Dear Culver City: The Moment for Affordable Housing is Now

EDITOR'S NOTE: This piece and others in the "Dear Culver City" series are editorial pieces submitted by sources unaffiliated with Culver Crescent. The sentiments expressed in these articles do not represent or confirm the stance or opinions of Culver Crescent or any of its writers.

By: Tara Barauskas 

Culver City is facing a severe housing crisis. Average rent has soared to more than $3,400 per month — 97% above the national average — driven in part by decades of underbuilding. From 2016 to 2020, the city added over 10,000 jobs but only 378 units of housing — creating one of the worst jobs-to-housing ratios in the region.

Voters consistently rank housing affordability and homelessness among the top issues facing Culver City, and the consequences of not addressing these issues are real and growing. 

Enrollment in local schools is declining as middle- and low-income families are priced out. Lifelong residents, including seniors, struggle to stay in the community they helped build. Essential workers like preschool teachers and caregivers endure long commutes, which adds to local traffic. 

The solution is clear: a long-overdue investment in deeply affordable, community-rooted housing. This month, the City Council has a critical opportunity to approve funding for Jubilo Village, Culver City’s first 100% affordable housing development in over a decade. We urge the City Council to vote yes. 

A partnership between the nonprofit Community Corp. of Santa Monica and Culver-Palms United Methodist Church, Jubilo Village will deliver 93 affordable homes for families and individuals who urgently need housing. We encourage the city to consider a local preference policy, which would require those who live and work in Culver City be prioritized when filling units.

These are the people who make Culver City thrive — childcare providers, grocery clerks, and service workers. Too many face impossible choices between rent and food, hours of commuting, or leaving the county entirely. Jubilo Village offers something increasingly rare: the chance to stay, grow roots, and remain part of the community they support every day.

Culver-Palms United Methodist Church was first established in 1883 and has served Culver City for over 50 years. With Jubilo Village, that mission continues. The church will rebuild its facility on one-third of its land and lease the remaining two-thirds to Community Corp. to build housing. By retaining ownership of its land during the development process, the church has spared Jubilo millions of dollars in property taxes and other expenses.   

This type of partnership is exactly what California’s SB4, passed in 2023, was designed to support — unlocking underused land owned by houses of worship to create affordable housing, especially in high-cost areas like the Westside.

In keeping with state law requiring all cities to build their fair share of housing, Culver City’s City Council voted to include a requested $16 million loan in next year’s budget to support Jubilo Village. 

Yes, building affordable housing in California is expensive. Land costs, regulatory hurdles, prevailing wage laws, accessibility standards, complex financing, pandemic-era delays, and labor shortages all add layers of cost. But none of this lessens the need for more affordable homes.

With the community’s support, we can help meet this need. As the largest developer of affordable housing on the Westside, Community Corp. has built 95 buildings that have affordably housed more than 4,000 residents over the past 43 years. We build for permanence, not profit. 

Culver City has 38 interim supportive housing units and 18 transitional shelter units today, but when those families are ready for permanent homes, there’s nowhere in the city for them to go.

This is a chance to change that. 

Jubilo Village marks the first significant step in years toward Culver City’s state-mandated goal to add over 1,700 low-income housing units. On June 9, we urge the City Council to pass a budget that aligns with its goals and values — one that confronts a cooling economy while supporting its school district, homelessness programs, and affordable housing.

Without this loan, Jubilo Village and the future of affordable housing on the Westside are in jeopardy. 

Let’s not miss the chance to invest in a more inclusive Culver City and build a stronger, more sustainable future.

Tara Barauskas is the Executive Director of Community Corp. of Santa Monica, the developer working with Culver Palms United Methodist Church on the Jubilo Village project.