Santa Cruz breaks ground on 100-unit teacher housing to fight soaring local rents
Santa Cruz City Schools will break ground March 18, 2026, on a 100-unit below-market housing project at 313 Swift Street to provide reduced-rent homes for teachers and support staff, targeting occupancy in 2028 to curb turnover.
- 100 below-market units reserved for SCCS teachers and support staff at 313 Swift Street.
- Groundbreaking: March 18, 2026, 2 p.m.; occupancy targeted for 2028.
- Rents: planned at roughly 60–70% of market rate to aid retention.
- Funding: primarily from voter-approved Bond Measures K & L (2022).
Main content
Project overview
Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) will break ground on a 100-unit, below-market housing development for district teachers and support staff at 313 Swift Street on the West Side of Santa Cruz. The site is bordered by Gateway School, Sgt. Derby Park and Cafe Iveta. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for March 18, 2026, at 2 p.m. and occupancy is targeted for 2028.
Project details and eligibility
The units will be reserved for SCCS teachers and support staff. If applicants exceed available units, apartments will be allocated by lottery to ensure fairness. Rents are planned at roughly 60–70% of current market rates to help recruitment and retention.
Design and development partners include Bogard Construction (construction lead), Studio Vara, and EHDD. The schematic design has been approved and development partners have been hired.
Background: a decade in the making
The district’s work began in 2015 with community conversations about educator housing. District leaders visited other educator housing projects in 2016, continued financial planning through 2020, and held the first neighborhood meeting in 2019. Bond Measures K & L, passed by local voters in 2022, provided the capital to move from design into development. Earlier timelines anticipated a 2025 start; updated plans confirm the official groundbreaking in March 2026 and an expected opening in 2028.
Why SCCS says housing is needed
SCCS leaders cite local hiring and retention data: over the last decade the district reports losing 127 teachers who cited cost-of-living pressures. The district also reports that 95% of job offer declines were related to housing affordability. Employee surveys repeatedly flagged housing as the top barrier to recruiting and keeping staff.
“By offering below-market housing close to schools, the district aims to keep experienced teachers in classrooms while reducing recruitment and turnover costs,” SCCS proponents say.
Local housing market: data and context
National and local reports underscore the urgency. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach data and media coverage have repeatedly placed Santa Cruz among the nation’s least affordable rental markets. Reporting includes Fox Business and Lookout features on Santa Cruz topping lists of most expensive U.S. rental markets.
Practical figures cited include a 2025 two-bedroom fair market rent of about $4,223 (up 4% from the prior year and roughly 28% since 2022). Reported one-bedroom rents often ranged between $3,000 and $3,300, and median home prices sit near $1.3 million. Local renter wage estimates (about $22.13/hour) are far below incomes needed to comfortably afford these rents, widening the affordability gap and increasing commutes for staff who must live farther from schools.
Funding and voter support
The project is primarily funded by voter-approved Bond Measures K & L, passed in 2022. Bond funding allows SCCS to invest capital in housing while protecting classroom operating budgets, which are governed at the state level. District leaders framed Measures K & L to address facility needs and to make a targeted investment in educator housing.
Timeline and next steps
Key timeline:
- 2015: Community conversations begin on educator housing.
- 2016: District visits other projects; begins financial planning.
- 2019: First neighborhood meeting; 2016–2020: continued planning.
- 2022: Measures K & L pass.
- March 18, 2026: Groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m., 313 Swift Street.
- 2028: Anticipated ribbon-cutting and move-in.
Community outreach will continue during construction. Neighbors and staff who want updates or have questions can contact Sam Rolens.
Implications for California
Economic: Projects like this can reduce workforce displacement and turnover costs by providing targeted, below-market housing to essential employees.
Political: The plan illustrates local voters using bond measures to solve district-specific problems when state policy and funding do not directly address cost-of-living challenges.
Social & cultural: Keeping educators local strengthens school-family ties and community engagement, while reducing commute times and stress for staff.
Groundbreaking details and community invitation
SCCS will mark the start of construction at 2 p.m. on March 18, 2026, at 313 Swift Street. Neighbors, staff and the public are invited to observe the ceremonial groundbreaking. For application details, neighborhood updates, or questions, contact Sam Rolens.
Sources and reporting
Reporting and data referenced in this story include national and regional coverage and local context. See:
SCCS provided local data on teacher losses and job offer declines to explain the need for staff housing.
Contact & keywords
Contact: Sam Rolens
Keywords: Santa Cruz teacher housing, Affordable housing Santa Cruz, SCCS staff housing project
