The measure is projected to raise:

·$105 million (75 percent) toward construction of 1,041 rental units and accessory dwelling units for low-income and moderate-income households;
·$21 million (15 percent) toward homeless facilities and year-round shelter; and
·$14 million (10 percent) toward loans for first-time homeowners

All housing built will be subject to the very stringent and public processes in place in Santa Cruz County and the municipal jurisdictions including green building standards, open space requirements and public hearings.
A two-thirds vote is required for passage.

The Measure is supported by a broad range of local groups and individuals ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to Santa Cruz for Bernie Sanders as well as the Labor Council.

 

Quotes below are taken from the Sierra Club California Housing Policy: Meeting Our Housing Needs and Protecting the Environment August 2018

“When talking about the future of the housing stock in California, we must always place it within the context of the existential fight of our time—to make a dent in the worst effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “  “California’s largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions comes from pollution generated by cars and trucks.”

“As residents are forced to travel further and further from work to find affordable housing, they struggle with long distance commutes. This causes even greater congestion on our already over-crowded freeways across the state. “ “California’s largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions comes from pollution generated by cars and trucks.”

“Salinas, Santa Cruz–Watsonville, Napa, and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles were among the nation’s least affordable smaller housing markets. In these markets, even people with middle incomes can’t afford the rent.”  In addition to vastly increased commute distances, the lack of affordable rental housing has created more than 3000 homeless individuals in the County of Santa Cruz. Homeless individuals create stress on the natural resources of the City, including its parks, natural open spaces, river, and beaches by leaving trash, needles and other biohazards and human excrement within specific natural environments. “Homelessness has become widespread and the evidence is unmistakable in many California cities.”

To reduce commuting and prevent homelessness, “The Sierra Club believes the production of affordable housing for California’s families and workers is one of the most important challenges facing California.” Though the policy document focuses on state solutions and not local housing measures, it connotes its support for them by stating its support to “Allow local affordable housing bonds to be passed by the voters by a simple majority, rather than a two-thirds majority.”

Absent other funding sources, passage of Measure H is expected to build 1,041 affordable units. In a county with around 50,000 units this is a significant amount of housing. If the state housing bond passes, however, Measure H will leverage state funding to build a much greater amount of housing. In a similar vein, Measure H would house at least 200 homeless people, with the hope of much higher levels if State and/or Federal funding becomes available.

It is unlikely, though not specifically contradicted in the measure, that the new housing created will be built outside of urban corridors. Santa Cruz City and County have some of the strongest greenbelt policies in the State and the geography of the County is such that the vast majority of the population lives on a narrow strip between the ocean and the mountains. Both the County and the City of Santa Cruz have expressed an interest in using Measure H funds for adding ADUs on existing lots and the City of Scotts Valley is interested in adding small senior housing units adjacent to an existing development. As mentioned above, all units will be subject to the usual planning processes of the various jurisdictions including publicly noticed meetings, minimum green building standards and open space requirements both within and around the parcels proposed for development. Building and planning standards and requirements in Santa Cruz County and its jurisdictions are very stringent even by the standards of coastal California.