Rising housing prices and a lack of median- and low- income developments have driven up the number of homeless people in the state of California. The state holds 12 percent of the country’s population, but 22 percent of its homeless population.
The Sacramento Bee reports that the housing affordability crisis stems in part from the dramatic rise in California property values. Residential property in the state is now valued at $150,000 or more per acre due to the number of highly desirable metros like San Francisco and Los Angeles and natural limitations like mountains and the ocean.
Other reasons for the lack of affordable housing are cuts to redevelopment agencies and a reluctance on the part of local officials to enforce development laws meant to spur median- and low-income housing. The state has also seen a rise in local push-back against increased housing builds. The so-called “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) groups site environmental concerns with development.
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