Jane Parker on Affordable Housing

Jane Parker is a leader who brings a proactive focus to planning and a collaborative, pragmatic approach to problem solving. Her service on county-wide boards and as a senior executive at nonprofit organizations gives her the expertise and perspective we need to make smart budget decisions and make Monterey County strong today, tomorrow, and well into the future.

The median price of a home in Monterey County is still over $600,000. Nearly 90% of county residents cannot afford to buy a house at this price. It’s not just low-income families who are in trouble. Many of our teachers, nurses, public safety workers and even higher-paid professional people cannot afford to live here, and must drive to their jobs in our county from far away.

The Challenges:  To address the affordable housing challenge, the County needs to pursue important policy initiatives including:

• Setting aside at least 30% of new housing for very low, low, moderate, and “workforce” income families;

• Setting aside 75% of new housing for very low, low, moderate, and “workforce” income families in special affordable housing overlay districts, which would not otherwise be eligible for larger-scale development;

• Allowing people currently living or working in Monterey County to be first in line for rental or purchase of homes;

• Ensuring that “workforce” and low income housing has long-term protection balancing the community need to provide affordable housing in the future with the ability of home owners to make improvements and more equitably share in the increased value of their homes;

• Providing a one-stop qualifying process for buyers that ensures a fair and accurate determination of eligibility; and

• Creating and using mechanisms to provide financial assistance to first-time home buyers.

My Approach:  Advocacy for affordable housing has always been a priority for me. Not only is affordable housing an issue of social justice, it is a critical component of economic well-being for every local business or organization that hopes to recruit and retain employees. My experience at Monterey Peninsula College and Planned Parenthood strengthened my understanding of the challenges faced by teachers, nurses and other working people to own their own homes. At the ACTION Council, I have been involved in developing ways to administer and track affordable housing units, and creating a loan program to allow low-income Marina residents to become homeowners. 

Clearly, the provision of affordable housing options is a case of “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”  I have the will and the vision, and can provide the leadership necessary to ensure this remains a priority for Monterey County.