Tag: housing crisis

One San Mateo’s Housing Ballot for the November 6, 2018 Election

In keeping with One San Mateo’s focus on advancing just, equitable, and across-the-board housing solutions, One San Mateo recommends the following choices on this election’s housing-related propositions.

“An alarmingly high frequency”: Legal Aid report on San Mateo evictions

From 1/1/16 through 8/31/18, over a period of 32 months, a total of 420 tenant households in the City of San Mateo sought assistance from Legal Aid with a housing problem. Of these 420 tenant households, 294 were seeking assistance with an eviction. Demographic characteristics of these households facing eviction include:
42% included at least one child under the age of 18
21% had a disabled head of household
18% had a head of household aged 62 or older
4% included a veteran in the household

Affordable Rental Housing Policies Study Session

All those interested in seeing San Mateo do more to help renters in this deeply challenging housing market should make sure to come out for the upcoming study session at city hall. A range of modest but valuable policies which One San Mateo and its allies have been working to highlight over the past year will be discussed. These include relocation assistance (coupled with but distinct from red-tag relocation assistance), data collection on the rental market, enhanced Section 8 usability, and a boost in the city’s below-market-rate unit mandate. We want the city to use every tool it can to keep people housed.

One San Mateo’s position on the ballot measure [Measure Y] to extend Measure P

One San Mateo is a local community group whose overarching mission is to increase fairness and inclusion in San Mateo. As part of our efforts to craft affordable housing solutions, One San Mateo has recently completed a months-long deliberative process addressing the proposed extension of Measure P. This involved presentations from both sides, numerous conversations, and a structured discussion that culminated in a blind vote. The outcome of this process is that One San Mateo has decided against supporting the extension of Measure P. Below is a statement of our rationale.

San Mateo’s current height and density limits have been in effect for nearly 30 years.  They were first introduced in 1991 as Measure H and were re-authorized in 2004 as Measure P. Much has changed since they were first adopted. Our city and region have experienced extraordinary economic growth, adding jobs at a rapid rate. In comparison, the production of housing has been minimal, and the resulting imbalance has caused rents and home prices to soar.