Requiring housing developers to dedicate a percentage of units to low-income residents has stimulated the construction of affordable housing in California, according to a survey released Monday.
About 80% of the 107 cities and counties that have policies known as inclusionary housing or zoning reported that the requirements have spurred the construction of apartments and houses that otherwise would not have been built.
The survey, conducted by two housing advocacy groups, found that in the last 30 years, more than 34,000 units of affordable housing have been built in California because of inclusionary housing.
At a news conference organized by the Los Angeles Inclusionary Zoning Coalition, supporters said the report supports their claim that such policies can help get housing built, without driving builders from the city.
"Let's get educated," said Los Angeles Councilman Ed Reyes, standing in front of City Hall flanked by Councilmen Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa, and members of tenants organizations and housing rights groups. "Let's understand what the rest of the state already knows: that mandatory inclusionary housing does not hurt the economy."
The study is key for housing advocates in Los Angeles, where the City Council is debating such an ordinance. A city-commissioned study by an outside consultant determined that such a program is economically feasible in Los Angeles.
The survey released Monday, by the California Coalition for Rural Housing and the Non-Profit Housing Assn. of Northern California, provides a detailed look at the state of the controversial policies, which date back to the 1970s.
Typically, cities and counties with inclusionary housing requirements mandate that developers set aside units for moderate-, low- or very low-income residents when constructing market-rate housing projects. In exchange, developers are offered incentives designed to help offset the costs of offering the reduced rate units.
Builders often view inclusionary ordinances as burdens placed unfairly on their shoulders. The policies also harm middle-income residents who must pay more for the market-rate housing, said Tim Coyle, senior vice president of the California Building Industry Assn.
"I'm not aware of any other industry in the state that is required to compensate for government's failure to help people," he said. "Dentists don't do this, or lawyers."
