The Challenge

Santa Barbara’s housing crisis is pushing out working families, seniors, and longtime residents while tearing at the fabric of our community as well as undermining the local economy.
 

Kristen’s Record of Action as Councilmember

Kristen Sneddon has:
 

• Delivered Major Local Investment in Affordable Housing
  Championed significant new local funding for affordable housing by pushing for major deposits into Santa Barbara’s Local Housing Trust Fund and restructuring it to better produce and preserve deed-restricted affordable homes while leveraging outside dollars.
   

• Insisted on Public Benefit in Major Redevelopment Deals
  Withheld approval and sent the Paseo Nuevo redevelopment proposal back to secure stronger public benefits, including guarantees of more units of  housing affordable to working families, and clearer terms and guarantees before moving forward.
   

• Affordable Housing Crisis Ad Hoc Committee
  Met with over 32 housing groups including local mom and pop owners, tenants, non-profit housing providers, non-profit groups serving economically impacted residents, educational leaders, economists, realtors, and a public meeting to develop Council Action Recommendations, including the Local Housing Trust Fund. 
   

• Financed Deed-Restricted Affordable Housing
  Voted to finance affordable housing projects, including a $3.5 million Housing Trust Fund loan for the new 63-unit project for families & downtown workers (on an underutilized city-owned parking lot downtown)  with a 90-year affordability covenant.
   

• Protected Inclusionary Affordability Requirements
  Defended strong inclusionary policies so new housing contributes meaningfully to affordability.
   

• Advanced Tenant Stability Measures
  Supported tenant protections and stability measures as near-term relief while longer-term housing policies are developed.
   

• Expanded Pathways for Smaller Homes and ADUs
  Supported policies that make it easier to add smaller homes, including ADUs, while balancing local constraints like traffic congestion, wildfire risk and neighborhood compatibility.

As Mayor, Kristen Will Get Things Done:

• Fund Affordable Housing at Scale
  Prioritize production of affordable housing through a dedicated, reliable source of funding for the Local Housing Trust Fund.
   

• Preserve Existing Rental Housing
  Protect the housing we already have by requiring like-for-like replacement when development demolishes existing homes, so we do not lose affordability through redevelopment.
   

• Protect Neighborhoods From Short-Term Rental Takeovers
  Enforce against illegal and excessive short-term rentals that remove long-term housing and destabilize residential neighborhoods.
   

• Prioritize Infill and Adaptive Reuse
  Focus growth on infill and reuse of existing buildings in safe, sensible locations, with predictable standards and faster timelines.
   

• Public Land Must Deliver Public Benefit
  Demand maximum public benefit and full transparency from development on city-owned land, including sites like Paseo Nuevo and the former Police Station location.
   

• Regional Partnerships for Sites and Land Exchanges
  Work with regional partners, such as the County or the School District, on land exchanges and coordinated planning that unlocks viable sites for affordable housing.