Houses… without ceilings: Lawmaker wants state to offer housing free of income limits

ONE SILICON VALLEY lawmaker wants the state to get into the housing market to assist residents who earn too much to qualify for low-income housing, but don’t earn enough to afford a market-rate home.

To help these residents, known as the “missing middle,” Assemblymember Alex Lee introduced Assembly Bill 309 earlier this year. If approved, AB 309 would enable California to build and lease homes to residents of various income levels, Lee said. The buildings would be mixed-income, which proponents said would improve economic mobility for residents of lower incomes. Tenants also would have a say in how their buildings are managed and operated.