Real Estate

San Mateo County Apartment Rates Steadily Climbing

The average one-bedroom apartment in San Mateo County has soared to more than $2,000/month.

By Laura Dudnick

The average market rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Mateo County is $2,053 per month, according to new rental data released by the San Mateo County Department of Housing.

This reflects an 8.2 percent increase from last year.

This is devastating news for anyone looking for affordable rental housing and comes on the heels of other unsettling trend data for the county, housing officials said.

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United Way's 211 referral line for San Mateo County reports taking significantly more calls for housing related services than for any other service.

Additionally, according to the county's new Health and Human Services Agency report on homelessness, the county's homeless rate has risen 12 percent since 2011.

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"People can't afford to live here, and not just people who are poor," said Kate Comfort Harr, Executive Director of HIP Housing, a San Mateo County nonprofit specializing in affordable housing programs including Home Sharing.

"Anyone making less than $85,000 a year is going to struggle in San Mateo County. This affects the health and well-being of not only our families but our community and economy as well." 

In the last two years, the affordable housing market throughout the county has been hit hard by the loss of the Redevelopment Agencies, which had been one of the largest funders of affordable housing efforts.

Other cuts from HUD to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and congressional Sequestration have also impacted housing negatively, housing officials said.

A recent announcement from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation that they will be eliminating all funding to their Safety Net Service granting program after this year has also been a devastating blow for housing and shelter advocates. More than 37 food and shelter agencies in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are impacted by this decision.

"This is an extraordinarily difficult time county-wide for those at the lowest income levels, especially with regard to housing. In the last year alone we've seen a 15% increase in people applying for our Home Sharing Program," said Comfort Harr.

"Unfortunately, this increase in need is especially hard on children and many others who have little control over their circumstances," she said. 

"Searching for housing is frustrating. It is difficult for most people to afford $2,000 per month," said Roosevelt Jordan, a senior searching for affordable housing in San Mateo County. "Shared housing may be my only option."

Click here to view the listing on Craigslist of the apartment in San Mateo (warning: you will be redirected to Craigslist).

Have you or do you know anyone who's had trouble finding affordable housing in San Mateo County recently? Tell us in the comments.


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