That author apparently didn't Google hard enough.

1. They do invest in affordable housing. The argument that it needs to be a Google X project is a red herring. 

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/google-invests-sparkly-housing-development-mountain-view-calif/story?...

2. They tried to build housing in Mountain View. It was killed by NIMBYists.

http://www.mv-voice.com/print/story/2012/07/13/google-housing-axed-in-citys-general-plan