Redwood City Wants To Prioritize Residents And Employees For Affordable Housing Spots

REDWOOD CITY, CA—The Redwood City Planning Commission is calling on affordable housing developers to prioritize those who have lived and/or worked in the city.

An amendment to the Affordable Housing Ordinance would direct developers to make sure current and former residents, employees, and those who have been offered a job in Redwood City have priority access to affordable housing units.

This amendment addresses displacement in Redwood City. A city-commissioned analysis found residential displacement has been increasing in the city and in San Mateo County due to "housing imbalance, rapidly increasing housing prices and rents, and a lack of affordable housing supply." The city says analysis also found lower income households experience displacement at a much higher rate.

A Planning Commission report states "low to moderate income Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) households and households with special needs, including large families, seniors, and persons with disabilities, are particularly vulnerable to displacement."

The San Mateo Daily Journal reports the Planning Commission unanimously supported the proposed amendment.