The San Mateo County announced on Tuesday the launch of a task force committed to improving the living conditions of agricultural workers residing in employer-provided housing.
The county council said the task force will ensure compliance with local and state rules and regulations affecting the health and safety of employer-provided housing for farmworkers and their families.
According to local regulations, farm operators must obtain county permits if they provide housing for five or more workers.
The announcement comes after the January 23 mass shooting, which revealed that displaced farmworkers working on those farms were living in unauthorized housing in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Due to the high likelihood of other housing for unpermitted farmworkers, the number is unknown.