Bay Area

Supes ‘Excited’ About Proposed Workforce Housing For Teachers, County Employees

The workforce housing would have a few requirements for hopeful renters, including a lottery to parcel out the tenancies. Renters must be low- to moderate-income by Marin County standards, which isn’t a hard category to fall into for teachers or some county employees. Also, the tenants must agree to a five- to 10-year stay and, should they become separated from their job, they have six months to move out.

Published

2 years ago

September 28, 2022

Oakland Post

Supervisor Damon Connolly

By Katy St. Clair, Bay City News Foundation

The perennial issue of affordable housing in Marin County went before the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 13 as they heard a presentation about a possible housing development in unincorporated San Quentin, part of which would be workforce housing reserved for local teachers and county staff.

So-called affordable “workforce housing” is an idea Marin has been grappling with for a long time, but an idea which supervisors say is now past due. The county is having problems retaining and filling jobs in schools and at the county level, according to Supervisor Damon Connolly, who spoke about it at the meeting.

Connolly said that there are currently 300 unfilled positions in county schools, and a lack of affordable housing is a leading reason for the shortage.

“The cost of living is simply too high,” he said, adding that these employees spend roughly half of their income on rent.

The Oak Hill affordable housing project proposed to be built in San Quentin Village would create 250 units, 135 for low- to moderate-income families and teachers (75%) and some county employees (25%).

The county is seeking a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the county, the Marin County Office of Education, and the developer, Education Housing Partners (EHP). The JPA would help EHP get tax-exempt financing.

San Quentin is of course most known for its state prison, but the area surrounding the facility, also known as San Quentin Village, currently has about 40 single-family homes and one condominium. It also has sweeping views of the Bay.

Oak Hill would be built on the north side of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard on the 8-acre site of an old firing range, according to EHP. The units would range in size from 800 to 1,300 square feet. Once built, the developer said it would begin discussions with nearby Larkspur to provide services for residents.

In a staff report presented to the supervisors in preparation for Tuesday’s discussion, the county said that approving the JPA and its ensuing housing project would be a positive equity move because many of the people who would get the housing are “more racially and ethnically diverse” than the rest of the county.

Also, there would be minimal fiscal impact on the county because costs would be covered and managed by the JPA, not Marin County. Rents at Oak Hill would be less than market rate with the help of state-donated land, grants, charitable contributions and tax-exempt financing.

The project will come back to the board at the end of the year for formal approval and if all goes to plan, people will be able to move into their new homes by the end of 2025.

All the supervisors who spoke at the meeting used the word “exciting” to describe the project.

Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters said she hoped this development would stand as a model that could be replicated throughout the county.

Supervisor Katie Rice concurred.

“It’s something to build on,” she said. “No pun intended.”

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Oakland Post: Week of July 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 24 – 30, 2024

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July 26, 2024

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Bay Area

Op-Ed Senate Bill 966 Threatens Health Equity in East Bay

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further. Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland. From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Published

1 week ago

July 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

By Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

Special to the Post

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further.

Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland.

From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Through my service, I have seen the challenges that our community members are facing. Oakland, my hometown, has the third-highest rate of violent crime in the state. The local economy is strained. Oakland-based businesses are leaving our community because they’re struggling to get ahead.

Both East and West Oakland has disproportionately high rates of respiratory illness due to heavy air pollution. While our local efforts have brought some aid to those in need, we are also counting on our state elected officials to help us address the systemic health disparities afflicting the community.

Chief among the health concerns of community members is having reliable and affordable access to prescription drugs. Equitable access to medications gives us the peace of mind that we can keep ourselves and our families healthy and safe. Our community should not have to choose between paying rent or purchasing prescriptions.

Unfortunately, rather than taking action to combat soaring prescription drug prices, some California lawmakers are pushing legislation that could raise patient costs at the pharmacy counter.

The Legislature is currently considering SB 966, a bill backed by special interests that would undercut the few tools we have to keep prescription drug costs contained, letting big drug companies increase their prices, profiting on the backs of working families – some of whom already live paycheck to paycheck.

SB 966 would target the fundamental programs through which small businesses, unions, and government health programs are able to offer their employees and members quality and affordable healthcare. Millions of Californians rely on these plans to obtain essential medications at the lowest-possible cost.

The bill would make it illegal for employers and unions to incentivize the administrators of their prescription drug plans to negotiate for the lowest possible cost for prescriptions. Right now, small businesses and unions can choose to pay these administrators more for taking on big drug companies and securing discounts – a choice that will be outlawed under this bill.

As a result, employers will have no leverage to stop big drug companies from setting sky-high prices, disproportionately impacting working families.

As these health costs quickly add up, employers will have little choice but to pass the increases down to their employees. That means California patients will see higher healthcare costs and co-pays.

From my perspective, most concerning is that the bill would exacerbate the health disparities impacting my community and other underserved populations. If SB 966 becomes law, the most vulnerable may be forced to skip prescription doses, stop filling their prescriptions, and avoid essential care.

By rejecting this cash grab by big drug companies, our state elected officials can send a clear message that they stand with the community, patients, and working families.

We cannot afford SB 966.

Rev. Dr. VanHook is the founder and pastor of The Community Church in Oakland and the founder of The Charis House, a re-entry facility for men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse.