School Districts Are Creating Housing Apartments For Teachers To Decrease Teacher Shortages

Some school districts are beginning to build affordable housing for teachers to decrease the rising teacher shortage.

A San Francisco Bay Area high school teacher recently moved out of her apartment to a one-bedroom apartment built by the school district. In May, the district opened up 122 apartments for teachers and staff. The Jefferson Union High School District believes the new addition will relieve teachers affected by rising rent costs.

“I have a sense of community, which I think is more valuable than anything else,” the 41-year-old teacher said. “More districts really need to consider this model. I think it shows educators that they value them.”

The school board trustee Andrew Lie says, “This is absolutely a solution for other districts. As we’ve gone through the process, we’ve learned of so many other districts interested in doing what we’ve done. For us to be at the front end of this new wave of teacher and staff housing is actually pretty exciting.”

Approximately 125 employees at JUHS were retiring or resigning every year. Teacher salaries for 2022-2023 started at $60,000 and couldn’t compete with wealthier schools that pay new teachers $76,000 or more.

To combat this, the district devised a plan to address recruitment and retention. This plan included a $75 million housing complex for teachers and staff financed partially by a $30 million bond.

However, the district has a bigger plan to lease school property for a 1,200-unit development. The development will mix retail with market-rate housing and generate revenue to raise teacher salaries. Tenants will be allowed to live at the complex for up to five years.