Close to Home: Three steps to address our housing crisis

Our need for housing in Sonoma County has reached crisis proportions. Our vacancy rate for rental housing is under 1 percent. The median house price is unaffordable for most working families. Our homeless population is impacting residents and local businesses.

We need housing for everyone - from emergency homeless shelters to housing for our local workforce, including teachers, nurses and safety personnel. We know how to do this, but it takes political will and leadership to follow through.

First, we must protect the housing we already have for the residents here now. Supporting people who want to remain in their homes preserves neighborhood stability and costs less than displacing tenants. That's why we support Santa Rosa's rent stabilization ordinance to prohibit massive rent increases and stop landlords from evicting families who cannot afford significant rent increases. That's why we are pushing back on the efforts of big management companies and their allies to repeal rent stabilization before we even have a chance to see it implemented.

Early on, opponents of rent stabilization formed a group called Santa Rosans for Real Housing Solutions. That group includes the California Apartment Association, North Bay Association of Realtors, North Bay Leadership Council, North Coast Builders Exchange, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and the Sonoma County Alliance PAC. Why are these business leaders opposing common-sense housing protections for their own workers?

Second, we must produce more affordable and workforce housing. Our strong growth regulation policies encourage building in urban centers such as Santa Rosa and other municipalities, where public services such as sewers, water, roads, public transit and schools already exist. Public agencies can help support housing by proactively adopting specific plans so that when a proposal is submitted consistent with the specific plan, processing is expedited and development costs are reduced.

Third, we must find investors to supply the funding for both affordable and workforce housing. This is often the most difficult piece. That's where Sonoma County's $2.3 billion in pension assets comes in. The Sonoma County Employees Retirement Association already holds substantial investments in real estate in other communities. Legally, we have the right to invest a portion of these pension assets right here at home, either by direct investment in workforce housing or by including voter-approved affordable housing bonds as part of our pool of low-risk investments.

We should be investing in housing for Sonoma County residents and workers. Other communities are already doing this. The nation's largest union, AFL-CIO, invests its members' pensions in housing in Oakland, Glendale, Los Angeles and San Mateo, among other communities around the country. Pensions invest in commercial and residential real estate development because it provides a steady stream of income and is a prudent part of a diversified portfolio.

We are always searching for creative ways to address our housing crisis. Investing our taxpayer money in local housing will earn income for county employees' retirement and provide housing that those very same employees can afford. It's a win-win for everyone. Let's get to work.

Noreen Evans is a former state legislator and candidate for the 5th Supervisorial District. Julie Combs is a member of the Santa Rosa City Council who is seeking re-election.