San Diego, like many major cities in California, faces a significant challenge in providing affordable housing to its residents. The city’s stunning coastline, favorable climate, and robust economy attract people from various walks of life, contributing to a high demand for housing and subsequently, soaring property prices and rents. This situation has pushed affordable housing to the forefront of urban development discussions. In response, San Diego has been exploring and implementing a variety of strategies aimed at increasing the availability of affordable housing. These include incentivizing developers to include affordable units in new projects through density bonuses, reducing development fees for affordable housing projects, and leveraging state and federal funds to finance affordable housing developments. Additionally, the city is looking into repurposing underutilized properties and cutting red tape to expedite the construction of affordable homes.
Another innovative approach San Diego is considering involves the promotion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as granny flats or in-law units. These smaller, independent residential units located on the same lot as a stand-alone (single-family) home, offer a unique opportunity to increase housing stock without the need for large-scale developments. By relaxing zoning laws and reducing permitting fees for ADUs, the city aims to encourage homeowners to create additional living spaces that can be rented out at below-market rates. Moreover, San Diego is actively seeking to address the affordable housing crisis by engaging in public-private partnerships to develop and maintain affordable housing units. These collaborations aim to pool resources from both sectors to create sustainable housing solutions that benefit low to moderate-income families. Through these concerted efforts, San Diego is striving to tackle the affordable housing challenge head-on, with the goal of ensuring that all residents have access to safe, affordable housing options.