San Mateo County has approved a $2 million loan initiative to improve farmworker housing, particularly following the identification of poor conditions post-2023 mass shootings at local farms. The funding aims to support farmers in making necessary repairs and enhancements to their housing facilities, enabling up to 20 farms to access $100,000 each. Supervisor Ray Mueller emphasized the initiative as essential for revitalizing the agricultural economy while enhancing living conditions. Farmers like John Giusti expressed enthusiasm, noting the urgent need for remodeling kitchens and bathrooms in aging housing.
"It is a giant win for agriculture on the coast and for farmworkers on the coast," said Ray Mueller, San Mateo County supervisor.
"Our agricultural economy on the coast is really suffering, and so if we are going to turn to farmers and ranchers, and we are going to say, 'Obviously, you are going to need to improve your housing.' We also need to empower them to do it," Mueller said.
"A lot of the housing is just getting old. Kitchens need to be remodeled. The bathrooms need to be remodeled. There is just a lot of use on them," said John Giusti.
"They only pay about $5 a day for every day they work, so it comes out to not even $200 a month," said John Giusti.
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