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5/12/2020 Study adds social-justice dimension to housing crisis – San Bernardino Sun

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By By THE EDITORIAL BOARDTHE EDITORIAL BOARD | | [email protected]@scng.com | | March 31, 2017 at 12:41 p.m.March 31, 2017 at 12:41 p.m.

It’s well known that California has a housing crisis. It’s a problem for would-beIt’s well known that California has a housing crisis. It’s a problem for would-be

buyers and renters and a drag on the economy.buyers and renters and a drag on the economy.

A new statistical study from two economics professors at Cal State San BernardinoA new statistical study from two economics professors at Cal State San Bernardino

gives the crisis a social justice dimension by focusing on sociological aspects ofgives the crisis a social justice dimension by focusing on sociological aspects of

home ownership and overcrowding. Commissioned by the Building Industryhome ownership and overcrowding. Commissioned by the Building Industry

Association of Southern California, Baldy View Chapter, the study — Association of Southern California, Baldy View Chapter, the study — “California“California

Homeownership and Sociological Factors”Homeownership and Sociological Factors” — looked at counties up and down the — looked at counties up and down the

state, but focused on San Bernardino County in particular.state, but focused on San Bernardino County in particular.

Economists Daniel MacDonald and Yasemin Dildar examined correlationsEconomists Daniel MacDonald and Yasemin Dildar examined correlations

between sociological factors — children’s health, median income, educationalbetween sociological factors — children’s health, median income, educational

attainment, inequality, crime and poverty — and homeownership andattainment, inequality, crime and poverty — and homeownership and

overcrowding, defined as more than one person per room in a dwelling. Theyovercrowding, defined as more than one person per room in a dwelling. They

used regression analysis to account for other determinants of those social factors,used regression analysis to account for other determinants of those social factors,

and found some key stats and correlations:and found some key stats and correlations:

OPINIONOPINION

Study adds social-justiceStudy adds social-justice dimension to housing crisisdimension to housing crisis

5/12/2020 Study adds social-justice dimension to housing crisis – San Bernardino Sun

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• In San Bernardino County, 8.9 percent of homes are overcrowded. That’s the• In San Bernardino County, 8.9 percent of homes are overcrowded. That’s the

ninth-highest rate among California’s 58 counties, though L.A. County (12.1ninth-highest rate among California’s 58 counties, though L.A. County (12.1

percent) and Orange County (9.3 percent) are higher. Riverside County’s rate is 7.4percent) and Orange County (9.3 percent) are higher. Riverside County’s rate is 7.4

percent.percent.

• For each 1 percentage-point drop in San Bernardino’s overcrowded homes, high• For each 1 percentage-point drop in San Bernardino’s overcrowded homes, high

school grad rates would be expected to rise by 1.23 percent, and an even betterschool grad rates would be expected to rise by 1.23 percent, and an even better

1.39 percent among minority students. That makes intuitive sense when you think1.39 percent among minority students. That makes intuitive sense when you think

of a student having a defined space at home to do homework — or not. A 1-pointof a student having a defined space at home to do homework — or not. A 1-point

drop in overcrowding was correlated with a 0.66 percent drop in poverty and adrop in overcrowding was correlated with a 0.66 percent drop in poverty and a

1.18 percent drop in inequality.1.18 percent drop in inequality.

• San Bernardino County is near the median for California counties in• San Bernardino County is near the median for California counties in

homeownership, at 61.9 percent. Riverside County is a bit better at 66.5 percent,homeownership, at 61.9 percent. Riverside County is a bit better at 66.5 percent,

pricey Orange County a bit worse at 58.7 percent.pricey Orange County a bit worse at 58.7 percent.

• A 1 percentage-point rise in homeownership is associated with reduced property• A 1 percentage-point rise in homeownership is associated with reduced property

crime (0.35 percent), violent crime (0.1 percent) and poverty rates (0.16 percent),crime (0.35 percent), violent crime (0.1 percent) and poverty rates (0.16 percent),

and with higher high school graduation rates (0.32 percent overall, 0.44 percentand with higher high school graduation rates (0.32 percent overall, 0.44 percent

among Latinos and 0.61 percent for African Americans).among Latinos and 0.61 percent for African Americans).

• But at the current, painfully slow rate of building new homes in San Bernardino• But at the current, painfully slow rate of building new homes in San Bernardino

County (2,312 residential permits per year on average since 2010), it would takeCounty (2,312 residential permits per year on average since 2010), it would take

seven years to raise the homeownership rate by 1 to 2 percentage points and makeseven years to raise the homeownership rate by 1 to 2 percentage points and make

it competitive with neighboring counties.it competitive with neighboring counties.

What does all this mean? That it’s important for government at all levels to doWhat does all this mean? That it’s important for government at all levels to do

whatever it can to encourage home building by removing any obstacles it can.whatever it can to encourage home building by removing any obstacles it can.

At the state level, that means reforming the parts of the California EnvironmentalAt the state level, that means reforming the parts of the California Environmental

Quality Act that are used primarily by unions and NIMBYs to slow, extort or cancelQuality Act that are used primarily by unions and NIMBYs to slow, extort or cancel

good projects, rather than to protect the environment.good projects, rather than to protect the environment.

At the local level, county boards and city councils need to keep housing fees andAt the local level, county boards and city councils need to keep housing fees and

restrictions in check and stand up to NIMBYs who oppose just about any newrestrictions in check and stand up to NIMBYs who oppose just about any new

housing project, often under the reasoning that “I’ve got my house, the heck withhousing project, often under the reasoning that “I’ve got my house, the heck with

anybody else who wants to live here.”anybody else who wants to live here.”

We need more housing. It’s good for California, it’s good for Californians and, asWe need more housing. It’s good for California, it’s good for Californians and, as

the professors found, it’s good for social justice.the professors found, it’s good for social justice.

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