Background on the Housing Element

The meltdown of the national economy is placing tremendous pressure on Humboldt’s working families. With 83% of our residents unable to afford homes at current market prices, it is essential that the County’s Housing Element give every advantage to lower income residents who will be most affected during the difficult road ahead.

In the last housing cycle, housing production utterly failed to meet our community’s needs. Fewer than half of the needed affordable housing units were actually produced as large developers capitalized upon the hot “market” by building nearly double the required number of above moderate income homes.

In the past, housing policies and development choices have yielded what are known as “exclusionary zoning” practices. Lower income residents have been effectively excluded from owning and often accessing homes in our community.

Healthy Humboldt has joined with Housing for All in advocating for “inclusionary zoning” practices to ensure that housing is available for a variety of income levels in more places, creating income-integrated neighborhoods.

What is "inclusionary zoning"?

Inclusionary zoning is a requirement that a given share of new construction be affordable to people with low to moderate incomes in a mix of "affordable housing" and "market-rate" housing in the same neighborhood to reduce the effects of concentrating affordable housing in ghetto-type fashion. It is an effective policy tool used to ensure that affordable housing is both available and attractive in a given community - rather than segregating low-income residents away into neighborhoods with fewer parks, services, and access to jobs.

Read more about the Housing Element:

• Key Points For A Strong Housing Element
  Healthy Humboldt's key policy points for improving the draft Housing Element.
• Healthy Humboldt Housing Element Comments
  Download the comments Healthy Humboldt submitted to the Planning Commission.
• Sample Letter To The Planning Commission
  Download, personalize, and send this letter today to help ensure the 2009 Housing Element works to meet the needs of all Humboldt residents.
• 2009 Draft Housing Element
  Read the draft Housing Element on the Planning Commission's website.

It's up to us to speak up for this vision and ensure that the General Plan Update provides the blueprint for a future that is healthy for us all. You can help by getting involved today!