The San Francisco Housing Problem and What Can We Learn From It?

It's no secret that San Francisco is in serious trouble. The energy situation is problematic. Both in terms of reliability and affordability. With 1% of the population being homeless, based on official data, it is clear that there is a problem. There are several reasons why people have become homeless. Given the crossroads where we are now, it is interesting to dive into this. Because I expect a one-time payment of about EUR 200,000, it's an interesting one to dive into. How come so many people are homeless? One reason for this problem, according to some, is the tracking method.

Then I always think of the issue of the homeless in Eindhoven. Where assistance is more expensive than a tiny house. But the same specialists. Why not tiny houses on fallow land? Then there is an address (ie benefit), health insurance and you can put any routes on it. But in Eindhoven more and more people are homeless for economic reasons. Which makes you think. How come they don't build? There is plenty of opportunity to build. For example above the track. The technology exists. Has the NS had success in Utrecht?

From the shunting yard to Eindhoven Strijp-S would be a possibility. I cite Eindhoven because they have the same solution as San Francisco. Calculate differently. If it were an investment, we would call it accounting fraud. But when the government does it, they just accept it. Well. But the reason for the problems is also the same: leadership. Politicians (both Council members and the Board of B&W) fail to come up with solutions.

But both San Francisco and Eindhoven are ideally positioned to solve this. There are more than enough resources. With some relativity things can be arranged. Now there are solutions. Those greedy investors are banned. Something which, no doubt not to your surprise, I am very much against. Investors provide housing. They can switch faster and think more creatively than stuck settings. Both cities also have a very thriving economy. Technically, ASML is not an Eindhoven company. But a Veldhovens. But both cities have grown together.

Where Best is protected by the Canal, Eindhoven and Veldhoven have grown together. The situation is now such that the municipality of Veldhoven is obediently listening to ASML. Everything is possible. They are probably proud to have this Philips spin-off. Which is now the most valuable company in Europe. But the further social added value is very limited. As a critic of the European Green New Deal, let me mention a simple solution. Why not use the residual heat from ASML for a heat network? If we link this back to the living situation, you can see the impact. Houses in deprived areas in Eindhoven go for more than half a million euros. There is no option for younger generations. After all, ASML guarantees the equity of a property. People get an extra 1,000 EUR in the month to rent. There is the famous ASML hotel. New expats can stay there temporarily for a period of 6 months. Then they must have found something. There is a solution to the situation. Now it will be said that it is build, build and build. I get that. It is the construction sector that mainly calls this out. We from WC duck advise WC duck. But we can also come up with a real solution. That is not banning investors, that is not ensuring that tax legislation changes to the detriment of the property sector. That's not freezing the rent. It's a simple one. That is being aware of politicians that solutions must be found. In fact, it is time for new leadership. New people who solve the problems. Do not aggravate.