Ellen Beraud, candidate for District 5 County Supervisor, understands that the lack of workforce and affordable housing is the greatest challenge currently facing working people and our local economy. Without an adequate supply of housing, the fabric of our social, economic, and environmental future will remain uncertain.
Every person in this county is directly or indirectly impacted by the housing affordability crisis. Employers struggle to hire qualified employees, roads remain constantly congested, families struggle to pay the bills, and more people are living on the streets.
Under Debbie Arnold and the Board of Supervisors’ failed leadership, local rents continue to rise faster than any other county in California. To buy a house, the average worker in SLO County would need to pay over 90% of their wages on housing. Homelessness countywide increased by 32% and the rate of homeless veterans jumped by a staggering 78%. In the San Luis Obispo Tribune’s unequivocal endorsement of Ellen for Supervisor, the Editorial Board observed “[Ms.] Arnold is still reluctant to change course, even after a decade of failed housing policies.”
When opportunities for important solutions have come before the Board, time and time again Ms. Arnold is on the wrong side of the issue.
- When the affordable housing nexus study recommended eliminating and reducing fees for workforce housing to place the fee burden on luxury homes, Ms. Arnold voted against a more equitable and functional inclusionary housing policy. The inclusionary housing reforms that Ms. Arnold voted against would have eliminated fees on modest-sized homes, decreased fees for average-sized homes, and ensured that luxury homes pay their fair share.
- Last year, Ms. Arnold opposed a comprehensive project to address homelessness in South County including a warming shelter, transitional housing for homeless youth, homeless navigation center, and permanent supportive housing. Although Supervisor Arnold claims to support homelessness through 70 Now, this fails to scratch the surface of the over 1,000 homeless people living on the streets, in cars, or couch surfing with family and friends. The county needs political leaders who will have the courage to stand up for the unsheltered neighbors when it matters, instead of spearheading programs for political gain that fail to rise to the severity of the problem.
- The current Board of Supervisors has failed to prioritize and implement its promise to the Coalition of Housing Partners to raise $2-4 million every year for affordable housing. The county deserves leaders who will listen to experts rather than defaulting to political ideology. Ellen is committed to fulfilling the county’s promise and fully implementing the recommendations provided by the Coalition of Housing Partners.
The status quo is not providing the workforce, low-income, and permanent supportive housing that we so desperately need. Between 2014 and 2018, 84% of the housing produced in our county was for above-moderate income households and the county failed to even come close to meeting its goals for moderate and low-income housing production. The community, economy, and environment deserve more.
Between now and March 3rd, voters of the 5th District will have the unique opportunity to address the housing crisis for the entire county by electing a strong housing advocate to the Board of Supervisors. Ellen’s experience as a Planning Commissioner, City Councilmember, and as Mayor of Atascadero provide her with the expertise needed to address this problem. As Supervisor, Ellen will take meaningful steps to support businesses and working people by:
- Prioritizing higher density residential housing near our county’s major job centers;
- Investing in infrastructure to reduce the inordinate cost to build housing;
- Creating incentives for homebuilders to go above and beyond affordable housing requirements to provide more deed-restricted low-income units;
- Front-loading environmental project review to protect our natural resources while making it easier for homebuilders to deliver desperately needed workforce housing; and,
- Increasing funding for homelessness programs to help the community’s struggling residents while also saving long-term costs for taxpayers and businesses.
Ellen’s vision for the future is earning her the support of local housing experts, who understand the need for change. SLO County Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY), a local grassroots housing advocacy group, recently provided Ellen’s housing platform with an A rating. The scope and scale of the housing crisis is too big to solve without strong collaboration, partnership, and willingness to pursue solutions – not ideology. Ellen knows that all solutions must be on the table and that every partner has a valuable perspective to offer. Both private developers and nonprofit homebuilders alike need to each bring their unique skills and insight in order to produce more housing at all of the income levels that the county so desperately needs.
The housing crisis is not the result of a single bad policy, but rather, many bad policies made over a long period of time. In order to effectively address this problem, we must install leadership that will make decisions at every Board meeting in the interests of working people in the county. Only then, will we start to see the progress we need to slowly, but surely, address the housing crisis. Learn more about Ellen and her vision for SLO County at ellenforsupervisor.com. Ellen can be reached by emailing [email protected] or calling (805) 464-7174.