The recently published Silicon Valley Index reported that mean travel time to work has jumped 20% in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties over the past ten years – in part because housing costs have pushed some workers further from their jobs. The time spent commuting is lost – but sometimes it can come back.
The son of a large family and a Marine, Jose grew up and entered his twenties accustomed to little privacy and shared space. While working as a machinist in Sunnyvale, he and his wife Marcella found themselves moving into smaller and smaller apartments further and further from their jobs while they searched for affordability. But they heard of the below market purchase (BMP) program through a relative, and ultimately moved into a new home in Santa Clara – with more than enough space for them and their two small children.
Now both Jose and Marcella are less than twenty minutes from where they work – a commute that used to be an hour at their last apartment. How do they use the extra free time? A lot more quality time with their kids and Jose is even going to school to study industrial technology.
“This is a place we can raise our kids and not have to worry about issues with a landlord or being forced out,” Jose told us. “Having this home is a dream come true.”
We’re thankful to have the chance to help neighbors like Jose and Marcella. For more information about the City of Santa Clara BMP program administered by Housing Trust, click here.