MEDIA CONTACT:
Blake Case
blake@emccommunications.com
(601) 832-6079
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2024 – The loss of a stable home is a profound blow, destabilizing families, health, and livelihoods. Today, more than 1 in 4 Bay Area households face the constant stress of economic insecurity, and nearly 4 in 10 families spend over 30% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. The severe shortage of affordable housing in California affects us all, eroding the foundations of our communities and our economy.
For years, we’ve seen housing bond measures earn strong majority support from local voters — garnering 60%, even 65% of the vote — only to fall short of the two-thirds requirement that Prop 5 would have changed. Each of these near-misses represents lost opportunities to create affordable homes for our neighbors.
The defeat of Proposition 5 is a blow to progress, allowing a minority to continue blocking critical affordable housing and infrastructure initiatives, despite a clear majority support from our communities. This antiquated threshold will continue to stymie local action on our urgent housing crisis.
United Way Bay Area stands with the broad coalition that supported Proposition 5 and every voter who sought to empower communities to respond to their housing needs. Though this outcome is disappointing, we are resolute in our mission. We remain committed to building a future where every Bay Area resident has access to safe, stable, affordable housing, and we will persist in our efforts to bring that vision to life.
###
To request an interview with United Way Bay Area CEO Keisha Browder, contact Haley Kubik at (425) 260-4100 or haley@emccommunications.com.
About United Way Bay Area
United Way Bay Area (UWBA) mobilizes the Bay Area to assist people living in poverty and to dismantle the root causes of poverty. One of the most respected and highly effective philanthropic organizations fighting poverty, UWBA supports workers and students seeking employment and better careers, helps families struggling to meet basic needs, supports our neighbors toward achieving their financial stability goals, and advocates for housing justice for all Bay Area residents. Learn more at uwba.org.
