Affordable housing group plans workshops, tours Affordable housing group plans workshops, tours (June 01, 2005)

With median house prices in San Mateo County pushing $1 million, lots of people see little hope for finding anything they can afford.

But there are organizations working to improve the situation, such as the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County (HLC).

This month, HLC officials are holding various activities throughout the county to inform the public about their services, which include: lobbying for the building of more affordable housing, keeping a list of the affordable housing inventory in San Mateo County and holding seminars for first-time homebuyers.

Events will include workshops, open houses, tours, and seminars. Two dozen agencies -- governmental, nonprofit, business, labor and environmental -- are participating.

Events scheduled in the central and south county include:

**Friday, June 3: HIP Housing annual luncheon, at the Westin Hotel in Millbrae. Call 348-6660.

** Saturday, June 4, and Wednesday, June 8: First-time homebuyer seminars, at College of San Mateo and Redwood City Hall, respectively. Call 561-5600 or 558-5401.

** Saturday, June 4: Dinner, dance, and auction presented by Rebuilding Together Peninsula at the Stanford Shopping Center. Call 366-9657.

** Tuesday, June 7: "Grand Vision/Grand Boulevard," a vision of El Camino Real along the Peninsula in 100 years, presented by architect Dan Ionescu, and Ian MacAvoy of SamTrans. SamTrans auditorium at 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos. Call 364-4576.

** Friday, June 10: Housing Leadership breakfast, Radisson Villa Hotel, San Mateo. Call 364-4576.

** Saturday, June 11: Tours of great housing developments, from East Palo Alto to Daly City, sponsored by the HLC and Peninsula Interfaith Action. Call 592-9181.

For more information about HLC, call 364-4576 or go to hlcsmc.org.

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