Housing

Shelter is an essential human need and for families with children, housing offers critically important stability. Many people living in the United States see homeownership as part of “the American Dream” and as a source of long-term financial security and well-being. There are many existing housing assistance programs, first-time home buyer programs, and regulations including the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. However, housing of any type in San Diego County can be difficult to acquire due to factors like cost. Even when a person or family secures a form of housing, other circumstances can quickly threaten their ability to afford it, including adjustable-rate mortgages, increasing property taxes, rent increases, and income loss. In addition to financial barriers, potential renters may find applications denied due to credit history, lack of credit history (such as for recent immigrants), certain criminal convictions, family size, pets, previous evictions (even if the tenant won the complaint), illegal discrimination, and more.[1],[2],[3] This section of the report will focus on the three topics related to housing: Homelessness, Cost-Burdened Households, and Homeownership.
References 
  1. California Department of Real Estate. (2022) California Tenants: Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities.. Retrieved August 9, 2023, from https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/California-Tenants-Guide.pdf
  2. California Civil Rights Department. (2023). Housing Discrimination: What Discrimination Looks Like. Retrieved August 9, 2023, from https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/housing/
  3. Khouri, A. (2022, Nov. 19). Illegal Section 8 housing discrimination is rampant. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-11-19/california-outlawed-section-8-housing-discrimination-why-it-still-persists
Updated February 7, 2024