Citizens and community leaders met at St. Jude Shrine of the West in Southcrest, calling on city leaders to help reverse the skyrocketing price of housing that they say threatens the economic foundation of the booming city.
City council members, business and labor leaders were among more than 1,000 people who attended the plea for more affordable housing sponsored by the San Diego Organizing Project, a nonprofit group that has studied housing issues during the past year.
The group is asking city leaders to declare a housing state of emergency, enact laws to protect renters' rights, increase the supply of housing for first-time home buyers and set aside more money for development of affordable housing.
Council members Toni Atkins, Donna Frye, Ralph Inzunza and Brian Maienschein have pledged council support for the task force. Last week, the Organizing Project released a poll that says San Diegans worry more about housing issues than any other city problem. More than two-thirds say government isn't doing enough to correct the problem.
Fewer than 25% of county residents can afford a median-priced home in the county, which recently crossed the $300,000 threshold, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
