with projects currently under construction by Bridge Housing and National CORE.

While homeless numbers increased across the County, with Mayor Bogaard’s strong support, Pasadena has been able to reduce its homeless population from over 1,200 to less than 650 over the last four years. This nearly 50% reduction was made possible by focusing on homeless prevention and permanent housing rather than on shelters and transitional housing.

Furthermore, Pasadena has been an early adopter of the Housing First strategy and has ended homelessness for 63 of its most chronically homeless persons in the last three years by placing them in permanent housing with wrap-around services scattered throughout the city.

As a result of Mayor Bogaard’s leadership on affordable housing, the Urban Land Institute recognized the City of Pasadena, as well as, Austin, TX, with their 2014 Robert C. Larson Housing Policy Leadership Award for the best housing policies in the nation.