SAN DIEGO - The Land Use & Housing (LU&H) Committee will convene a special all-day hearing on Wednesday, April 17, to discuss the pervasive housing crisis in the region and to hear testimony from the public. Chaired by Councilmember Byron Wear, the LU&H Committee will take up the complex issue of inclusionary housing and facilitate a discussion among stakeholders on various innovative approaches to increase housing affordability. The 9 A.M. meeting will be on the 12th floor of the City Administration Building at 202 C Street in Downtown San Diego.

City Council members will propose a series of strategies intended to increase the availability of moderately priced housing stock. In addition, at the request of Councilmembers Toni Atkins and Ralph Inzunza, the LU&H Committee will consider declaring a "State of Emergency" for housing in the City of San Diego. The declaration is considered to be unprecedented in the United States.

"Our booming San Diego economy, has resulted in a severe lack of available and affordable housing," said Councilmember Wear. "With SANDAG predicting more than 800,000 new residents in San Diego by 2020, the time is now to craft solutions that will make housing inclusionary for the entire range of income levels."