Propositions 1 and 2 could bring millions into Monterey County for housing and homeless services.

The number was staggering to the audience of more than 200 people on April 19 at the Farmworker Housing Forum sponsored by the city of Salinas: 91,000, the total farm workers in the Salinas and Pajaro valleys in 2016.

Meanwhile, the number of dwelling units ran below the standard for uncrowded living conditions, leaving workers to pack into rooms inside homes, garages and trailers, especially during the peak season in July.

One estimate presented was that the region needs 48,000 additional units for farmworkers. No one left the room without marching orders. Among many of the goals was to band together to build at least 5,300 permanent affordable subsidized units over the next five years.

If Proposition 1, the Housing Programs and Veterans Loans Bond, on California’s Nov. 6 ballot passes, somewhere between $5 million to $10 million will be headed Monterey County’s way. That would help build at least some of those farmworker units, says Matt Huerta, housing program manager for Monterey Bay Economic Partnership.

And if Prop. 2, known as the Use Millionaire’s Tax Revenue for Homelessness Prevention Housing Bonds Measure, also passes, Huerta expects the two combined to bring in “tens of millions” to the county for affordable housing for veterans, disabled, mentally ill and chronically homeless, as well as homeless shelters and other services.

Together, propositions 1 and 2 are expected to generate an estimated $6 billion across the state.

The two propositions made their way on the ballot after the California Legislature passed a slate of housing bills last fall, including those that would require the state to issue general obligation bonds, which must be approved by voters. A broad coalition of support emerged, with the likes of the California Chamber of Commerce joining labor groups, elected officials, and housing, homeless and veterans nonprofits.

Huerta says the region and state are facing an “unprecedented” situation when it comes to housing that’s hard for business leaders and residents to ignore. One estimate by a research group claimed that California loses up to $233 billion annually because there aren’t enough affordable homes.

“We’re at a tipping point trying to address these conditions,” Huerta says.

Assemblymember Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, is endorsing Prop. 1. “I always thought it was up to the Legislature to replace [redevelopment agencies], and we finally got [Gov.] Jerry Brown to agree,” he says.

At least a quarter of the $4 billion Prop. 1 bonds would generate would go toward housing for veterans through the Cal-Vet Home and Farm Loan program. Another $1.5 billion would go to a program to build multi-family homes, and $300 million to infill developments, with the rest going to various home loans, grants, homebuying assistance and transit programs.

Stone is “fairly optimistic” Prop. 1 will pass. He is disappointed a more aggressive package initially put forth by legislators failed to go through, given the scope of the problem: “$4 billion won’t go that far.”

Prop. 2 is a remedy to a lawsuit filed over Prop. 63, approved by voters in 2004, which taxes 1 percent of income above $1 million to pay for mental health services. Prop. 2 would allow for 6 percent of the revenue earned through Prop. 63 to go toward permanent supportive housing for people with mental health and substance abuse issues. It’s expected to generate about $2 billion.

Noting that mental illness is a root cause of chronic homelessness, Stone and Huerta hope Prop. 2 allows cities and counties to expand mental health services.

“They strategically decided to campaign together because they realized it’s hard to separate this continuum of housing support that’s broken,” Huerta says. “There’s an increasing realization that housing isn’t just about supply for first-time homebuyers, or seniors or farmworkers.”