The Public Health Crisis Behind California Farmworker Housing

Farm workers harvest cauliflower in Salinas Valley, California, a major agricultural region in the state. (Wikipedia Commons)

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”–you’ve probably heard of this common proverb before, intended to promote good health through a nutritious diet. But imagine this: that crisp, red apple you’re holding? It was picked and passed through the hands of dozens of migrant farmworkers living in unsafe, unsanitary, and crowded quarters–houses plagued by mold, insect/rodent infestation, lack of running water, and structural damage, among many others. While eating the apple may improve your health, mass communities of farmworkers face detrimental conditions that threaten their health. 

Substandard farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay, California. (Santiago Mejia / San Francisco Chronicle)

This is the stark reality for California farmworkers, an agricultural-sector portion of the workforce that is estimated to be 77% noncitizens. Out of these migrants, many of whom are on H2A visas, which is a program that allows foreign nationals to fill temporary agricultural jobs in the United States on the condition that there are not enough U.S. workers to fill the position. This exposes them to increased employee vulnerability and fear of retaliation due to their dependence on one employer. According to CalMatters, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) did not issue a single citation despite identifying over 1000 violations in employee housing facilities in 2022. This highlights a critical lack of safety enforcement for farmworkers, with some housing inspections done virtually over FaceTime, and other inspectors not even fully stepping foot into rooms. 

This oversight poses great public health implications as infectious diseases, such as respiratory illnesses, can fester as a result of unsafe housing conditions. These health issues are not only confined to farmworkers. As they also handle our food and produce, this poses a potential issue for food safety as well. 

In response to this issue, many advocacy efforts have been made to provide justice and fair living standards for farmworkers. 

Cesar Chavez, pictured in the middle, on a march from the Mexican border to Sacramento with UFW workers (John Malmin / LA Times)

Despite current sexual abuse and grooming allegations, Cesar Chavez was a prominent American activist who fought for farmworker rights. Together with Dolores Huerta, the two have led protests, strikes, and public campaigns over crowded housing and the lack of safe infrastructure and utilities, which have led to improved living conditions and have brought attention to the public health issue. 

Chavez founded the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFW), which continues his advocacy work today through mobilizing farmworkers, legislative advocacy, educational outreach, and providing critical services such as immigration legal services. Their activism has led to many positive policy outcomes, such as the establishment of the Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program. Administered by the HCD, the program helps fund new construction, rehabilitation, and acquisition of owner-occupied and rental units for agricultural workers.

Another prominent organization is the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF). The CRLAF advocates for access to safe and affordable housing for farmworkers through pursuing policies and expanding funding in the CA state legislature. They have sponsored and passed many housing legislation, a recent one being AB 1654, which requires that whenever the state augments the main tax credit, at least 5% or $25M is automatically set aside for farmworker housing. They have had a profound community impact, protecting approximately three hundred residents from COVID-19 and homelessness during the pandemic by keeping two migrant labor camps in the San Joaquin Valley open. 

“The issue that comes to us most is housing.” 

Fernando Torries, a CRLAF representative, stresses this in an interview conducted by Sonoma County. As many farmworkers are foreign nationals, Torres states that CRLAF designs community outreach and education to “make sure that they know their rights” and help them utilize those rights by connecting them with attorneys and community advocates. By providing comprehensive legal services, CRLAF ensures that farmworkers receive representation and justice as migrant workers. 

The next time you pick up an apple, consider the hands behind the labor. Behind every harvest are workers whose health and safety remain at risk due to policy and enforcement gaps–policies that we can choose to support and advocate for. After all, the farmworkers’ housing issue is not just contained to migrant workers; it’s a public health issue for us all and an issue of treating foreign nationals who sustain our food system with respect and dignity.

To support the cause, you can donate to CRLAF here, and UFW here.