Huge problems that seemingly have no viable options beg for a solution.
Sometimes one at a time.
The affordable housing crisis in California appears to have no solution.
On January 30, 2020, as reported by usatoday.com, “California’s controversial housing bill, which would have required cities and counties to change local zoning laws to allow for new, denser housing near job centers and public transportation, died in the state Senate Thursday morning, four votes shy of the support needed to advance the legislation to the Assembly.”
For a moment, there appeared to be the gateway to a solution and then like a San Francisco mist on a windy day, it disappeared.
It appears the belief by San Francisco Senator Scott Weiner is that the bill was aimed to address California’s severe housing shortage that is driving increases in homelessness in the state, creating a financial crunch for many residents and contributing to urban sprawl that clogs freeways with commuters who live far from their workplaces.
There is a trend where many are wanting to live far away from California as well.
As shared by foxnews.com, “California had the highest out-migration than any other state in the country, followed by Texas, with 467,338 out movers, and New York, with 452,580, according to 2017 US Census data. Los Angeles County alone had 312,000 people moving to a different area within the past year.”
Money certainly talks.
According to Realtor.com, the median home price in Clark County, Nevada, is about $300,000 compared to $700,000 in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that the middle and lower classes are fleeing California at a higher rate than the wealthy.
Those statistics also show that in 2018 about 190,000 more people left California than those who moved there. This is the second year in a row the negative trend continues.
The team at thecalifornian.com adds, “California is attempting to address the housing issue. Gov. Gavin Newsom has committed $1.75 billion to fund new building projects to tackle California's housing crisis. In October, Newsom signed various housing bills, including one that capped rent increases and stifled evictions.”
The housing problems continue to stay as many have decided to go.
One admirable group that has been very consistent and persistent in staying in the fight to provide affordable housing in the San Francisco Bay Area is Habitat for Humanity.
There are many reasons for that.
They provide us with a reminder regarding their important mission, “Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco builds homes and sustains affordable homeownership opportunities for families in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties. Our values focus on building partnerships, equity, stability, and legacy.
Stability is one of the most prominent outcomes of affordable homeownership. Stability is the first word you hear from Habitat homeowners as both an immediate and long-term impact of their home and has reverberations in many aspects of their lives, from their children’s ability to succeed in school to their capacity to put money aside for the future.”
One of our members volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and expressed that it was an extremely rewarding experience.
In the immediate future, Habitat for Humanity will be finally breaking ground on its site in Redwood City, where 20 homes will be built, and its project in Daly City (which will feature 6 homes).
One of our team members knows of a family that recently sold their two story Daly City home for over $1.1 million dollars.
It is wonderful that affordable housing can blend in an area that is very neighborhood friendly but incredibly expensive.
In October of 2018, Habitat for Humanity held the first community meeting for a project built on donated land in the Diamond Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.
They seem to make one great decision after another.
To help keep their movement headed in the right direction, they have a new hire that you should meet.
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco Appoints Chief Development Officer
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Nonprofit taps Margi English to lead fundraising effort for affordable homebuilding across region.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Margi English has been appointed Chief Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. The highly respected affordable housing nonprofit is currently celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.
English will spearhead the organization's ambitious fundraising drive as it embarks on a major five-year homebuilding program in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. Habitat will also expand its critical home repair program which keeps low income, long-time residents and vulnerable seniors in their homes.
"There has never been a more urgent need to build affordable homes for our working families," said English. "Habitat for Humanity has an extraordinary homebuilding pedigree and is ideally placed to fulfill its ambitious construction target in the years ahead. Together with our philanthropic partners, we will make our community a place where every family can live and thrive."
Welcoming the appointment, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco CEO Maureen Sedonaen said: "Margi is a consummate fundraising professional and someone who knows the housing landscape across our region inside and out. We have a substantial pipeline of developments at all stages of the planning process and I'm delighted Margi is joining the Habitat team. Her leadership is key to raising the resources we need to strengthen communities and make homeownership affordable for working families."
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco builds homes and extends homeownership opportunities to working families in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. Since completing its first home in 1989 in East Palo Alto, the nonprofit has built hundreds of homes across the region – from single-family homes in Novato, to apartment complexes in Daly City, to townhomes in San Francisco.
Habitat has recently begun work on a 20-unit development in downtown Redwood City and is poised to start new building in Daly City and San Francisco in the months ahead. Its medium-term pipeline of affordable building includes developments in San Francisco (as part of the Balboa Reservoir project), Novato (on Redwood Blvd), and South San Francisco (as part of the Firehouse Live project).
For more information please contact Annie DeLancie at adelancie@habitatgsf.org or 415-202-5902.
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SOURCE Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
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