WEBVTT SIERRA: NOT ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING BUILT, AND RISING RENT ON THE HOUSING ALREADY IN PLACE. THE NON-PROFIT THAT PUT TOGETHER THIS STUDY FOUND THAT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY NOW HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATES IN THE STATE, IF YOU FACTOR IN THESE HIGH HOUSING COSTS. A NEW REPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP SAYS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN A HOUSING EMERGENCY. >> THE DEMAND, WE ALL FEEL IT AND TOUCH IT WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. IT EXISTS IN THE NUMBERS AS WELL. SIERRA: HERE ARE THE NUMBERS. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY NEEDS ALMOST 12,000 MORE AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS TO MEET THE CURRENT ANOTHER FINDING FROM THE REPORT, BETWEEN 2007 AND 2017, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RECEIVED FOR HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT FROM THE STATE, DECLINED BY MORE THAN $16 MILLION. MEANWHILE, HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY INCREASED BY 15%. RISING RENT, ALSO MARKING THIS REPORT, IT WAS NOTED THAT TO AFFORD THE MEDIAN MONTHLY RENT OF $2000 -- $2650 IN THE COUNTY, YOU NEED TO MAKE MORE THAN FOUR TIMES THE MINIMUM WAGE. >> IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT. SIERRA: RIGHT NOW, NON-PROFIT MID PEN HOUSING IS SET TO OPEN ITS NEWEST AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY , CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT WHOPPING 12,000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT DEFICIT, BY ADDING 46 APARTMENTS IN WATSONVILLE THIS YEAR. BETSY WILSON SAYS THERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS IN THE WORKS. MENTIONING MEASURE H, A $140 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND THAT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. >> IT WILL BE USED TO HELP LEVERAGE STATE SOURCES AND FEDERAL SOURCES TO BUILD MORE COMMUNITIES LIKE THESE. DEED RESTRICTED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY WILL REMAIN AFFORDABLE LONG-TERM. SIERRA: WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS IN WATSONVILLE, THOSE 46 FAMILIES WILL BEGIN MOVING IN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. MID-PEN RECEIVED 2500 APPLICATIONS FOR THAT COMPLEX. WHICH THEY SAY SPEAKS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN THE COUNTY. REPORTING FROM THE NEWSROOM, SIERRA STARKS, KSBW ACTION NEWS