Lea este artículo en español aquí.
In the coming weeks, San Benito County is set to adopt a new policy aimed at giving locals a better shot at securing affordable housing.
On Sept. 9, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to advance the approval of a new code chapter that would prioritize residents who already live, work or study in the county when looking for housing, in an effort to curb displacement as housing costs continue to rise.
The new policy, called Local Tenant Preference, allows applicants to earn points when looking for housing for each category they qualify in—such as being a senior, a farmworker, a person with a disability or an employee of the county or at a local school. Those who meet a project’s rental requirements will be ranked by points, with higher scores moving applicants up the list for affordable units. Applicants will be required to provide documentation.
Senior Planner Stephanie Reck told the supervisors the purpose of the new policy is to “remedy or mitigate potential displacement and gentrification impacts of development activities.”
“It provides an opportunity for existing San Benito County residents to afford the housing provided in the county,” she said. “It encourages neighborhood stability by providing a means for residents who have been active in the community to remain in the community. And it provides life opportunities for neighborhood residents who are living in inadequate housing conditions to move into quality and affordable housing units.”
The idea originated in February, when the board created a housing policy reform ad hoc committee and assigned Supervisors Dom Zanger and Ignacio Velázquez to work with staff on several housing reforms, including the development of a local tenant preference.
Zanger said that while the ordinance is not going to solve everything, it is a step forward.
“We cannot simply build our way out of affordable housing in this way,” he said. “It’s just not going to work. We’ve tried that. It doesn’t function. And that’s because we can’t build enough supply to keep up with a seemingly endless demand. So we’re trying to help those that are residents here right now.”
The San Benito County Planning Commission recommended approving the policy on Aug. 20, adding a new preference in which seniors receive two points instead of just one.
During the Sept. 9 board meeting, Reck told the board she had received an email from one of the commissioners suggesting adding a two-point preference for veterans.
Supervisor Angela Curro also proposed adding a one-point preference for health care workers, and Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki suggested another one for public safety workers and emergency responders.
“This is part of a broader housing reform in our community where we are on one end working to prevent sprawl, but at the same time promoting affordable housing,” Kosmicki said.
The board approved the new preferences, but because of the amendments, the ordinance will return to the board on Sept. 23 for approval and then a second reading before it can become law.
We need your help. Support local, nonprofit news! BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website that reports on San Benito County. Our team is committed to this community and providing essential, accurate information to our fellow residents. It is expensive to produce local news and community support is what keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s public service, nonprofit news.