Cheap and affordable housing is one of the most important things to provide for people living in urban centers, applying primarily to people who are #lowincome citizens. Rent can be reduced and housing can be made affordable by creating and using affordable social housing which is ideal for a wide range of wage brackets that differ from the private real-estate market. 

Proposition K sought to allow up to 10,000 units of social housing to be operated by the city. The measure passed, and that is great news. This will make it possible for more people to live in affordable homes. The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development is going to help a lot of people.

Before the city can begin even one unit of municipal housing though, it has to clear a legal hurdle in the form of Article 34 of the California Constitution, which was added by segregationists over 70 years ago. This article requires a local vote before any low-income housing can be created in a locality like San Francisco. There is no similar requirement for high-income housing, only low-income housing is discriminated against in this way.

Article 34 was clearly placed as a stumbling block intended to keep low-income occupants in public housing or other affordable housing away from wealthy areas. It was passed to curtail public housing's racial integration, and it is especially harmful towards black residents.

It's true that many different nonprofit groups have helped San Francisco residents get into homes they can afford. This isn't something we should have to rely upon, though. The reason taxes exist is to fund programs that make life better for citizens.

The economic situation is very difficult for low-income residents and people of color. The city has had an affordable housing problem for many years, and we need to enact real change in order to bring municipal social housing to San Francisco. It will ensure mitigated rent costs and create a structural, internationally-proven solution for affordable housing.

Providing affordable housing rates and units to all residents in the city regardless of class distinction will help solve the issue of homelessness in the city.