Housing
Summary of Position
The need to expand housing and provide more affordable options in the San Francisco Bay Area could not be more urgent. With some workers enduring two-hour commutes to get from homes in the Central Valley to jobs in Silicon Valley and the high cost of living prompting others to look elsewhere to start their businesses or raise their families, the housing crisis presents a serious threat to our region's quality of life. Furthermore, the homeless crisis in the Bay Area ranks among the worst in the U.S. and have left millions more Americans at risk of eviction and losing their homes.
By the Numbers
- There are over 180,000 people experiencing homelessness in California and over 653,000 people across the U.S.
- In 2022, a $339,864 household income was needed to buy a typical home in the San Francisco, and a $454,296 household income was needed to purchase in San Jose.
- In 2024, the average rent in the Bay Area was $3,900.
- Over 50% of renters in Contra Costa County pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs.
- In Contra Costa County, renters need to earn $42.69 per hour to afford the average monthly rent of $2,200.
Things to Know
- Co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Urban Regional Studies and runs it now with Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) to help tackle the challenges facing urban metropolitan regions
- Authored a bill to encourage the building of housing around transportation hubs
Working for You
Promoting Innovative Approaches to Housing Needs
New housing is urgently needed around the country, especially in California. To help states and local governments develop and fund innovative solutions, Congressman DeSaulnier introduced the Housing Innovation Act, which would create an Office of Housing Innovation at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to explore and fund innovative approaches to increase and diversify housing supply.
Encouraging Transit Oriented Development
As the high cost of living in the Bay Area has pushed families farther from their workplaces, new housing options near public transit hubs have become critical. To address this need, Congressman DeSaulnier introduced the Equitable Transit Oriented Development Support Act, which makes loans available for building affordable housing and developments in underserved areas, particularly near public transportation.
Defending Critical Housing Programs from Cuts
Congressman DeSaulnier sponsored and passed an effort to maintain funding for nonprofits to assist in building affordable housing across the country (Section 4). This program has been instrumental in building and preserving more than 41,000 affordable homes for low-income households since 2010.
For a downloadable copy of Mark's housing work, click here:
