Last Saturday, January 26th, the class took a trip around San Diego to take a look at affordable housing options around San Diego. We were able to tour some locations, such as the one operated by Serving Seniors, the Sarah Francis, and the North Park Senior apartments. In other locations we stopped by and discussed the geographical surroundings, features of the neighborhood, and architecture of the building in comparison to those adjacent. I’m not exactly sure what I previously thought affordable housing looked like. But, for some of the options we visited, that was not it. Some have buildings that blended in perfectly with the surrounding area and could easily pass as market rate housing (I attached a photo). The trip showcased the range of quality in affordable senior housing. Locations like the Sarah Francis, although intended to be temporary, were dark, dingy, and lacked air ventilation, while places like the North Park Senior apartments were filled with natural light and open spaces. This difference is important because things like cleanliness, air quality, and bug infestations affect well being. In the case of seniors, it could affect their lifespan even more drastically. Meanwhile, things facilitated by the North Park Senior apartments like autonomy and social activity promote wellbeing and an improved quality of life.
My final thought is towards waitlists. The Serving Seniors location mentioned that they have a very long waitlist. Being full, I believe the North Park Senior apartments have one too. I’m sure the market rate like locations are in the same situation. What this means is that although affordable housing in San Diego, it's not necessarily accessible. This is due to a basic supply and demand situation. While there are developers willing and wanting to build affordable housing complexes, many are not willing to do so and it’s unfortunate.
My final thought is towards waitlists. The Serving Seniors location mentioned that they have a very long waitlist. Being full, I believe the North Park Senior apartments have one too. I’m sure the market rate like locations are in the same situation. What this means is that although affordable housing in San Diego, it's not necessarily accessible. This is due to a basic supply and demand situation. While there are developers willing and wanting to build affordable housing complexes, many are not willing to do so and it’s unfortunate.