Housing affordability has become a huge challenge in San Benito
County. Since 2003, the median home price has nearly doubled.
Household incomes have also increased, but not nearly enough to
keep pace with skyrocketing housing costs.
Housing affordability has become a huge challenge in San Benito County. Since 2003, the median home price has nearly doubled. Household incomes have also increased, but not nearly enough to keep pace with skyrocketing housing costs.
Those at the lower end of the local pay scale are finding it increasingly difficult to put a roof over their heads. Even many middle-income people have simply been priced out of the market.
If you’re already invested in the real estate market – especially if you got in before 2003 – the high prices have probably helped your personal net worth. If you’re not, you might well be wondering whether you have any hope of getting your picket-fenced piece of the American dream.
A special study session on affordable housing was held as part of last week’s county Board of Supervisors meeting. The bottom line, according to those at the meeting, is that San Benito’s affordable housing programs just aren’t working. In fact, there hasn’t been any low-income housing built in San Benito County since 2002.
It’s commendable that local officials are taking a hard look at the issue – and good that they’ve recognized the realities of the housing affordability situation here. Finding solutions begins with identifying problems.
Lack of affordable housing can make it more difficult to attract new companies that might boost the local economy. It can also make it tough to convince needed professionals – teachers, police officers and others – that they can afford to live and work here.
In seeking solutions, we might have to rethink every facet of our affordable housing programs.
One place to begin is the county’s inclusionary housing ordinance. This ordinance requires developers of a housing project to either sell 30 percent of their units below market value or to pay a fee that would help fund a similar number of housing units elsewhere in the county. That’s a significantly higher number than other nearby counties require and may well discourage home building here. If that’s the case, the ordinance is very likely having the opposite effect of what is intended by squeezing the supply side of the supply-and-demand equation.
As the discussion unfolds, we should also be sure that the city of Hollister joins the county at the table. Others with a vested interest in affordable housing issues – from self-help organizations such as Habitat for Humanity to entities such as the local school districts – also need to have a place at the table. Effective community partnerships will have to be a part of the solution.
We shouldn’t focus only on low-income housing or even just on helping people buy a home of their own. The real goal in addressing this challenge has to be to make housing here affordable for as many of members of our community as possible.
