Shelter is a basic need. The politics of housing, however, are complex. Housing is a problem we’re unlikely to solve by building alone.
I’ve been a tenant most of my adult life. I now own my childhood home in Albany, which remains under Proposition 13 protection. In my corner of this small city, I face constant pressure from “investors” to sell this house that is the greatest investment I will likely own.
This is why I advocate a comprehensive approach to housing, one that works every available economic lever. This approach could yield a plan something like the following:
- New build construction that includes middle housing
- Additional support for backyard ADUs
- Housing that meets affordability criteria
- Land trusts and real estate co-ops
- Right-of-first-refusal and resale restrictions on Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) and a reasonable percentage of Proposition 13 houses that might otherwise be targets for speculation
- Anti-displacement protections for residents