The Housing Committee of the Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council held its initial meeting Monday, Feb. 9, at the Vera Davis McClendon Center. The following statement of the committee’s mission was unanimously adopted:

To preserve the diversity of Venice by supporting initiatives that will expand the supply of safe, decent and affordable housing for everyone in the community.

The committee also compiled the following list of objectives for future discussion and possible action:

1) Urge the city to adopt an inclusionary housing ordinance

2) Support full funding of the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

3) Monitor compliance with the Mello Act requiring replacement of low-income housing displaced in the coastal zone.

4) Support legalization and habitability standards for second units

5) Investigate the use and feasibility of housing on vacant, city-owned property

6) Urge the city to adopt intitiatives to provide shelters and permanent housing for those without housing.

7) Investigate initiatives designed to expand rent control

8) Support the extension of Mello Act-type requirements to all Venice

9) Monitor the compliance of rental properties under affordable deed restrictions.

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The committee will hold it’s next meeting on Monday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m.,at the Vera Davis McClendon center, 610 California Ave. Everyone interested in this critical issue of housing people can afford is urged to attend.