California senator Jesse Arreguín’s newly proposed Senate Bill 502 (SB 502) is gaining attention across California for its promise to help school employees find affordable housing, particularly in high-cost areas like Sunnyvale, where FHS teachers and staff often struggle with rent burdens and long commutes.
Introduced in February, the bill would create a zero-interest revolving loan fund designed to help school districts cover the high predevelopment costs that often block them from building housing for their teachers. These funds could be used for architectural designs, feasibility studies, permits and other early-stage needs.
For FHS, SB 502 could be a game-changer. With the median rent in Sunnyvale hovering above $3,000 per month, teachers and staff often find it difficult to live near their workplace. This leads to burnout, long commutes and turnover that disrupts students’ learning.
SB 502 could help solve this issue by enabling school districts like FUHSD to build housing directly on surplus or underused school property. That would allow educators to live in the communities they serve and thus would be able to focus more on teaching rather than their commute, allowing students to receive better education.
“When teachers stay longer and really get to know us, it makes a huge difference,” FHS junior Mitansh Dutta said. “If housing helps them stick around, I think it would make school feel more stable and supportive for everyone.”
The bill is expected to help more than 125 school districts each year and potentially lead to the development of thousands of affordable housing units. Advocates argue that it is a long-overdue solution to the educator retention crisis.
The Arreguín office says the bill is about more than just housing — it is about equity and educational opportunity.
“When the senator was the mayor of Berkeley a few years ago, he worked on a project with the local school district and he was able to allocate funding for a local affordable housing measure,” Arreguín’s press secretary said.
“But the issue is that while we were fortunate to be able to have the resources to make that happen in Berkeley there are many school districts that don’t have those resources and so he’s been working with the state superintendent Tony Thurmond who is sponsoring this bill.”
Meanwhile, housing projects for teachers have started in neighboring districts. For example, the Mountain View Whisman School District built a 123-unit teacher housing development in fall 2024, and teachers moved in during February, according to Mercury News.
Additionally, a new project, proposed by Santa Clara County Supervisors Joe Simitian and Otto Lee, has started undergoing development behind the old Vallco Mall. It is just one of the many developments organized by school districts to help educators afford to live where they teach. As the bill moves through the state legislature, students, families and school staff at FHS are watching closely. For many, SB 502 offers more than just a roof — it offers the hope of a more stable, committed and supported educational environment.
