Sacramento Mandates Affordable Housing

Sacramento County has adopted one of the most aggressive affordable-housing policies in the nation, requiring developers to set aside 15% of all construction in unincorporated areas for low-income residents.

The policy, adopted by county supervisors Wednesday and set to take effect next month over developers’ objections, is expected to provide about 300 affordable houses and apartments a year in the fast-growing and increasingly expensive region.

Each new unit means “one less family that has to sleep in their car,” said Joan Burke, a lobbyist for the homeless.

Under the policy, 3% of new housing must be reserved for families with “extremely low income,” under $17,300 a year. The remaining 12% will be split between “very low-income” families earning less than $28,850 and “low-income” families earning less than $46,150.

The county and other sources will provide about $10 million in annual subsidies to cover the difference between the market price of the housing and what the families can afford to pay.

The Building Industry Assn. of Superior California, which represents builders in a 20-county area that includes Sacramento, opposed the policy, complaining that the burden of caring for the poor was being put on one industry.