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Program helps teachers buy homes near schools
Goal is to help 100 teachers buy homes by two-year mark
By Michelle Alaimo
Finding qualified teachers to staff San Jose schools can be tough, particularly because of soaring home prices across the Bay Area. But now, thanks to the city-sponsored teacher's housing program, nearly 100 teachers across the city are living the American dream of working in a profession they love, plus owning a home.
"There's going to be a significant need for teachers in the near future," program coordinator Mark Brogan said. "We think it's bad now; it's going to be really bad."
Brogan said 30 percent of San Jose teachers are expected to retire by 2002. Without help, there won't be enough incoming teachers to fill the spaces, he said.
So, at the urging of Mayor Ron Gonzales, in 1999 the city council approved putting $2 million into the teacher's housing program, Brogan said. The program is now working its way through its second $2 million dollars, and Brogan sees no end to what the program will be able to offer.
"We always get additional funding," he said.
The program allows a maximum $40,000, 30-year no-interest deferred loan from the city's redevelopment fund for each full-time public schoolteacher who qualifies.
"This is one kind of supporting effort a city can do ... to become part of the overall environment to a successful education," said mayoral Communications Director David Vossbrink.
According to Teacher Homebuyer Program Coordinator Mark Brogan, 91 teachers have received loans since the program was developed in July 1999.
"The intent of the program is to get teachers, or people from lower cost areas, to move here and teach in San Jose," Brogan said.
The department of housing program got off to a slow start when only five teachers took advantage of the $7,200 maximum loan. After reevaluating the program in April 2000, and finding the loan amount too low for San Jose housing prices, the amount was raised to $40,000.
Education was one of the main issues Gonzales campaigned on in 1998. After being elected, Vossbrink said, the mayor formed a task force consisting of those working in education, which focused on the problem areas facing San Jose schools.
The mayor heard "loud and clear that the recruitment and retention of schoolteachers" to city schools was a major problem, partly due to the high cost of living, Vossbrink said.
But not every teacher is eligible. To qualify, the teacher must work full time in a public school in the city or that serves a majority of students from San Jose. The teacher must also hold a California teaching credential and have a household gross income that does not exceed 120 percent of Santa Clara County's current median-income limits. That means that a two-person household with at least one teacher cannot gross more than $83,500.
Eligible homes must be within the city limits and can't cost more than $292,700, if no down payment is made.
The loan is only due before the 30-year term if the home title is transferred to another owner.
Brogan said that, so far, the majority of teachers the program has helped could not have bought a home, or townhouse, without the loan. Turnaround for the loan can be particularly fast. One teacher contacted Brogan and moved into his new home 27 days later.
The teacher housing program has set a goal of helping 100 teachers by the time their two-year anniversary rolls around in July.
For more information about the teacher's housing program, visit the website at www.sjhousing.org, or contact Brogan at 408.277.8486. Staff writer Kate Carter contributed to this report.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
