A letter writer argues that history shows no reason to expect the free market to provide Californians with affordable shelter. Re “Getting real on adding affordable housing” : Robert Freund’s persuasive letter spoke to the rarely raised point that you can’t build your way out of the housing shortfall. He suggests requiring all new residential developments to include 20-25 percent affordable housing.
This is a call to reorganize how housing is distributed. It makes good sense, because shelter is a basic human need, not a discretionary product. Shelter is really a quasi-public utility, like drinking water, wastewater treatment, police and fire protection, and other basic services. It is the government’s job to provide for basic infrastructure needs. The marketplace is best suited to deliver discretionary wants.
Of course, separating shelter from its marketplace distribution model would mean higher taxes, but that is an appropriate tax, and many people would likely be happy to pay it. Since some people in society cannot afford to house themselves, they need the additional assistance of a robust public shelter model.
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