Priced Out! Women, Children and Housing
Virtual Town Hall Recording
This Virtual Town Hall was held on March 11, 2021 and hosted by Nevada County Habitat for Humanity. Participants of the Town Hall included local representatives from the state, county, and city; Megan Dahle (CA State Assembly, District 1), Sue Hoek (Nevada County Supervisor, District 4), Hilary Hodge (Grass Valley Council Member), and Daniela Fernandez (Nevada City Council Member), all of whom shared their views and ideas, as well as discussed possible solutions and collaborations to improve this vital local issue.
Habitat for Humanity — Cost of Home
We Have the Power to Impact Our Future, and We’re Doing Something About It
It’s no secret that California has a housing crisis. It is estimated that 3.5 million affordable homes are needed to meet the current needs of low and moderate income families and individuals in the state.
Nevada County Habitat for Humanity firmly believes that we can overcome this challenge. But we need to work together to identify and act upon common-sense solutions that will serve the families of Nevada County, California and the United States.
While Nevada County Habitat will continue in its mission to build safe, decent, affordable homes with local families, we also want to partner with elected leaders, housing professionals and interested members of the community to advocate for practical, actionable initiatives and policies that will meet the housing needs of our families.
Families, Women & Children Need Safe, Decent and Affordable Housing Now
Get Involved
During the Priced Out! Women, Children & Housing town hall that Nevada County Habitat hosted a number of actionable ideas were presented. The first, and perhaps most powerful idea, was the example that the panelists for this town hall demonstrated: five women in positions of authority, each with a unique personal and political perspective, came together and agreed there was a crisis and we needed to work together to do something about it.
What can you do right now?
- Get informed – become educated on the issues that affect housing
- Volunteer – become a member of an advocacy committee or group
- Attend meetings – planning commission, council and supervisor meetings
- Contact your representative – write a letter, send an email, make a phone call
A few actionable ideas are presented here, along with contact information for each of our panelists and a listing of useful resources that may provide better understanding of the crisis.
Learn more about current housing related legislation in the state. Go to Habitat California for legislation Habitat supports. And learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s Cost of Home initiative.
Get Involved! – Nevada County Habitat
Yes, I’d like to become involved with the Nevada County Habitat for Humanity Advocacy Group. The focus of the group is to identify and support policies at the local, state and federal level that lead to safe, decent and affordable housing for all families. Please fill out the form below.
Join Our Advocacy Group
Contact – Elected Officials
Megan Dahle, CA State Assembly Rep., District 1 Email
Sue Hoek, Nevada County Supervisor, District 4 Email
Hilary Hodge, Grass Valley City Council Contact Form
Daniela Fernandez, Nevada City Council Email
Contact – Local Housing Organizations
Nevada County Habitat for Humanity
Nevada County Association of REALTORS
Nevada County Housing and Community Services
Nevada County Planning Commission
Grass Valley Planning Commission
Nevada City Planning Commission
Town of Truckee Planning Commission
Advocacy Related Resources
Article: Five Things I’ve Learned Covering California’s Housing Crisis
Report: Finding and Staying Home: Women of Color in California’s Housing Crisis
Implications of living in unaffordable housing
A single mother earning minimum wage who spends half or more of her pretax income on housing has only $124 per week, or $17 a day, to spend on all other necessities after paying rent.
Women and Housing Fact Sheet
Higher Rates of Poverty for Female Heads of Households: Fifteen percent of adult women lived in poverty in 2017 and make up 66% of the low-wage workforce.
California State Fact Sheet 2020
Policymakers at all levels of government need to address the immediate affordability needs families face, in addition to the ongoing, structural barriers to home affordability for low-income families across the rental and homeownership spectrum.
Nevada County Affordable Housing Needs Report
74% of extremely low-income households are paying more than half of their income on housing costs compared to just 2% of moderate-income households.