For the Love of Home

#30, December 1, 1999

 

"There's no place like home... there's no place like home." Who can forget Dorothy's sweet voice, invoking the magic that carries her back to Auntie Em? For all the wonders of Oz, Dorothy is drawn home by her deep roots in the Kansas prairie.

 

For too many people, though, the alternatives to home are not as pleasant as the Land of the Munchkins. It's living in a relative's family room or garage, or in a car, or under a bridge. Many others are forced to move away from their beloved Petaluma, or commute long distances to it, because their earnings haven't climbed as fast as the rent.

 

Why do we have a housing crisis? In part, it's because the demand is increasing faster than the supply. Some suggest we remove restrictions-- let as many homes of whatever type be built as can be sold. But face it; this strategy, by itself, at best only postpones the crunch, and leaves us with more of the familiar impacts of runaway growth. This growth does have a self-regulating feedback mechanism, however. The lousier Petaluma gets, the less people want to move here or stay here.

 

What are some other approaches? First of all, the City should formally endorse the long range goal of stabilizing and reducing the world's population, while reducing the gap between the haves and have-nots. Even though a City can't directly affect such things, it's too important to ignore-- we can't swim against the current forever.

 

Local government can do a lot to influence the creation of affordable housing--not just low sticker prices, but low maintenance costs as well. The City's emphasis on higher density development within the Urban Growth Boundary will lower infrastructure (e.g. road and utility extension) costs, and enable cheap, auto-free transportation. Design standards that maximize energy and building material efficiency also help drive down housing costs.

 

Ultimately, however, affordable housing decisions rest with each of us-- not just as voters, but as consumers. According to the US Census, the size of new houses nationwide (in square footage per person) increased 60% between 1970 and 1990. What are we getting when we demand these larger homes?

 

Native American scholar Malcolm Margolin contrasts modern housing with the traditional willow-framed tule homes. Aside from the obvious differences in size and amenities, he points out how the tule home, because its materials are free for the gathering, meant no one need be homeless. In addition, modern adults spend up to a third of their waking hours earning money for their housing, not to mention all the energy we devote to maintaining it. While living in a smaller, simpler house might have its inconveniences, it would free up a lot of our time. Margolin also identifies modern housing's impact on class distinctions and prejudices, on preoccupation with material possessions, and on the isolation, selfishness, and mistrust that can come from too much privacy.

 

I'm not suggesting we adopt the tule standard. But we need to be fully aware of what comes with the housing we are buying, just as we need to the know true costs of overusing oversized cars. When we confront all the costs, including those hidden and deferred, of our modern lifestyle, we just might be inclined to pursue some creative alternatives.

 

Meanwhile, we have neighbors in desperate need. If you are blessed with a warm and safe home in Petaluma, why not share some of you blessings? My suggestion: support COTS, Petaluma's Committee On The Shelterless. The good folks at COTS provide temporary shelter and support services to Petaluma families. They are holding their annual Home for the Holidays fundraiser party, Wednesday December 8th, at the Luchessa Community Center. You can call them at 793-2260, or visit their website at www.sonic.net\cots\.

 

The children's art gallery at the COTS shelter currently features a crayon drawing with this caption: "This is a house for me and my mom and my bikes. There is a heart balloon outside because my mommy loves me so much."  For the love of home and children, let's make the housing crisis a relic of the old millenium.