The holidays are around the corner, and they’re always a time to pause and remember what we are grateful for and what brings us joy. As a San Mateo County supervisor, one of my joys is to meet residents and listen to what they need to make San Mateo County the best place to live and work. And what do residents ask me about most? Housing. More than half of the conversations I have are about the challenges our residents face in finding a place to call home.
No wonder: San Mateo County only has one housing unit for every 16 jobs here. While that’s better than just a few years ago, with more jobs than homes, rents have skyrocketed, and affordable homes are harder to find. We’ve seen rents go up over 39 percent for two-bedroom homes between 2011 and 2017. And more than 50 percent of our current renters — our families, friends, teachers, nurses — are paying unaffordable and unsustainable rents. A recent analysis by the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative found that approximately 10,000 families with young children in San Mateo County struggle to pay for their housing, and more than 400 parents, children and caregivers were homeless in 2017.
When our neighbors are forced to move away, we all suffer — from teachers who can’t afford to live near schools to emergency responders who live far from hospitals. Our families, especially low-income families and communities of color, are being displaced and having to drive longer distances for work, worship and to be with family.
Having a place to call home also deeply matters for health locally and across our region. Long commutes create pollution and congestion that limits the time people spend with their families. Substandard or crowded housing is linked to hypertension, heart disease and diabetes — all which can mean someone we love is leaving us too soon. Working two jobs to afford rent means not having time to read to your kids at night, prepare healthy meals or exercise. The chronic stress from worrying about making this month’s rent or being displaced adds up to real physical and mental health impacts.
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These are tough problems. But in San Mateo County we are innovators, collaborators and problem solvers. San Mateo County’s Home for All Initiative (homeforallsmc.org) will create more affordable homes for residents and reduce traffic. One example: The county has allocated over $57 million in the last two years to build and preserve affordable housing, helped increase accessory dwelling units (granny units or secondary units), and provided cities with support to address housing now and in the future.
But San Mateo County can’t do it alone. To create a San Mateo County where everyone has a home and an opportunity to be healthy and thrive, we’ve got to work across the Bay Area region. Innovative work by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to identify regional transportation and housing solutions through the Committee to House the Bay Area (mtc.ca.gov/our-work/plans-projects/casa-committee-house-bay-area) brings leaders from across the Bay Area to increase housing production at all levels of affordability, preserve existing affordable housing and protect vulnerable populations from housing instability. This process will bolster our local efforts with regional opportunities. Together, we have a true opportunity to address the housing crisis we are all feeling.
The situation we are in — where it has become harder to call San Mateo County home — affects us all. I’m proud to be part of a county and region that are working to find solutions that benefit everyone. This effort needs all hands on deck. Our communities deserve our best efforts so that we can make homes and improved health a reality for everyone.
Warren Slocum is a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, representing District 4.
Way to be an innovator with other people’s money Warren. The first thing you are wrong on is that this can be a place for everyone to live and have a home. We are constrained geographically and have limited space to build. I realize that is not something a person like you cares about. The second thing you a wrong on is that we need a regional response. I understand you are hanging out with regional unelected bureaucrats these days but most us don’t want people we are unable to elect to set housing policy in our city. We don’t even want you to set housing policy in our cities. County supervisors do not have a mandate on what cities do with housing. Reject Mr. Slocum and his plea for more housing in your city and tell him to mind his own business. Housing policy should be set by the city in which you live, not the county, region or state. Take note Mr. Slocum, by the way, I thought you were going to retire.
Really excellent column Says it all. Regional planning is definitely the only way for our region to prosper. 'Head in the sand' attitudes much like Mr. Conway's might just as well be translated to a society of one. No one should tell me what to do with my little bit of property or ask me to pay for the common good in any way. So then building codes, zoning, I guess even traffic lights and speed limits should be verboten. Each for themselves, period. What an interesting community that would end up being. I guess you could tune into one of the 'Mad Max' films to find out.
Chris: What on Earth do you mean by "other people's money"? If you think what you paid in taxes, is "your" money, think again! That's what we all have to pay for being a part of a civilized, secure and regulated society, - being able to use everything paid for by taxes from everyone able to pay. What part of it don't you understand? And I bet you pay far less than many of us in higher brackets, - yet you complain more than most!
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(7) comments
Couldn't agree more. Thank you for your leadership, Supervisor!
Way to be an innovator with other people’s money Warren. The first thing you are wrong on is that this can be a place for everyone to live and have a home. We are constrained geographically and have limited space to build. I realize that is not something a person like you cares about. The second thing you a wrong on is that we need a regional response. I understand you are hanging out with regional unelected bureaucrats these days but most us don’t want people we are unable to elect to set housing policy in our city. We don’t even want you to set housing policy in our cities. County supervisors do not have a mandate on what cities do with housing. Reject Mr. Slocum and his plea for more housing in your city and tell him to mind his own business. Housing policy should be set by the city in which you live, not the county, region or state. Take note Mr. Slocum, by the way, I thought you were going to retire.
Really excellent column Says it all. Regional planning is definitely the only way for our region to prosper. 'Head in the sand' attitudes much like Mr. Conway's might just as well be translated to a society of one. No one should tell me what to do with my little bit of property or ask me to pay for the common good in any way. So then building codes, zoning, I guess even traffic lights and speed limits should be verboten. Each for themselves, period. What an interesting community that would end up being. I guess you could tune into one of the 'Mad Max' films to find out.
No taxation without representation. Think about it
Chris: What on Earth do you mean by "other people's money"? If you think what you paid in taxes, is "your" money, think again! That's what we all have to pay for being a part of a civilized, secure and regulated society, - being able to use everything paid for by taxes from everyone able to pay. What part of it don't you understand? And I bet you pay far less than many of us in higher brackets, - yet you complain more than most!
yes - the money I pay in taxes is my money. Certainly you don't think it is your money.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
not a creature was Tweeting not even the mouse.
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