The San Mateo County announced Tuesday the launch of a task force committed to improving the living conditions of farmworkers residing in employer-provided housing.
The county council noted that the task force will ensure compliance with state and local rules and regulations that affect the health and safety of employer-provided housing for farmworkers and their families.
According to local regulations, farm operators must obtain permits from the county if they are housing five or more workers.
The announcement follows the January 23 mass shooting, where it came to light that displaced farmworkers working on those farms were living in unauthorized housing in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Due to the high probability of other farm worker housing without a permit, the total number of farm work sites is unknown.
In light of this, the task force will rely on complaints and relevant state and local laws to identify any unauthorized farmworker housing sites. The focus is to improve living conditions at all farmworker housing sites throughout the county.
“I am so grateful to have the express support and partnership of our county farm community leaders, as well as our county farmworker advocacy stakeholders, as we do this work,” the county supervisor said. Ray Mueller, whose District 3 includes much of the county's farmland.
“We understand that many farmers and ranchers in the county are doing things the right way by providing legally permitted farmworker housing. But the goal should be 100 percent compliance, to find those who live in the shadows, who need help. This work will ensure that all farmworkers live in a safe, healthy and legally permitted home."
The task force includes the County Planning and Building Department, County Environmental Health, Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, the County Attorney's Office, and the District Attorney.
"It is imperative that these members of our community are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and that starts with safe and healthy housing," said Mike Callagy, county executive director.
The county's $100 million annual agricultural industry depends on a mix of migrant and more permanent workers whose children are enrolled in local schools. However, farmworkers who rely on employer-provided housing are often reluctant to speak up or complain for fear of losing their job and their home, even if it is substandard.
Employer-owned farmworker housing is subject to regulations requiring minimum housing and safety standards.
The goal, county officials said, is for farm operators to voluntarily work with the county to remediate unauthorized housing and bring homes up to health and safety codes.
"If they want to comply, we will work with them," Callagy said. “If not, we will use every tool available to ensure that these members of our community have safe and healthy homes. We just can't delay."
The county said that since the January 23 tragedy, it is providing emergency housing and supportive services to 19 families displaced by the shooting.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote this Tuesday, February 14, 2023, on a proposal to allocate $750,000 to house dislocated workers and also to seek community donations to help families.
Stretching primarily along the coast from roughly Montara to the Santa Cruz County line, the agricultural industry in San Mateo County includes a mix of small and large producers.
A 2017 Census of Agriculture from the US Department of Agriculture counted 241 total farms in San Mateo County. Of these, 224 were less than 500 acres; 17 had 500 or more acres.
While 57 percent of farms hire farm labor, according to the census. Data on employer-provided housing is not provided.
You may be interested in: Teen environmental project provides shoes to homeless
