Frequently Asked questions

While our community is making progress toward building more housing, there is still a huge gap in meeting the housing needs of the working families, seniors and young people who are struggling to live in our community. There are also dozens of unhoused residents who need very low-income apartments with wrap-around services. 

We all benefit when there is a supply of housing for the essential workers who are so important to our local way of life. We all benefit when our young family members are able to remain in the community in which they grew up.  We all benefit when people who are sleeping on the street are able to find housing. 

The primary benefit will be construction of thousands of rental homes in a way that legally restricts the rents from being unaffordable. In addition, the measure will fund many units of supportive housing for those who are unable to live independently because of serious health challenges or disabilities. The measure also fund stipends for renters to avoid eviction and prevent them from becoming homeless. 

A broad coalition, convened by local nonprofit Housing Santa Cruz County, that includes many local housing, education, labor and business leaders. 

Those who own a home and do not qualify for exemptions, will contribute $8 per month via a parcel tax. Those who sell a property in the city for $1.8 million or more will also pay a tiered real estate transfer tax that is based on the sale price. 

There are parcel tax exemptions for seniors and low-income homeowners. There also are exemptions for the real estate transfer tax for families transferring the ownership of property within the immediate family.  

Funds raised by the measure will be managed through the City of Santa Cruz’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which has an outstanding track record of creating and preserving housing for Santa Cruz residents who have a lower than average income. In the past five years, the Trust Fund has played a significant hand in creating approximately 400 affordable apartments. 

When it comes to building homes for people of modest means, the simple answer is NO. While there are several affordable projects moving ahead, the cost of most current housing construction is not within reach of most of our residents and workers.  

Yes. Motor vehicles are the leading source of greenhouse gasses in our county. Currently, thousands of people work in our city but do not live in our city, instead driving long distances to work every day. If we can get  more of our local workers off the highways and streets by enabling them live close to work, the environmental benefits will be huge.  

There is a local preference in terms of who can benefit from the new housing units. There also is a local preference in terms of which workers will build the housing. 

Yes. The measure has a provision requiring it to terminate in 20 years. 

The measure has exemptions for those with the least ability to pay, including a low-income senior exemption. The measure also collects the majority of the funding from the sale of high-end properties. Most homes will not be subject to the real estate transfer tax.