Safe and affordable housing is the foundation of our vision for a vibrant San Francisco. In recent years, local leaders—from government officials to notable CEOs—have stepped forward to support solutions that have begun to steer San Francisco residents away from the housing insecurity, evictions, foreclosures and for some, the emotional and economic cycle of homelessness. Organizations across the city have provided immediate and much-needed support services to restore some of the imbalances caused by fast-paced development in high-income, high-skilled areas of the city.
Our challenge as residents is to consider a broad set of options that extend beyond the immediate needs of San Franciscans. As neighborhoods become more dense and housing space more limited, are we able to find and fund the latest solutions to support healthy, vibrant growth in the long haul? To answer this question, we must reimagine our existing environment and plan for a sustainable future.
ARCHITECT MOSHE SAFDIE HAS ACHIEVED A NEW CONCEPT FOR URBAN HOUSING THAT PROVIDES A 21ST CENTURY CITYSCAPE WITHOUT SACRIFICING LIGHT, SPACE, RECREATION AND MANY OTHER PILLARS OF QUALITY OF LIFE OFTEN LOST AS DENSITY INCREASES. HIS WORK IS ONE OF MANY WAYSTO REIMAGINE GROWING AND CHANGING CITY ENVIRONMENTS.So far, public and private investments have missed out on the biggest opportunities to make real and lasting change in the housing industry, and to put San Francisco on a path toward sustainable growth and social progress. In order to restore balance to communities, we need new approaches to:
1. Preserve and increase housing stock: connect existing housing programs to new sources of funding, or fund new projects from the ground up; create new models for development that maximize the use of space without displacing residents or compromising quality of life; uphold inclusionary zoning policies that plan for density and allow prefabricated units and other efficient building practices.
2. Transform financing models: create new financing strategies for residents at risk of losing their homes to market pressures, evictions and rising rents; expand options for mixed-income developments.
Our Approach
Residents of San Francisco are not a uniform bunch; they infuse the city with a range of experiences and backgrounds, and that local diversity is part of what makes the city an exciting place to live. Residents range from students, recent graduates and entry-level workers to artists and activists to parents with young children, retirees, veterans, and persons with disabilities. The term “resident” also encompasses a large and visible homeless population. And while transitional housing must be included in the city’s portfolio, there is an urgent need to find new solutions to address the source of housing insecurity.
To achieve vibrancy in the future for for residents and visitors alike, we need fresh approaches to prioritize a mix of affordable, middle-income, and luxury housing. To reach the inclusive characteristics that the leading urban theorists say make cities thrive, we need a broad portfolio of housing stock in high volume along with new models to finance an ideal future city.
DOING THE WORK
Zoning. Preserving and increasing housing stock. Financing.
The more the city improves and moves toward future vibrancy, the more our population is likely to grow. Though there will always be market forces pushing us toward extremes, we can maintain affordability and achieve a just and equitable housing market in San Francisco.
Many existing public housing developments in San Francisco are not designed for long term sustainability or affordability. Communities are often distressed and residents have few options to improve their quality of life and lift themselves out of poverty. As the city becomes more dense, housing developments must make efficient use of space and increase housing supply within communities. Furthermore, there are few incentives for developers to build affordable homes. Traditional financing and zoning strategies do not support cost-efficient solutions or plan for density, and many developers can only turn a profit by building high-income housing.
THE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DEPARTMENT, ON THE RISING COST OF LIVING: "WHILE MORE THAN 1/2 OF AMERICANS CAN AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE AT THE MEDIAN PRICE, FEWER THAN 1/3 CAN IN CALIFORNIA, AND LESS THAN 1/4 CAN AFFORD ONE IN THE BAY AREA. AND NOW, FEWER THAN 1/6 OF SAN FRANCISCANS CAN AFFORD THE COST OF A MEDIAN HOME IN THE CITY."
Moving forward, the city needs new strategies to incentivize developers to build more affordable homes, and build them more often. Campaigns to develop, protect and implement local, state and federal policies (tax credits or other incentives) to expand affordable housing, inclusionary zoning, preservation efforts, and responsible land use practices.
Local organizations are leveraging existing city resources and new public-private partnerships to revitalize neighborhoods. Projects harness new forms of capital to build affordable, quality homes at lower development costs. They foster inclusive and diverse communities and provide direct services to residents and keep neighborhoods safe. By extension, they bolster the housing market and pave the way toward long term sustainability.
This work includes: campaigns to develop, protect and implement policies (tax credits or other incentives) to expand inclusionary zoning and responsible land use practices; incentivizing middle-income housing through collaborations with nonprofit developers; and advocating for zoning and subsidized housing policies so that developers can receive compensation from the city in exchange for building affordable housing units.
