Supervisor Melgar discusses community land trusts and alternative housing models

The San Francisco County government meeting held on July 4, 2025, featured a significant discussion on alternative housing models, emphasizing the need for community land trusts and other innovative approaches to address the housing crisis. Supervisor Melgar opened the session, welcoming input from community members, including Tess Welborn, who expressed her long-standing interest in these alternative housing solutions.

Welborn highlighted the stark contrast in housing prices over the decades, noting that homes that once sold for $20,000 to $30,000 in the 1960s are now priced similarly, underscoring the challenges of the for-profit housing sector. She urged the need to explore various funding sources, including potential contributions from Citibank and the unemployment retirement system, to support these initiatives.

Additionally, Welborn pointed out the opportunity to acquire small hotels as part of the housing strategy, advocating for limited equity ownership options to assist tenants in becoming homeowners. She also echoed the sentiments of fellow community advocate Connie Ford, stressing the importance of community building in housing and neighborhoods. Welborn called for a shift away from isolating individuals and towards fostering a sense of community.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore these housing models and community initiatives, setting the stage for future discussions and actions aimed at improving housing accessibility in San Francisco County.