SLO County had ‘record-breaking’ year in affordable housing. How many units are coming?

John Lynch

San Luis Obispo County’s efforts to add more housing to meet the needs of its lower-income residents appear to be paying off.

According to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services Division, a “record-breaking” number of new units of affordable housing were completed in the 2023-24 fiscal year — and even more are expected next year.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, five affordable housing projects consisting of a total of 199 below-market value units were added to San Luis Obispo County’s housing stock, according to the release.

Those units are expected to house between 314 and 471 people when at full capacity, according to the release.

The Homeless Services Division sad the 2023-24 fiscal year proved to be a significant improvement over previous years. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, no new affordable housing projects entered the market, and in the 2021-22 fiscal year, just one 40-unit project was completed.

The previous gap in new projects was largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the building industry, but as the worst of the pandemic fades, the county expects to build more housing projects at a rapid rate, the release said.

“After such a successful year, we usually see a few less productive years of housing development. However, we anticipate maintaining our momentum,” Homeless Services Division program manager Tony Navarro said in the release. “This is largely because of the prioritization of housing at all government levels, the community’s strong will, and the incredible work done by our partners, notably the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, People’s Self-Help Housing, and Paso Robles Housing Authority.”

The county has seven more projects in the pipeline planned to open by June 30, 2025, with a projected total of 335 new units coming online over that time, according to the release.

Pismo Terrace, a People’s Self-Help Housing affordable housing complex under construction in Pismo Beach, will open 50 units in September 2023.
Pismo Terrace, a People’s Self-Help Housing affordable housing complex under construction in Pismo Beach, will open 50 units in September 2023.

Since July 2014, the county has backed 18 completed housing projects, adding 710 affordable units for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households, according to the release.

“It’s not one thing that will move the needle on the housing struggles in our region, but projects like Broad Street Place and Pismo Terrace create more options,” San Luis Obispo County Chief Administrative Officer Matt Pontes said in the release. “We are committed to finding housing solutions for those facing challenges at all levels. It’s not an easy task and it takes time, but these numbers indicate we are heading in the right direction.”

County-funded projects completed in the 2023-24 fiscal year included the following five developments:

  • Templeton Place II, a 36-unit senior community in Templeton

  • Broad Street Place, a 40-unit housing community in San Luis Obispo

  • Rockview at Sunset, a 35-unit housing community in Morro Bay

  • The Apartments at Toscano, a 38-unit housing community in San Luis Obispo

  • Pismo Terrace, a 50-unit permanent supportive housing community in Pismo Beach.

“Housing affordability and access are foundational to our mission to reduce homelessness,” San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services Director Devin Drake said in the release. “These projects are not just buildings. For many of their residents, these communities serve as lifelines that create stability, dignity, and opportunities to thrive.”

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Brian Brewer was homeless for 12 years in San Luis Obispo County, and now lives at Broad Street Place, an affordable housing complex by People’s Self-Help Housing, pictured March 1, 2024. Brewer said he was resistant to accepting services, but was persuaded by a Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo case worker to give affordable housing a try over the course of two years.

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