Housing For All is a Health AND Economic Issue

I recently had the opportunity to read the Santa Fe County Community Services Department Health Services Gap Analysis Report which examines local health services and providers as well as analyses health risks and challenges faced by County residents. The 133-page report has extensive data on poverty, families, immigration, food insecurity, seniors, transportation and education. What stood out to me is the analysis of housing, shortfalls in the existing supply and how housing needs overlap with health needs. The Chamber’s Economic Development Housing sub-committee has been meeting with potential collaborators to create a coalition focused on increasing the supply of housing for all income levels in Santa Fe. We have been speaking mostly about workforce needs as we constantly hear from members and expanding businesses that new workers simply cannot find available multi-family housing at all price levels. Businesses cannot create jobs if they cannot house the workers they want to hire and we end up with literally thousands of workers commuting into Santa Fe instead of living here and becoming part of the community. In addition to these economic reasons to build housing, the County’s Gap Analysis Report approaches the issue from an entirely different point of view – a healthy community. The lack of affordable housing means that many families spend upwards of 30% of their income on housing. When the demand for housing is so high, families at the lowest income levels often have to live in over-crowded or under-maintained units. These conditions exacerbate health challenges particularly for children and seniors and affect behavioral health as well. A low-income family is much more likely to be affected by food insecurity, substance abuse and domestic violence and less likely to aspire to greater education and career success if income-appropriate housing is unavailable. Estimates are that Santa Fe is lacking 6000 multi-family units to cover existing needs. This represents an economic and health crisis for our community. Priority one for our new Mayor and City Council must be to fast-track housing projects that are in the regulatory pipeline and collaborate to identify suitable sites in all four council districts that can support infill, additional dwelling units, mixed use and high density housing. Yes In My Back Yard – and yours too.