Owning a home is part of the American dream, but for many families it seems like an unattainable goal. For my family, we believed that we would never become homeowners. In fact, like a lot of families, we had to contemplate moving away from South San Francisco because rents were becoming too high. However, thanks to a first-time homebuyers program, we were able to stay in the community that we love. South San Francisco gave me the values of listening with an open mind, helping your neighbors, and giving back to your community, values that I want to teach my children.
Affordable housing is a personal issue with me. I will always remember the feeling of almost moving away, and the realization of knowing that I was able to stay and become a homeowner. I’ve kept that memory and feeling whenever I work on affordable housing issues. That’s why I’m proud that, as a Planning Commissioner, I’ve been able to work with developers to provide below-market rate housing, a win for all South San Francisco families. If you’re interested in learning about my housing story, here is a link to the video chronicling our story.