REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of May 2026 as Affordable Housing Month
Report
BACKGROUND
Housing affordability continues to be a top concern in Santa Clara and throughout the region. As of March 2026, the median sale price for a single-family home in the city of Santa Clara was $2,035,000 and over 35% of renters in Santa Clara pay more than 30% of their income on housing. In addition, over 461 people were counted in the City as being unsheltered in 2023. Over the next six years, the City's regional housing goal is to facilitate the construction of over 2,872 new extremely low and very low-income housing units by 2031.
Affordable housing and supportive services continue to be a top priority in Santa Clara as they help ensure an outstanding quality of life locally. In recent years, Santa Clara has contributed greatly to increasing housing at all income levels. The City has paved the way for a large amount of development through the completion of several specific plans. The City has also been successful at leveraging local and state funding to build 100% affordable housing.
The City's current pipeline includes over 200 units of 100% affordable housing and potential for an additional 459 low- and moderate-income rental units from projects that are subject to the City's Affordable Housing Ordinance.
While the City has done a lot to boost affordable housing production, more is needed. To make meaningful progress, the City will need new sources of funding, new partnerships, and community support for new affordable housing.
Each year communities around the country organize events in recognition of Affordable Housing Month. The purpose of these events is to invite a wide range of stakeholders to discuss housing related needs and solutions. Participants often include neighbors, advocates, renters, homeowners, landlords, people experiencing homelessness, housing developers, lenders, service providers, government agencies, and others.
The intention ...
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