By James Wernikoff
Volunteering at the LifeMoves homeless shelter opened my eyes to the harsh realities of affordable housing in the Bay Area. While working with LifeMoves, setting up a sports camp for kids, and speaking with residents, I learned that most of them were homeless because they couldn’t afford rent in one of the most expensive markets in the country. It was a startling realization: In that moment, I realized that the housing crisis is not just a political debate. Thousands out of thousands are struggling with the unresolved problem that we tend to push aside.
The problem is deeply rooted in systemic challenges. High construction, land, and labor costs, restrictive zoning laws, and land scarcity make it nearly impossible to build enough affordable housing. California is simply too expensive. When housing is built, it is often luxury apartments that many low- and middle-income Bay Area residents cannot afford.
Through my research, I explored innovative solutions. Converting empty office spaces into homes is the most effective. Due to San Francisco’s high office vacancy rates of up to 40%, it was decided to build 14,000 new units when converted to office space, which would be 30% more cost effective. It will repurpose several idle office buildings left unused due to remote work related to COVID-19. However, solving the housing crisis will require more than just unconventional ideas for new construction. You will also need to communicate and collaborate across provinces. Today, when counties set goals for how much housing they are supposed to build of each type at a given time, cities often lack follow through. What we really need is regional planning that focuses on equality among all communities. Each of the 11 Bay Area Supervisors must react and plan accordingly more often, and more efficiently for a fair, equitable and effective housing plan.
James Wernikoff is a Portola Valley resident and a student at Menlo School.
