Shafter to hold housing workshop

The City of Shafter will be holding a Housing Element Workshop to encourage input from residents on the housing needs of the city. It is required that every eight years, a city must update its Housing Element plan, which is part of the General Plan for the city.

General Plans serve as the local government’s “blueprint” for how the city will grow and develop. This includes land use, transportation, conservation, noise, open space, safety, air quality, environmental justice and housing. The Housing Element provides policies and associated programs to accommodate growth, produce opportunities for the development of new housing units, preserve existing housing stock and provide housing opportunities for all economic segments of the community.

The workshop will be held on Monday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at the Shafter Veterans Hall. Residents can view the Housing Element Draft Update by visiting shafter.com/401/HOUSING-ELEMENT-UPDATE-2024.

According to the update documents, the city has grown in population twice the rate as Kern County. While Kern County saw a 9% increase in population in the last eight years, Shafter has seen an 18% increase. This affects the needs for housing and the specific plans to provide that housing. Residents are encouraged to attend this workshop to receive information on housing services that are provided, as well as giving input on Shafter’s specific needs when it comes to housing for the community.

--Jamie Stewart