By Richard Davis, associate editor
San Jose’s Measure E, a property sale transaction tax intended to fund homelessness services and affordable housing, has likely passed. Ballots were still being counted as of March 12.
According to SV@Home, “The Mayor’s March Budget Message included recommendations for the allocation of Measure E funds, which are expected to begin being collected in July. The Mayor’s recommendations follow the initial spending plan approved by the City Council in December that allocates Measure E funding as follows:
- “45 percent for extremely low-income households (below 30% of area median income);
- “35 percent for very low-income (VLI) and low-income (LI) households (30-80% of AMI);
- “About 10 percent for moderate-income households (80-120% of AMI) and below-market rate housing; and
- “10 percent for homeless prevention activities.
SV@Home, a membership organization, bills itself as “the voice for affordable housing in the Silicon Valley.”
In addition, “most of the new funding from Measure E will be used to expand current resources for developing affordable housing,” according to SV@Home.
Related priorities identified by Mayor Sam Liccardo include:
- “Identifying sites for additional Bridge Housing Communities (small home communities for the homeless);
- “Immediate ramping up of public and private investment in homelessness prevention,
- “New programs aimed at homeless students;
- “Additional investment in policies and programs to promote accessory dwelling units (ADUs); and
- “Continued work on establishing a navigation center for people experiencing homelessness in the City.”
SV@Home’s full March 12 coverage of housing-related ballot measures in Santa Clara County’s recent election can be found here.