Council Explores Bringing Down Housing Costs for Civic Workers

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

May 16 -- With housing costs making it nearly impossible for municipal, hospital, school and other employees to buy a house or condo in Santa Monica, City Council members last week directed staff to further explore affordable homeownership programs for workers seen as integral to City functions.

As average housing prices hover at more than $500,000, a household in Santa Monica must earn nearly $156,000 annually to afford a mortgage, according to figures released at an April housing conference held by the National League of Cities and attended Mayor Bob Holbrook

“Across America, including Santa Monica… it’s becoming extremely difficult for people that we count on in our community, not just City employees, such as school teachers, nurses and folks like that to find housing to purchase,” said Holbrook.

“This has become a critical issue for many cities because either they can’t get young employees or the young employees have to drive an hour or more to work, and then turn around and eventually move off to some other city… where they can get housing,” he said.

Holbrook recounted one instance where the head of the bus drivers union recounted commuting nearly 210 miles from Bakersfield everyday to and from work.

“This is a serious situation,” Holbrook said.

In response, Holbrook and the rest of the council have asked City staff to look into finding increased subsidized housing for these employees and into developing a strategy with Community Corporation – the non-profit which handles the majority of affordable housing in the city.

Currently, Community Corporation is embarking on an experiment to offer affordable homeownership opportunities by subsidizing 40 condominiums that will be constructed in the Pico neighborhood, the poorest and most ethnically diverse area in Santa Monica. (see story)

While Community Corporation officials have said in the past they plan on providing extensive outreach in the Pico neighborhood, Holbrook said he has asked officials with the City’s Housing Authority to look into possibly reserving those units for workers who are critical to city functions.

Council member Kevin McKeown also noted that renting in Santa Monica is also an expensive proposition.

“These are all people who don’t make a lot of money in public service,” said McKeown, who urged Santa Monica officials to look at other cities’ strategies in dealing with housing for their public service employees.