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By: Monica Garcia-Santivanez
As a third year student majoring in Real Estate and Development, I have learned through my coursework that affordable housing is crucial for sustainable growth and equity. Living in California we know that there is a severe housing crisis.
With many house prices rising it leaves many people rent burden or homeless. California specifically has over 180,000 homeless people making up 28% of the nation’s homeless population. In USP 153 which is a Real Estate and Development Market Analysis class I learned there is an imbalance of supply and demand. For many years housing construction has lagged behind population growth, particularly in urban areas. Restrictive zoning laws, lengthy approval processes, and rising construction costs have slowed the development of affordable units.
California's Legislative Actions
In response, California has passed several important pieces of legislation. Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) allows homeowners to split single-family lots into multiple units, helping to increase supply. Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) streamlines approval processes for affordable housing developments that meet specific criteria, expediting construction.
However, challenges remain. Local resistance, often referred to as "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBYism), this term which Real Estate Majors know very well, continues to slow progress, and funding for affordable projects is still insufficient. Despite these barriers, nonprofit organizations and public-private partnerships are working to bring more affordable housing to cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
California's Legislative Actions: Expanding Housing Supply
In response, California has passed several important pieces of legislation. Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) allows homeowners to split single-family lots into multiple units, helping to increase supply. Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) streamlines approval processes for affordable housing developments that meet specific criteria, expediting construction.
However, challenges remain. Local resistance, often referred to as "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBYism), this term which Real Estate Majors know very well, continues to slow progress, and funding for affordable projects is still insufficient. Despite these barriers, nonprofit organizations and public-private partnerships are working to bring more affordable housing to cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Final Thoughts
California's efforts to address this crisis are crucial, but long-term solutions require continued support, policy innovation, and community engagement. I hope that by sharing these insights, more people will understand the challenges and work that go into developing affordable housing. Learning about these challenges through my courses has made me dedicated to one day work in affordable housing, where I can help address the need for more accessible and sustainable housing solutions.
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