A construction crew member works on a townhome development on Redwood Boulevard near Wood Hollow Drive in Novato on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
Housing access and affordability is a topic increasingly front and center for many in our community.
Across Marin County, people representing our schools, businesses, health providers, human service agencies, environmental groups and more are talking about the impact of Marin’s lack of affordable housing and the problems it causes for our economy and our people. They’re talking about getting behind solutions.We need to get behind solutions. If you were to reflect on the topic of affordable housing right now, would you say you’re all in?
As long-standing human service providers in Marin County, we see the widespread impact of the housing crisis every single day and the harm it is causing. The status quo doesn’t bode well for Marin’s future, and we’re all in for what it will take to change the difficult realities people face.
Perhaps you’ve faced housing challenges at one time or another in your own life, or you know a loved one who has. Imagine having adult children who cannot afford to live in Marin and so you’re facing the hard question of whether to stay in a community you love or move to be closer to them.
Beyond those closest to us, there are countless stories of people struggling that paint the broader and more difficult picture to see: A beloved teacher or child-care provider who commutes from another county, sacrificing time with their own family to care for yours. The older neighbor up the street who needs to downsize but is terrified of being displaced in this high-cost market.
What about a favorite server at your local restaurant who struggles to keep up with rent, or the medical provider who just left Marin because, even with a solid salary, local housing costs are just unsustainable?
These are the real-life experiences of people across our county. Now imagine the ripple effects at every level of our society and what we might do to stop the negative impact of these forced and unfortunate choices as they touch every one of us.
There’s hope in a meaningful way we can take action. This November, a statewide measure is on the ballot – Proposition 5 – that will empower Marin voters to approve bonds for affordable homes, critical public infrastructure, and emergency response with greater ease. This will give local communities like Marin a necessary tool for fixing our affordable housing crisis.
Voters strongly prefer local solutions to housing challenges, but current state law restricts the ability of local voters to approve housing and infrastructure bonds for their communities. Proposition 5 sets the threshold for passing bonds for affordable housing and infrastructure at 55%, just like for public schools. It isn’t a bond measure, and passing Proposition 5 won’t raise your taxes. What it does is make it easier for local voters to approve affordable housing and infrastructure bonds in the future with strict accountability, transparency, and oversight. It is an important and necessary step to advance solutions that will work for Marin.
Imagine what we can build together: affordable housing for working families, older adults, veterans, and first-time homebuyers; supportive housing for people with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness; and renovations for existing affordable rental housing. Proposition 5 will help remove one of the key barriers to building and preserving this much needed affordable housing – access to funding.
Marin’s housing needs are unique, and our solutions need to be as well. Proposition 5 offers a powerful tool for local voters to address these challenges and assist people who are key to the fabric of our community but struggle to live here due to rising housing costs. It is an essential step toward creating a strong, equitable future for Marin, and it deserves your yes vote.
Chandra Alexandre is CEO of Community Action Marin. Cheryl Paddack is CEO of North Marin Community Services. Both organizations are founding members of Housing For All Marin, a coalition of Marin-based organizations advocating for more affordable housing.