Background

Housing displacement occurs when households are forced to leave their community when they would have otherwise preferred to stay. The City of Encinitas is conducting a Displacement Risk Analysis to identify the economic, social, and structural factors that put households at risk of displacement. Displacement can be caused by a number of factors; this study focuses on displacement caused by rising housing costs. 

Housing displacement is the forced or involuntary relocation of residents from a home or neighborhood, where residents would have otherwise wanted to remain, if not for the socioeconomic pressures making it infeasible or undesirable. 

The study will provide detailed information on the displacement forces in Encinitas, and identify which neighborhoods face the greatest displacement risk, through analysis of economic, demographic, and housing trends, immigration and emigration, and government programs that may impact displacement risk.

The study is being conducted to fulfill Program 5C of the 2021-2029 6th Cycle Housing Element:

Program 5C: Economic Displacement Risk Analysis

The City of Encinitas can reduce the impact of displacement when it occurs by preventing practices that increase or enable displacement. To determine if market force economic displacement is occurring due to development of new housing, increased housing costs, increase in non-resident occupied short-term rentals, or other factors, the City will conduct a study to determine if individuals and families are being displaced and to evaluate local conditions that may contribute to displacement. The study will analyze gentrification locally and will assess how new development, non-resident occupied short-term rentals, and community investments may potentially influence displacement. If this study shows that displacement is occurring, the City will develop an action program based on the identified causes of displacement, including specific actions to monitor and mitigate displacement. Annual review of the action program may result in modifications to further reduce displacement risk.

Objectives

• Conduct a Displacement Risk Analysis Study to identify the local conditions that lead to displacement, including the effect of non-resident occupied short-term rentals on the housing supply, and develop and implement an action program based on the results.
• Identify potential partners to participate in the study that specialize in eviction-related topics related to displacement, such as the Legal Aid Society of San Diego.
• Annually monitor program effectiveness.

Status

The Displacement Risk Study will be presented to the City Council on February 21, 2024.