This is from Mid-Peninsula Housing’s current marketing brochure. It sums up well the situation here on the SF Bay Peninsula and the benefits of affordable homes.

Northern California has one of the highest housing costs in the nation. The lack of affordable housing impacts everyone; and local leaders constantly wrestle with the fact that there isn’t enough housing affordable to their community members.

It’s not just a social problem, but an economic and environmental one. Cities, schools and local businesses struggle to find employees who can afford to live in the communities where they work. Many workers must drive long distances, contributing to gridlock and air pollution. Others double up in overcrowded, substandard housing. Both of these options come at considerable cost to the health and welfare of our communities. The housing problem is very real, and it impacts us all...

Our work at Mid-Pen is driven by the belief that safe, affordable housing provides the foundation necessary for people to prosper and contribute to their communities. To us, there’s nothing more rewarding than providing the stable housing that allows people to thrive, not just survive. Once a family has an affordable home, they can focus on finding better jobs, pursuing education, helping their children with schoolwork, even exercising and eating more healthfully...

At Mid-Pen we also believe that affordable housing doesn’t just benefit our residents. It benefits the entire community. By providing homes close to jobs and transit, we revitalize city centers and reduce a region’s carbon footprint. And by designing, building and renovating with a constant commitment to the highest quality, we enhance and beautify the neighborhoods where we build.

Mid-Pen was a co-founder of HLC and is the largest nonprofit affordable-home developer headquartered in San Mateo County. Learn more at Mid-Pen’s website:

www.midpen-housing.org