The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Measure A passage could help fix housing crisis

Thank you so much for your excellent coverage of the affordable housing crisis in Silicon Valley (May 17). Your article painted an accurate and sobering picture of the challenges low income workers face trying to make ends meet, and the real danger they face of falling into homelessness.

It is in everyone's best interest to help hard-working, low-income people put down stable roots in our community. We rely on our janitors, hair stylists and lawn care workers, and when they can live in the community where they work, we all benefit.

Your article accurately assessed the crux of the problem as the lack of funding for affordable homes. The good news is that we have two solutions to that problem right in our reach. Measure A on the June ballot would provide an ongoing local source of funds for county programs, including affordable housing. And the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act, Proposition 1C on the November ballot will provide $2.85 billion in funds for housing programs statewide. As Marjorie Matthews points out, the cost of providing affordable housing to a family is much less than the costs to the county if that family becomes homeless. Let's do the smart and moral thing and vote for more funding for affordable housing.

Jennifer Pence

Mountain View