The League of Women Voters of SCC recognizes that the price and availability of housing can profoundly affect the public’s well-being, and the County’quality of life and vitality.  The League supports housing as a basic human need and fundamental component of the County’s infrastructure.

 

To implement the League’s housing position this action policy outlines strategies and steps to create and preserve housing for all income levels as a foundation for all other economic andsocial activities.  Justifying these actions are national and state positions.

1. Create a sufficient affordable housing supply and livable communities for people of all income levels, distributed throughout the County.
2. Preserve existing affordable housing by advocating for preservation incentives, fair tenant and landlord protections, and strategies to address displacement and gentrification.
3. Safeguard equal, equitable, and fair opportunity of access to housing and remedy discriminatory housing practices by advocating for government action at all levels.
4. Promote the use of available and underutilized land resources in compact development patterns that discourage urban sprawl, match jobs and housing, and reduce vehicle miles traveled.
5. Advocate for climate action plans and goals by locating housing near transit and major employment centers, and by the use of sustainable materials and energy sources.
6. Influence community actions that strengthen the link between housing and health, safety, and well-being, especially when housing costs are 30% or more of a household’s income.
7. Promote, maintain, and improve existing infrastructure to fairly distribute costs and amenities to safeguard and benefit the quality of life of all communities.
8. Educate the public about the link between affordable housing and the economic vitality of the County, and how affordable housing developments are designed, maintained, and managed according to accepted standards.