"Sunshine on Affordable Housing" -- Preston Proposes Ballot Measure to Create Affordable Housing Oversight Commission

SAN FRANCISCO — With the City meeting less than half its affordable housing goals, Supervisor Dean Preston is proposing a charter reform measure to overhaul how we create affordable housing and put San Francisco on a path to housing affordability. Preston’s measure would create oversight where there has been none, establishing a Commission over the City Department in charge of affordable housing for San Francisco.

“We have to start delivering the homes that working class San Franciscans need,” Preston said. “If we are serious about hitting our affordable housing goals, we need a new approach, an actual plan, measurable goals, and results. That starts with a Commission over the housing department to finally bring some sunshine and accountability to how we create affordable housing in our City.”

Supervisor Preston’s Charter Amendment would create a 7-member oversight body over the Housing and Community Development Department, which will assume the duties of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. Three of the members will be appointed by the Mayor, three by the Board of Supervisors, and one by the City Treasurer.

Many city departments have oversight commissions, including the Planning Department, Recreation and Parks Department, and the Police Department. The purpose of an oversight commission is to review departmental goals and programs, providing a critical avenue for the public to give input.

“There is no issue more important than affordable housing in San Francisco,” said Preston. “This Charter Amendment will bring long overdue transparency, oversight, and accountability when it comes to delivering affordable housing in our City. It will help us create more affordable units faster and ensure the public knows how and why crucial decisions are made.”

A hearing last week before the Board’s Government Audit & Oversight Committee on affordable housing funding gaps revealed shocking figures, compiled in a report from the Planning Department and MOHCD. San Francisco has produced less than half (48%) of its targeted goals for affordable housing, while the city has produced 151% of its market rate housing goals, according to the 2015-2022 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) data. Starting in 2023, the city’s affordable targets increase dramatically, as do the corresponding funding gaps, which grow to $1.3 billion annually for 2023, ending at $2.4 billion by 2029. The City has no plan to address the gap and lacks even the most basic information about available funds and the current funding shortfall.

Meanwhile, voters and the Board of Supervisors have given a mandate and authorized funding for social housing, but the Mayor’s Office refuses to implement it. In November 2020, 74% of voters approved Prop K, which authorized the city to create 10,000 of social housing, and Prop I, a transfer tax increase to provide the necessary funding. To date, MOHCD has yet to construct or acquire a single unit under the program, despite the Board allocating $74 million to jumpstart efforts last year.

With no current oversight, the Mayor’s Office of Housing continues to obstruct social housing approaches – overwhelmingly supported by voters – that could help us reach our City’s affordable housing goals.

Preston’s Charter Amendment is co-sponsored by President Shamann Walton, and Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Aaron Peskin. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the proposal will appear on the November 2022 ballot.

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