LETTERS
Affordable Housing
The real estate boom is
matched by a scarcity of affordable housing. A recent federal study reported that 45% of Anaheim residents fall into a “worst-case” housing situation. These families,earning less than $24,000 a year,spend at least half of their income on rent. Current state and federal guidelines define affordable housing as no more than a third of income. Anaheim’s affordable housing shortage is, percentage-wise, in the category of cities such as Philadelphia, Phoenix and Seattle.
A lack of affordable housing could slow economic growth in Orange County if employers and workers bypass the area and its high cost of living. Worse yet, companies may even move out of the area to reduce facility and payroll costs.
There is no immediate solution to the housing shortage. More effort is needed at all levels in order to tackle the problem. Local, state and federal governments need to work together to create balanced, long-term solutions to the questions of housing and growth.
An incentive program will help homeowners, renters and businesses. Counties can entice real estate developers to build more affordable housing by lowering or even waiving construction fees and streamlining the development process. A study this year by California’s Little Hoover Commission called California’s system, “the most complicated development process in the nation.”
Also, aggressive building code compliance is necessary. Orange County cannot afford to have hundreds of units of affordable housing condemned because of shoddy maintenance. Nor can we allow residents to endure unsafe or substandard apartments.
By providing more affordable housing, we can help people realize their dreams of home ownership. In turn, this reduces the chance of companies leaving for rent and payroll reasons. Everybody will benefit, and it will take us all one step closer to realizing the California dream.
Harry Sidhu
(Sidhu, of Anaheim Hills, is a board member of the Orange County Community Housing Corp.)
