{"id":218618,"date":"2023-04-28T01:43:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T01:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/econw.flywheelsites.com\/?post_type=project&p=218618"},"modified":"2023-10-19T20:10:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:10:18","slug":"project-spotlight-an-affordable-future-for-bakersfield","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/econw.com\/project\/project-spotlight-an-affordable-future-for-bakersfield\/","title":{"rendered":"An Affordable Future for Bakersfield"},"content":{"rendered":"
Enter California\u2019s SB2 Planning Grant Program, which provided one-time grants to help cities plan for and accommodate the housing needs of their communities alongside a permanent funding source to increase the supply of affordable homes in California. In Bakersfield, the city wanted to ensure that it was deliberate in its use of this resource to deliver meaningful impact to the community. This started with listening. Responses to a community survey\u2014which was made available online in English, Spanish, and Punjabi\u2014underscored the affordability challenge. Three-quarters of respondents were unhappy with their current housing situations, and more than half said they knew \u201ctoo many people who have been impacted by the lack of affordable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked to describe the \u201cideal Bakersfield,\u201d the community responded, \u201csafe and affordable.\u201d Their most urgent priority was building housing for people experiencing homelessness, including permanent supportive and transitional housing. Close behind were housing for families, for seniors, and for people with special needs. Regarding solutions, the community voiced strong preferences for reducing building costs and creating incentives for affordable housing development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n