S.D., state push housing initiatives, but results still lag

For several years over two mayoral administrations, the city of San Diego has made affordable housing a priority.

More recently, the California Legislature has passed aggressive legislation aimed at the same goal.

Yet the cost of housing remains too high for too many people, and homelessness continues to get worse across the region.

Last week, the San Diego City Council approved a measure declaring housing a human right. In December, the city received a “pro-housing designation” from the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

In September, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared homelessness a public health crisis.

Government officials have taken numerous concrete steps beyond these largely symbolic actions.

The city has made accessory dwelling units easier to build, increased housing densities, removed height limits, attempted to streamline the development process and more.

The state essentially did away with single-familyhome zoning, facilitated lot splits and allowed up to four housing units where past rules said only one home could exist. The Legislature also opened up fading commercial areas for possible housing.

The city and county have increased shelter beds and outreach services for homeless people, while the county has expanded mental health services available to all, but with a focus on people in need who live on the street. More money has been made available to combat homelessness and assist struggling renters.

Still, monthly surveys show more people living downtown without shelter and that more people are seeking homeless services than those who have recently moved into housing.

Housing construction locally and statewide is nowhere close to meeting the need for rent-restricted homes for lower-income people or improving the housing stock for middleincome folks.

The cost of materials and labor — fueled by the pandemic and inflation — has contributed to a dimmer housing construction market. And despite streamlining efforts, bureaucratic hurdles and staff shortages at the city Department of Development Services have caused costly delays, according to a November report by the city’s independent budget analyst.

Even the process for projects that require only ministerial approvals — that in theory are supposed to be quick — is taking too much time.

The budget analyst’s report noted that during a rare joint meeting between the city and county in October, LeSar Development Consultants suggested “an extreme amount of housing production is needed to have sufficient supply to have a downward impact on rents.”

For perspective, the city’s target under state law is 108,036 new housing units from 2021 to 2029. That would require an average of about 13,500 units annually. In 2021, 4,095 new housing permits were issued, according to the report.

In December, Phillip Molnar of The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that the county was on track for