Santa Cruz County is wrestling with many issues including transportation, homelessness, pandemic, and housing. How many parents have worried that their children will never be able to afford living in Santa Cruz? Before crying “why Santa Cruz”, housing affordability and availability is not unique to Santa Cruz. In fact, it is a challenge for most US cities. In California, the estimated shortfall for affordable housing is about 3.5 million units.

Affordable Housing Month

May has been designated as affordable housing month throughout California. In California, we have local champions such as Housing Santa Cruz County and Sibley Simon with New Way Homes. But what are the larger institutions doing?

UC Santa Cruz

More than 50% of UCSC students are housed on campus. UCSC has the highest on-campus student housing in the UC system with 9,000 beds available. This is one of the reasons why the number of vehicle trips to the main campus is roughly the same as it was 20 years ago. But great is not good enough. Construction to provide additional housing for 3,000 students is expected to be completed in late 2022. See Kresge College.

Santa Cruz & Region

There are a number of projects in the various states of planning and construction. The City is moving forward on three public/private affordable housing projects in downtown Santa Cruz. The Library Affordable Housing Project is moving forward with at least 124 units for very low-income housing. 100% of the Pacific Station North & South 164 units in downtown Santa Cruz will be affordable with average affordability deed-restricted at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI). The groundbreaking for Pacific Station South is May 19 (see details and registration below).

The City of Santa Cruz and partner organizations are celebrating Affordable Housing Month this May with a slate of events to provide information to the community about current and future affordable housing efforts.