New Housing Report Studies Regional Initiatives That Can Be Replicated Statewide
The Bay Area isn’t the only region in California facing a housing crisis. In every corner of the state, housing advocates and residents face obstacles like skyrocketing housing costs, a lack of skilled labor, the worsening threat of wildfires and floods, resistant community groups and a host of other challenges. A coalition of regional and philanthropic stakeholders has put forward a “regions-up” agenda that brings economic, policy and political components together to address the state’s urgent need for more housing.
The Bay Area Council Economic Institute co-authored the expansive housing report with California Forward, funded by Council member Wells Fargo, called “Regions Build Together – A Housing Agenda for All California” that provides an agenda to relieve the state’s housing crisis with a region-by-region approach. The report explores the many housing challenges in nine regions across California and presents recommendations based on evidence and examples of existing housing initiatives that state lawmakers and policy leaders can learn from, scale up and replicate throughout California.
One example is connecting housing with transportation in ways that maximize affordability and sustainability while minimizing displacement risks: a specific initiative proposed by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG)’s Green Means Go program prioritizes increasing infill development known as “Green Zones” that helps achieve greenhouse gas emission goals and ensures that residents do not need to drive or travel as far to get to work. Wells Fargo’s financial support of the report comes as the company has committed $1 billion in philanthropy through 2025 to confront the U.S. housing affordability crisis.
Read the Bay Area regional chapter>>
