Davis Housing Solutions: A Community Conversation
March 17, 2024
(From press release) Interfaith Housing Justice Davis (IHJD) is excited to announce an upcoming forum "Davis Housing Solutions: A Community Conversation". The forum is designed to address pressing housing issues and explore viable solutions.
The forum is scheduled for the evening of May 16th and will be held at Davis Community Church. IHJD has invited local and regional experts on affordable housing and social service issues. Topics covered will include "who needs housing" and "how" do we help them. In addition, to provide a deeper understanding, the stories and voices of marginalized communities that include the homeless, victims of eviction and even those struggling to purchase their first home will be presented. The event will discuss the city's Housing Trust Fund, including funding and its role in solving the various housing needs highlighted. Attendees will gain insights into how the Housing Trust Fund could effectively address housing challenges in Davis. A key focus of the conversation will be how to ensure sustainable funding for the Housing Trust Fund.
Following the formal presentations attendees will have the opportunity to ask their own questions to a panel of the presenters including council members and city staff.
In addition to the forum and panel discussion, there will be a number of organizations available with whom the attendees can meet and talk. Organizations already registered to participate include Northern California Legal Services, Mutual Housing California, Interfaith Housing Justice Davis, Ca House and DavisCAN. All the organizations have a role in providing housing resources and support systems. This interaction will provide numerous opportunities for community members to get involved and contribute to housing equity efforts.
Davis Housing Solutions: A Community Conversation is open to all and is free. Donations to the Housing Trust Fund are welcomed and can be made when registering for this event. Livestreaming information available at registration. IHJD encourages all community members to join this conversation and participate in shaping the future for housing in Davis.
To register for the forum, go to https://bit.ly/interfaithhousing
If you wish to contact Interfaith Housing Justice Davis, email: Ellen Kolarik [email protected]
A key focus of the conversation will be how to ensure sustainable funding for the Housing Trust Fund.
Based upon this sentence, it seems that the open-ended questions posed at the beginning of the article are already arriving at a pre-determined conclusion.
Posted by: Ron O | March 17, 2024 at 06:34 PM
I know that most faith based groups have a good heart and really want to help people afford a place to live.
I've noticed that "affordable" housing developers that get rich building "affordable" units for $500K-$1mm a unit work hard to trick people with good hearts that making them rich building "affordable" units is the best way to "help people get housing".
In reality building a $1mm unit that is given or sold at a discount to one (1) poor family rather than giving hundreds of family rent subsidies is like buying one poor senior a Lexus SUV to get around rather than buying two hundred (200) poor seniors Yolo Bus passes for a year.
https://www.pacificresearch.org/why-californias-affordable-housing-costs-1-million-a-unit/#:~:text=So%20it's%20no%20wonder%20a,Californians%20who%20need%20help%20paying
Posted by: South of Davis | March 17, 2024 at 10:20 PM
Are the largest owners of residential rental property going to have a presence at the event?
Posted by: Tuvia ben Olam | March 19, 2024 at 08:22 PM
By approving the school district parcel tax, Davis voters increased the cost of housing (except for those age 65 and older, those living in apartment complexes, etc.).
(The cost increase per unit for apartment complexes is negligible.)
In any case, (some) Woodland parents thank you, even as the WJUSD school district (and those left behind) do not.
But what I don't understand is why those who complain that housing costs are too high are often the same folks who vote for parcel taxes - which are a housing cost. Perhaps the "exclusions" for a large and increasing proportion of residents are a reason for that. It's easy to vote for a tax that "someone else" pays, for which "you" might gain a benefit.
Regardless, you haven't heard the last from DJUSD in regard to their "need for more money", as they simultaneously resist right-sizing. And you've just given them a reason to continue avoiding that inevitable result.
Posted by: Ron O | March 20, 2024 at 09:22 AM
Ron wrote:
>The cost increase per unit for apartment complexes is negligible.
With an average older small apartment building in town selling for ~$300K/Unit just a few of the fixed costs really add up with $3K/year going to property tax ~$1K year going to parcel taxes and other add ons (Los Rios CCD, Open Space, Etc.) another ~$1K a year going to insurance and ~$1K a year for city services you get to a rent of $500/month before paying the manager, for maintenance, improvements or the mortgage (~$1,300/month with a 33% down payment). The "the same folks who vote for parcel taxes and complain about high rents never seem to complain about how city city services has gone up about ~4x in the last decade along with commercial insurance that has also gone up ~4x.
Posted by: South of Davis | March 20, 2024 at 08:21 PM
South of Davis: Sounds accurate, for those purchasing an apartment complex these days.
Of course, for those who purchased an apartment complex (or a house) a long time ago, the property tax (at least) is lower - due to Proposition 13. Same is true for all commercial property, I understand.
Posted by: Ron O | March 21, 2024 at 09:55 AM
SOD say: "the same folks who vote for parcel taxes and complain about high rents never seem to complain about how city city services has gone up about ~4x in the last decade "
I didn't and don't vote for parcel taxes, and I did and will continue to complain about city services costs. And for all this voting and complaining, I get . . . . . . . . Davis
Posted by: Alan C. Miller | March 21, 2024 at 10:27 AM