Conclusion
The current housing crisis did not happen overnight. It is rooted in 250 years of shameful local practices, harmful actions and outright racial discrimination. Sadly, profit and resistance from homeowners opposed to change have too often been more important than social equity.
It’s time to focus our attention on making more affordable housing available in every city in San Mateo County. For the sake of our quality of life, and to build a mutually beneficial relationship that restores our ecosystems, more housing must be found immediately.
ABAG’s alarming Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers, recent state legislation alleviating some of the roadblocks to increased density, and the state’s new standard of fair housing to “ameliorate past actions that led to inequity” all make it essential to take action.
We applaud the individuals who are demanding that policy makers in our county approve affordable projects despite public backlash. We admire those who have taken personal and corporate action to increase housing availability. We salute decision makers, planners and developers who manage to find the funding and comply with complex regulations to make exemplary projects happen.
We need everyone to join forces and work together, collaboratively, to come up with ingenious, practical solutions that work. Housing is a basic human right, with adequate housing essential for human survival with dignity. Without a right to housing, many other basic rights will be compromised. There is still much work to do.
We hope you will join in the compassionate effort to help everyone in San Mateo County have a place to call home.
Acknowledgments
Sustainable San Mateo County gratefully acknowledges the work of its Board and Committee members, and the many volunteers who helped make this year’s report.
Program Manager: Karen Manor
Indicators Report Committee Members: Bernard Bruand, John Crowell, Leane Eberhart, Terry Nagel, Robert Whitehair, Christine Kohl-Zaugg
Our Sponsors:
Platinum: County of San Mateo, Belmont, Brisbane, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco
Gold: Foster City, Portola Valley, Redwood City, Google
Silver: Atherton, Colma, Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Oracle
Bronze: Burlingame, Hillsborough, MidPen Housing
Housing Experts
Ceridwyn Asher, Samaritan House
Amélie Besson, MidPen Housing
Bart Charlow, Samaritan House
Karyl Eldridge, One San Mateo
Verónica Escámez, Casa Circulo Cultural
John Ford, Commute.org
Matt Franklin, MidPen Housing
Shirley Gibson, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
Ray Hodges, San Mateo County Department of Housing
Alin Lancaster, City of Redwood City
Mark Muenzer, City of Redwood City
Diana Reddy, Redwood City City Council
Evelyn Stivers, Housing Leadership Council
Leora Tanjuatco Ross, Housing Leadership Council
Volunteers
Parker Barnes, Hamilton Bolton, Imogen Drummond, Zane Girouard, Susie Hodges, Megan King, Anmol Kalia, Robert Lipscomb, Adam Patterson, Pam Rittelmeyer, Nikita Nitin Salunke, Amelia Solis, Davis Turner and Andrew Skelton
Full Report Editors: Robert Lipscomb and Terry Nagel
Online Launch: Susie Hodges and Christine Kohl-Zaugg
We extend our deep appreciation and gratitude for your support. Thank you!