74
The County learned through the 2019 CAP
report that residents are not feeling better off
financially now than they were a year ago—
40.5% feel better off, which is a decline of 1.6%
over the past 12 years. However, between 2009
and 2017, respondents reporting annual family
income of at least $75,000 increased by 27%.
According to the California Housing
Partnership (CHP), Santa Cruz County must create 11,873 more affordable rental homes, equivalent to 27% of the existing rental stock, to meet
affordable housing needs.
5
The CAP report revealed that median home
prices have increased significantly since 2012—
from $426,000 to $743,000. This means that only
17.3% of homes are affordable to median-income
families, versus 53.8% in 2010. (The US median
home price in 2019 was $260,000, with 61.4%
affordable for median-income families.)
Therefore, the County has learned that, while
incomes and employment opportunities may be
increasing, the ability to afford housing in the
local market has declined. Perhaps this is why
fewer people believe they are better off financially than they were a year ago even though they
are earning more.
One SDG—Quality Education—was aligned
to the Education SDOH and its accompanying
goals:
• Goal 1: By 2020, all students will be fully
connected and engaged with their school com5 California Housing Partnership. (2018 September).
Santa Cruz County’s Housing Emergency and Proposed
Solutions.
munity, and they will see their school as a welcoming, essential, and safe place.
• Goal 2: By 2020, all students will have
broader access to courses and enrichment
activities, including visual and performing
arts, career technical education, and digital
technology.
• Goal 3: By 2020, all students will be provided
sufficient behavior, health, and counseling
services to succeed in their chosen educational
and career pathways.
High quality, developmentally appropriate early
childhood education (ECE) produces positive
effects on children’s cognitive and social development.
6
Moreover, studies of the costs and longterm benefits of these ECE programs have
consistently found substantial savings derived
over decades, such as reduced need for remedial
and special education, reduced incarceration
rates, and lower rates of teen pregnancy. Analyses
of the costs and benefits of ECE show a 13% per
year return on investment. Additionally, research
has found that high quality and reliable child care
increases employee productivity and improves
the bottom line for business.
7,8
6 NAEYC. A Call for Excellence in Early Childhood
Education. Accessed on October 2, 2019, from https://
www.naeyc.org/policy/excellence
7 University of California, Berkeley, Center for Labor
Research and Education. Economic Impacts of Early Care
and Education in California.
8 Heckman, James, The Life-cycle Benefits of an
Influential early Childhood Program. Accessed on
October 17, 2017, from https://heckmanequation.org/
the-heckman-equation/
S. Brutschy et al.
The County learned through the 2019 CAP
report that residents are not feeling better off
financially now than they were a year ago—
40.5% feel better off, which is a decline of 1.6%
over the past 12 years. However, between 2009
and 2017, respondents reporting annual family
income of at least $75,000 increased by 27%.
According to the California Housing
Partnership (CHP), Santa Cruz County must create 11,873 more affordable rental homes, equivalent to 27% of the existing rental stock, to meet
affordable housing needs.
5
The CAP report revealed that median home
prices have increased significantly since 2012—
from $426,000 to $743,000. This means that only
17.3% of homes are affordable to median-income
families, versus 53.8% in 2010. (The US median
home price in 2019 was $260,000, with 61.4%
affordable for median-income families.)
Therefore, the County has learned that, while
incomes and employment opportunities may be
increasing, the ability to afford housing in the
local market has declined. Perhaps this is why
fewer people believe they are better off financially than they were a year ago even though they
are earning more.
One SDG—Quality Education—was aligned
to the Education SDOH and its accompanying
goals:
• Goal 1: By 2020, all students will be fully
connected and engaged with their school com5 California Housing Partnership. (2018 September).
Santa Cruz County’s Housing Emergency and Proposed
Solutions.
munity, and they will see their school as a welcoming, essential, and safe place.
• Goal 2: By 2020, all students will have
broader access to courses and enrichment
activities, including visual and performing
arts, career technical education, and digital
technology.
• Goal 3: By 2020, all students will be provided
sufficient behavior, health, and counseling
services to succeed in their chosen educational
and career pathways.
High quality, developmentally appropriate early
childhood education (ECE) produces positive
effects on children’s cognitive and social development.
6
Moreover, studies of the costs and longterm benefits of these ECE programs have
consistently found substantial savings derived
over decades, such as reduced need for remedial
and special education, reduced incarceration
rates, and lower rates of teen pregnancy. Analyses
of the costs and benefits of ECE show a 13% per
year return on investment. Additionally, research
has found that high quality and reliable child care
increases employee productivity and improves
the bottom line for business.
7,8
6 NAEYC. A Call for Excellence in Early Childhood
Education. Accessed on October 2, 2019, from https://
www.naeyc.org/policy/excellence
7 University of California, Berkeley, Center for Labor
Research and Education. Economic Impacts of Early Care
and Education in California.
8 Heckman, James, The Life-cycle Benefits of an
Influential early Childhood Program. Accessed on
October 17, 2017, from https://heckmanequation.org/
the-heckman-equation/
S. Brutschy et al.