Here’s a sampling of information broadcast on Through the Roof Aired addressing affording housing issues, co-housing, etc. up in the Central Valley.
New Valley: Through the RoofAired: Saturday, June 30 @ 6:30 pmIn the second installment, the issue of housing in the Central Valley is the camera’s focus. New Valley: Through The Roof will investigate where the growth is directed. With prime agricultural land often the target, can the Central Valley keep its viable agricultural economy or will farmlands be relinquished to housing development? Also, the problem of housing the urban and rural poor is compounded as the race for affordable housing speeds up. What opportunities are open to farm workers who are searching for a small portion of the American dream? What can the urban poor do to find an adequate home in valley cities strapped by weakened economies? Developers are seeking guidance as they search for ways to supply high-density dwellings in urban centers from Redding to Bakersfield. Plus a look at what it’s like for middle-income families trying to find the home of their dreams, which often turn into nightmares.This edition will include interviews with, among others, Tim Coyle, Sr. of the California Building Industry Association based in Sacramento; Carol Whiteside, President of the Great Valley Center based in Modesto; Jean Ross, Executive Director of the California Budget Project; Don Harris, Founder of the Nehemiah Corporation of California; as well as produce farmers from the Natomas area attesting to the decline of farmland to development; and agricultural workers in Fresno county.Sprawl:Sprawl — a verb, dispersed development outside of compact urban and village centers along highways and in rural countryside. The issue of sprawl is impacting every facet of Central Valley society at every economic level. Fueling the sprawl frenzy is a population that has grown eighteen percent since 1990 and is projected to balloon from five million to 12 million by 2040. At the eye of the storm surrounding sprawl is how and where to house the new and future residents of California’s great Central Valley. It’s the California dream: a home of our own, where young families can expand and escape the frustration and overcrowding of our cities.Many urban centers are crumbling from neglect and loss of supportable infrastructure while suburbs spread, overtaking fertile farmland. The California Building Industry Association claims we’re providing about half the housing we need for the growth the state is experiencing. According to Tim Coyle, Sr. Vice President of the association, efforts to curtail unchecked growth by rebuilding in urban centers are hampered by restrictive permitting costs and litigation issues. The “not in my backyard” syndrome halts many developments before they get started.Not every dream can accommodate a single family. Jean Ross, Executive Director of the California Budget Project also decries the lack of affordable multi-family housing. She claims a lack of apartment housing is locking out thousands of lower income families.Affordable Housing:In this segment we’ll review one of the strategies involved in trying to find a home in this competitive and increasingly pricey market. Hear from couples that have been pounding the pavement and finally found a home at a price they could afford. Greg Paquin from the Gregory Group in Folsom shares information about the Central Valley market and where the pockets of affordable homes still are. Paquin says despite price increases, there are positives and Central Valley is still a great place to buy.Jan Wilson of Kimball Hill Homes talks about new developments, Bay Area families looking for a better deal, waiting lists and how to get ahead of the game. Local realtors share what they believe anyone looking for a home in this market should know and what it may mean to you as their neighbor. Don Harris, the founder of the Nehemiah Corporation, a program that helps assist first time homebuyers, explains why this housing crunch could signal an opportunity for truly innovative housing and urban revitalization. The increasingly tight housing market has been a widespread topic for discussion.In this segment we’ll explore how challenging it can be purchasing a home in the Central Valley. Until recently, qualifying for a home was the most difficult aspect of the home purchase experience; however, that has changed. In today’s market buying are experiencing lack of supply and high demand coupled with fierce competition. KVIE’s Melissa Crowley will share her first-hand experience navigating through lotteries, sale releases, and bidding, which is now all too common. Realtor Susie Kuwabara offers advice on how to stay ahead of the game. Market analysts will share their perspectives on why the Valley is a good deal.Urban Housing:Nearly half (49%) of renter households spend more than the recommended 30% of their income toward shelter. This segment focuses on the issues facing urban housing including the lack of availability for low and middle-income families. In this segment, we also take a look at the amount of unused land available in the urban areas and interview Architect David Mogavero, who has built numerous award-winning developments around downtown and surrounding areas, for his insight. Mogavero is an environmentally conscious architect who is active in developing in-fill lots and turning them into affordable middle and low-income housing units.He has also built co-housing units such as the Southside Co-Housing Development near downtown Sacramento. These units were erected in a redevelopment area and are helping their neighborhood recover from years of neglect and lack of resources. Now, twenty-five families live, work, and raise their children together in these eco friendly homes. Many are close enough to walk to work, but they also share utilities, cooking responsibilities and keep a watchful eye on the surrounding neighborhood.This segment will also explore a few of the issues surrounding the Section 8 housing voucher program. It is estimated that over 371,000 families are on a waiting list for Section 8 assistance. This number is more then three times the actual number of California families receiving assistance at 104,133 (CA Budget Project Report). Typically, we’ve found in our exploration of this issue, that many low-income families, who are in urgent need to use their voucher, cannot secure housing within a reasonable period of time. Additionally, in many cases, it can take years to secure affordable housing or to locate a voucher friendly landlord.Compounding the availability shortage for Central Valley families are Section 8 recipients from the Bay Area, who have no choice but to flee cities, where affordable housing is practically nonexistent, and seek refuge in the already stressed Central Valley affordable housing market. We’ll talk with Don Harris with the Nehemiah Corporation who is diligently working to build additional housing units in an effort to satisfy the increased demand for accessible housing.Farm Worker Housing:
KVIE Public Television – Channel 6, Cable 7, KVIE-DT – Where You Get Your PBS
