Trying to get a two-for-one with that title:
1) It’s been a long time since I’ve posted so I have catching up to do.
And
2) There’s a lot going on in Santa Cruz County’s affordable housing efforts. I know it seems like too much to some of us… but it’s absolutely necessary because we have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of past inequities to address.
Instead of going deep into everything that’s going on, I’ll keep it simple: It’s Affordable Housing Month in Santa Cruz County. Almost every aspect of the affordable challenges we face will be examined and engaged with during the rich set of programs and events that make up Affordable Housing Month. Housing supply, tenant protections, supportive housing for those who’ve been chronically homeless, housing elements, new projects under development, ADU’s, transportation linkages to housing policy, gentrification, housing development obstacles, and community narratives around housing issues—all will have exposure during the month of May.
I want to invite you and everyone in the community to participate in the signature event of Affordable Housing Month: Housing Santa Cruz County’s Celebration and Community Conversation to kickoff Affordable Housing Month at Cabrillo College (Samper Recital Hall- next to the Crocker Theater) on Saturday May 6 from 12:30 to 3:30.
A ton of good stuff will be packed into the festive (and engaging) event:
-Keynote speaker Shane Phillips, urban planner, policy expert, and author of The Affordable City: Strategies for Putting Housing Within Reach (and Keeping it There) will talk about the range of policy commitments needed to truly address our housing challenges.
- A children's corner with a book reading by Leticia Hernández-Linares, author of the children's book "Alejandria Fights Back!";
- A resource fair with more than 15 organizations sharing info about their housing work in our county
- Food trucks - and live music from Matt Masih and the Messengers.
Pease register for this free Affordable Housing Month event here. (Parking is available adjacent to the Hall.)
Our housing challenge is huge. There’s a lot of great work being done -- and there’s a lot more to do. Let’s recognize and celebrate our successes and commit to further the work in the year ahead. Many individuals and families in our community are counting on us.
If you can't make to the kickoff celebration, please consider participating in one of the other events, which can be viewed here.
Oh... did I forget to mention that all of this work is spearheaded by my favorite housing advocacy organization: Housing Santa Cruz County We'd love to have you sign up to join us!
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