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6.C. - Page 12 of 29 <br />family homes in San Mateo County3 and only 4,000 Second Units on those properties4, the <br />potential exists for thousands of new Second Units that would significantly impact the county's <br />housing deficit over the years to come. <br />However, there are significant hurdles facing the development of Second Units. According to <br />housing advocates interviewed by the Grand Jury, the biggest impediments to the construction of <br />new Second Units, as well as upgrading non -permitted Second Units, are: obtaining financing, <br />the lack of contractors willing to work on Second Units, and the need for local governments to <br />recruit and train more inspectors.5 <br />"The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and County Manager's Office, along with support <br />from the County's Department of Housing ("DOH") have been leading the regional effort to <br />allow the development and construction of more Second Units.116 DOH has been working <br />collaboratively with the 20 cities to help address countywide affordable housing issues. DOH has <br />contracted with a consulting firm, Baird & Driskell, on the 21 Elements Project, to assist the <br />County and cities in this effort. The consulting firm hosts monthly meetings related to Second <br />Units with city and DOH representatives. As part of this effort, DOH is developing a new <br />website and marketing plans that will focus on promoting Second Units. <br />As a result of this investigation, the Grand Jury recommends the following: <br />1. The County and its cities should continue their outreach to homeowners informing them about <br />the new laws that simplify and streamline the construction and permitting of Second Units. <br />2. The County and its cities should determine whether there is a way for the public entities to <br />compile a list of financial partners who can assist homeowners with funding new Second Units <br />and upgrading non -permitted Second Units. <br />3. The County and its cities should determine whether there is a way for the public entities to <br />develop a comprehensive list of contractor resources and partner with training institutions to <br />recruit and train more general contractors and inspectors. <br />4. The County and its cities should encourage homeowners who may have non -permitted Second <br />Units to go through the permitting process. <br />The 2019-2020 Grand Jury commends the current housing efforts of the County and its cities and <br />urges them to embrace the new opportunities. The impact of the laws passed by the California <br />Legislature in 2017 increased the number of Second Units constructed annually by 450%. If the <br />3 According to San Mateo County housing data, there are 276,444 housing units in San Mateo County (Fig. 1) . <br />Figure 33 says that 56% (155,000) of housing units are single-family, detached homes. When you multiply the two <br />figures, you get 154,808 (which rounds to 155k). <br />https://www.towncharts.com/Califomia/HousingJSan-Mateo-Caunty-CA-Housing-data_ .html <br />4 Grand Juror interviews. <br />5 Grand Jury Interviews <br />6 Home for All collaborative, https:Hhomeforailsmc.orYl <br />2019-2020 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury <br />137 <br />