California legislators will go on summer break next week, leaving unfinished business behind as they return to their districts July 1-August 1. After passing a $122.5 billion budget plan June 15, several lawmakers boasted on Twitter that their votes had helped secure $400 million for investment in affordable homes. But a long road stands between those social media declarations and the 1.5 million Californians who need an affordable place to live. The $400 million state investment promised in the budget agreement won’t become a reality unless Legislators send “by right” legislation to Governor Brown’s desk, an action that won’t come until August, at the earliest.
That means CHC will be working through the summer to demand legislators fulfill their responsibility to address California’s ongoing housing affordability crisis. As CHC members and local experts on the housing need – and the potential affordable homes have to change lives – you have a critical role in this effort. When you meet with legislators in their offices or invite them to grand openings and events, urge them to finish the job they started. We need to speak with a strong, united voice: legislators can’t claim victory on a $400 million housing investment without the action needed to ensure the funding actually creates homes for people in need. Legislators need to pass a “by right” development plan that increases affordable home supply and move Senator Kevin de Leon’s No Place Like Home initiative forward.
Sincerely,
Ray Pearl
CHC Executive Director
