Affordable housing is a basic human right and an economic necessity – Marin Independent Journal

Access to housing is one of the biggest issues facing Marin County, affecting employers and employees alike. We need more – not less – housing. A commitment to creating affordable housing is both a testament to our shared values ​​and an economic imperative that is critical to Marin’s future.

Between April 2023 and April 2024, Marin added 1,700 new jobs to the local economy. However, when it comes to new construction in the county, only 1,700 new housing units were built in the last decade. This reality has created a severe housing shortage that affects us all and undermines the long-term economic vitality of our county.

The inability to house our workforce in Marin means a loss of talent and reduced productivity, limiting innovation and profits and degrading the quality of life in our communities.

In our local economy, we are facing a predictable talent shortage caused by the housing crisis. Employers across industries, including healthcare, education, primary care, and more, are reporting significant barriers to recruiting and retaining employees. Many employers are increasingly having to offer higher wages and other benefits to attract and retain talent, negatively impacting their profits.

These costs are passed on to consumers, resulting in longer wait times and limited access, driving up the price of goods and services. An estimated 45,000 workers in Marin commute to work – and that number is growing. Over the past 10 years, the number of commuters coming to Marin from other counties has increased by nearly 8,000 people.

At the same time, the number of people living and working in Marin has dropped by about 10,000. Long commutes and a housing shortage lead to increased stress, poorer health outcomes and fewer opportunities for social mobility. This does not even take into account the impact of commuting on traffic congestion and the environment – two key issues that concern many in Marin.

A 2023 Community Action Marin needs assessment report shows that the affordable housing crisis disproportionately affects people of color: 58% of Latino and 56% of Black renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Racial inequality in Marin is embarrassingly visible: affordable housing is concentrated in certain overcrowded and segregated neighborhoods in Novato, Marin City, and San Rafael.

Many families in these neighborhoods live in two- and three-person units just to afford the rent. Recent census data shows that overcrowding in rental housing in Marin is a shocking 7%. And that’s just what’s officially reported. The number is likely much higher.

Knowing firsthand that children in overcrowded housing situations are more likely to struggle academically and face health, emotional and behavioral problems, Marin County School Superintendent John A. Carroll has studied the consequences that harm our community and our children.