Key Takeaways from the 2026 SLO County Housing Summit
The 2026 SLO County Housing Summit brought together local leaders, housing professionals and policymakers to examine the current state of housing in San Luis Obispo. The event featured an expert panel focused on the rungs of the housing ladder, a keynote address by UCLA’s Housing Initiative Project Manager, Shane Phillips, and a SLO County Spotlight panel highlighting recent housing successes in Grover Beach. The summit emphasized economic data, the urgency of the current housing crisis and proposed ways of getting more units online quickly, efficiently and intentionally. The 2026 Housing Summit was emceed by Lief McKay, CEO of RRM Design Group.
The Data Behind Housing Economics
Jordan Levine, Senior Vice President of The California Association of Realtors®, kicked off the program with a comprehensive look at the current state of housing in San Luis Obispo County. Levine highlighted our region’s highly competitive market, driven by a large number of residents competing for a limited supply of available homes. A key factor in the housing crisis is cost; the median household income in SLO County is far below what is required to afford the home prices. Property is rising in cost, and this current trajectory could lead to a smaller workforce and weakened economy due to potential workers not being able to afford to live here.
The Rungs of the Housing Ladder
Moderated by Jocelyn Brennan, Interim Executive Director at the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast, this panel featured the key voices of RRM Design Group Senior Project Planner, Rachel Hollander, MD3 Investments Founder, Michael Stoltey, and The California Association of Realtors® Senior Vice President, Jordan Levine. The discussion shed light on the idea of a “housing ladder,” which lays out the range of different housing types needed to support all income levels and household types. The rungs on this ladder include transitional housing, deed-restricted affordable units, middle-class housing, and top-of-the-line market-rate housing. Panelists highlighted how the ladder in s San Luis Obispo County remains stagnant, as households near the middle and bottom rungs are unable to move up the ladder despite their desire to. The discussion underscored the need to implement a full-scale solution approach emphasizing that all types of housing are needed.
Keynote Speaker | Shane Phillips
Shane Phillips, known for his long-standing housing supply and stability advocacy, opened his keynote speech by addressing the affordability crisis in the area and how it is primarily a product of underproduction. New housing is often constructed at a high price point and is meant to become more attainable over time, but Phillips noted that this process falls apart when supply does not meet demand.
Aaryn Abbott, Vice President at Abbott | Reed and 2026 SLO Chamber Board Chair, facilitated a conversation with Shane Phillips that further explored housing affordability and creation. They dove into the way that inclusionary housing requirements can potentially limit overall production and that housing affordability issues are directly linked to the number of unhoused people in a region, making homelessness a housing issue.
The production of more housing was framed as a climate solution. When there is a lack of housing in central locations, carbon emissions end up higher because people have to travel farther to the places they work and play, leading to more urban sprawl and higher emissions. When implemented correctly, housing policy and the creation of more infill and urban units is a pro-climate strategy. Phillips concluded by reiterating the importance of supporting policies that increase all types of housing supply.
Spotlight on Grover Beach
Moderated by previous Grover Beach City Councilmember and previous Fire Chief of the Five Cities Fire Authority, Steve Lieberman, this panel featured key voices from local leaders of Grover Beach: CEO of Coastal Community Builders, Cam Boyd, longtime resident and advocate, Krista Jeffries, and former Mayor and City Councilmember of Grover Beach, Jeff Lee.
The discussion focused on the city’s recent growth as a result of more than two decades of planning and policy adjustments. Major steps included proposing a clear plan, updating legal standards and removing construction barriers.
While the growth of Grover Beach housing may seem rapid from the outside, the speakers ensured that the success they are seeing today is the result of 20 years of work between public and private sectors actively working on making this a reality.
Progress Moving Forward
As the summit concluded, Garret Olson, SLO Chamber CEO, stressed the need for cooperation across all sectors to ensure future progress. Community organizers, local residents and government entities all play a role in shaping what the housing market will become.
The 2026 SLO County Housing Summit reinforced the importance of implementing a thoughtful approach to solving the area’s urgent housing crisis. By continuing to tweak policies and advocate for a greater housing supply in the area, stakeholders can help create a more balanced landscape for San Luis Obispo County.