DID YOU KNOW That This Week is Affordable Housing Week?

     Each year in May, the San Mateo Housing Leadership Council (HLC) organizes Affordable Housing Week.   A series of community events are presented to inform residents about actions they can take to make affordable housing a reality in their community. Sponsored by Wells Fargo and the County of San Mateo, Affordable Housing Week educates the public and illustrates how crucial the public's involvement is in ensuring adequate, affordable and safe housing for all Bay Area residents. Community events, including workshops, open houses, tours, and resource fairs are open to the public.

(full schedule at  http://www.hlcsmc.org/events/affordable-housing-week/2014 )

   We even have an event right here in Redwood City.  Thursday May 8th, 7:00-8:30pm at the Woodside Road United Methodist Church Assemblymember Kevin Mullin will MC a forum on the housing challenges experienced by lower income residents and those will special needs.  He will be joined by Brian Greenberg, VP Of InnVision Shelter Network, Melissa Platte, Exec. Director of Mental Health Association of San Mateo and Pastor Paul Baines, Senior Paster at St. Samuels Church of East Palo Alto. (See flyer above.)

     As anyone who lives in the SF Bay Area knows affordable housing is fast becoming one of the most important issues facing our community.  For seniors even if they own homes the issues including the ability to move into smaller units.  For our youth it is a double whammy of mostly (unless you are a high tech guru) lower starting incomes and exorbitant housing costs.  A lucky few homeowners may be seeing their home values appreciate but for the vast majority of people affordable housing is an issue. 

     Here in Redwood City the situation continues to worsen.  Yes there are more units coming in but they are all market rate units and given Redwood City’s closeness to major employers such as Facebook and other growing high tech companies that continue to import workers into the area these are quickly snapped up.   Homes for teachers, firemen, restaurant workers and others not in the high tech industry are simply unaffordable. Local businesses report they are having a hard time hiring and retaining staff.  Some low income employees are on the verge of homelessness, while others actually live in shelters. 

     In the meantime, alternative affordable housing such as boats and floating homes are being eliminated.  Peninsula Marina and Pete’s Harbor offered about 600 berths all of which are no longer available.  Now the City is targeting Docktown.   As Mr. Allen Gordon, the Alternate for State Controller John Chang at the California State Lands Commission (SLC) said at the last SLC meeting “we have a great housing crisis going on in this state particularly for affordable housing.”   Maybe it is time to consider making policy changes to allow floating communities to help in this regard.

     Would you support building additional floating communities?