Redwood City – A campaign to build safe and affordable housing for coastal farmworkers got a nearly $6 million boost today.
San Mateo County supervisors voted 5-0 to allocate $5,999,360 towards buying and installing 47 manufactured homes for farmworkers and their families, including 19 households displaced after the Jan. 23, 2023, mass shooting. The homes will be located on five acres about a mile from downtown Half Moon Bay just south of Highway 1.
“Every family deserves a safe and healthy place to live,” said Supervisor Ray Mueller, whose District 3 encompasses the majority of the county’s farmland.
“We must absolutely create opportunities for farm workers to live in San Mateo County, as well as invest resources in stabilizing the agricultural economy that provides for farm working jobs.”
Supervisors awarded the building contract to Bigfoot Homes, based in Santa Cruz. Required permits for the project, including a coastal development permit and building permits, remain under review by the appropriate authorities.
“It’s a bright day in San Mateo County to see this project moving forward,” Mueller said at today’s Board meeting.
A County-commissioned report from 2016 found the need to “improve the quality, availability, and affordability of housing” for farmworkers. The issue received added urgency in the aftermath of the mass shooting that claimed the lives of seven farmworkers across two Half Moon Bay farms.
Since the shooting, the city of Half Moon Bay identified a city-owned parcel at 880 Stone Pine Road for farmworker housing. The County, along with the city and numerous partners, is working to create a new neighborhood for farmworkers and their families.
At least 28 units will be focused on ownership for farmworker households with assistance from California's Joe Serna Jr Farmworker Housing Grant Program.
Manufactured homes provide the opportunity for lower initial construction costs and quicker construction with the added advantage of providing a pathway to homeownership to extremely low-income individuals and families.
San Mateo County has prepared a draft Concept Plan for the project responding to comments provided by community members over the last several months.
Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
mdurand@smcgov.org