The Crisis of Our Time: Housing Affordability in San Francisco 2015 An Expert Panel Debate

With the highest rents in the country and more than two-thirds of San Franciscans being renters, housing affordability affects all of us. Can we keep families, the middle class and low income residents here in San Francisco?

Over the past year, the Bay Area produced over 114,000 jobs, but our two biggest cities, San Francisco and San Jose combined, produced only 7,500 units of housing, according to the SF Business Times. The market can produce housing units but how do we build and ensure permanently affordable housing for low and middle income residents?

In January, the Mayor announced plans to put a $250 million affordable housing bond measure on this November’s ballot to generate funds to protect existing low income housing, fund new affordable housing units, and provide a catalyst fund and down payment assistance for middle income families. Will this bond measure pass and if so, what net benefits can we expect?

Panelists:
Peter Cohen – Council of Community Housing Organizations
Tim Colen – San Francisco Housing Action Coalition
Gail Gilman – Community Housing Partnership
Kate Hartley – Mayor’s Office of Housing
Eric Tao – AGI Capital
Doug Shoemaker – Mercy Housing