A new study found that San Diego County needs 134,537 more affordable rental homes to meet regional demand – and that the majority of the region’s low-income renters are spending more than half their income on housing in its absence.
As The Union-Tribune reports, the analysis released Thursday by the California Housing Partnership and the San Diego Housing Federation also found renters need to earn $47.67 an hour to afford the region’s monthly average rent of $2,479, an estimate that assumes a tenant should spend less than 30 percent of their income on rent.
Stephen Russell of the Housing Federation, which advocates for affordable housing developers, argued at a Thursday press conference that local and state budget tightening could imperil already insufficient efforts to address the housing crisis. The report noted that the region has already seen a 13 percent year-over-year drop in state and federal funding for affordable housing.
A local lens: Russell and other advocates called for the county, which initially budgeted $10.6 million for a key affordable housing financing fund in the upcoming fiscal year, to increase the allocation to $25 million. Russell also urged the city not to raid its affordable housing fund, an option that has been floated as the city and its housing agency discuss how to maintain homelessness programs amid a significant city budget deficit.
More on city budget talks: Housing Commission CEO Lisa Jones, who has engaged in talks with the city following a dispute over funding for city homeless programs her agency oversees, attended Thursday’s press conference. Jones wouldn’t comment on whether her agency will recommend that the City Council vote to pull funding that affordable housing developers are rallying to maintain but told Voice of San Diego the city and the housing agency have recently had “positive conversations” about the budget.
“We’re very much looking forward to seeing the result of the May revise,” said Jones, referencing the mayor’s updated budget that will be released next Tuesday.
Looking ahead: The city last year issued a record number of permits for affordable housing units but Axios reports that city officials don’t expect that trend to continue – and even with last year’s uptick, the city isn’t on track to meet its state-mandated housing targets.
A Proposed Rodeo Ban Could Upend What These Charros Have Built
For nearly five years, a team of riders in San Ysidro have worked hard to preserve a Mexican national sport in San Diego: charrería.
Twice a week the riders, known as charros, meet at Rancho La Laguna to practice. They also host competitions and community events to expose more people to the sport. But now they are worried a proposed ban on rodeos could threaten their existence.
Voice intern Juan Estrada visited the ranch and spoke to members of the team.
The proposed rodeo ban, introduced by Councilmember Kent Lee, is still in the works. But Lee proposed it after Petco Park hosted a three-day rodeo. The event drew backlash from animal welfare groups and criticism after a horse was injured during a performance.
Captain of the team, Ramon Jara, told Estrada they are worried the ban would strip away an important part of Mexican heritage for future generations.
In Other News
- Fire Chief Colin Stowell says his agency will explore whether to again overhaul city ambulance service after shifting to a new model late last year. (Union-Tribune)
- East County residents are not endorsing the county’s plan to build 150 cabins for homeless residents in Spring Valley. (CBS 8)
- The Metropolitan Transit System will consider next month whether to add another trolley line in East County. (Fox 5 San Diego)
- Bet you didn’t know: Almost all of unincorporated Campo has been for sale since 2019. Now the Union-Tribune reports that a new real estate team is trying to sell it. (Warning: This one is only for U-T subscribers.)
- Most of the Oceanside Pier will reopen today following a major fire two weeks ago. (CBS 8)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña.
The San Diego Affordable Housing Needs Report bullet statement “Renters in San Diego County need to earn $47.67 per hour – 2.8 times the City of San Diego minimum wage – to afford the average monthly asking rent of $2,479” is comparing an individual making minimum wage to the average household rental rate. The statement is obviously intended to drive misleading, inflammatory headlines.
Facts: According to U.S. Census data, the average HOUSEHOLD income in San Diego County is $96,974. Based on the housing report, the average rent is $29,748 per year, meaning that the average household would spend 30.7 percent of its income on rent, just slightly more than the ideal of 30%.
When a report presents facts in misleading ways to create a narrative that bolsters a position (for this report, the need for more affordable housing), it makes one question all the other data presented in the report.