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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

November 4, 2005

Housing out of reach for many families

Homes

FAIRFIELD - Houses are sprouting up throughout Solano County, but they are increasingly out of reach for low-income and middle-class families, according to a report released Thursday by several nonprofit groups.

The report cited research by the California Association of Realtors that found nearly 80 percent of Solano County residents could not afford to buy the median-priced house, which had soared to $481,000 by September.

Housing patterns, the report said, are eating up green space, forcing longer commutes and reducing the county's quality of life.

Evelyn Stivers, campaign coordinator for Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, said communities should consider adopting "inclusionary housing ordinances," which require new residential developments to include a percentage of affordable homes.

"Communities in Solano can use this policy to provide better housing options and build stronger communities for the future," Stivers said in a press release.

The Solano Housing Coalition and the Greenbelt Alliance also took part in the study.

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