CHC reads Governor Jerry Brown’s latest budget proposal with a mixture of relief and disappointment. Relief, because after a decade of state disinvestment in affordable home production, the Governor’s budget acknowledges the severe crisis families and communities are facing in the face of rising rents and envisions a state role in increasing production.
Disappointment, because while offering much-needed relief to individuals experiencing homelessness and taking steps to reduce barriers to development, his budget offers no new investment in proven programs that offer families a pathway out of poverty.
California’s affordable home builders are experts at turning state dollars into opportunity for families; all we are missing is the investment. Following the Governor’s budget release, the Assembly budget committee voted to support a $650 million, one-time general fund investment to target the spectrum of housing needs California needs to address homelessness and alleviate poverty. As the budget is negotiated over the coming weeks, we’ll be pushing hard to ensure this plan is considered alongside Governor Brown’s.
We are also offering our expertise to policymakers as the Governor’s “by-right” proposal makes its way through the process – we believe this proposal can be strengthened by clarifying that the bill does not override existing local inclusionary zoning ordinances, including a “no net loss” provision, and increasing the bill’s affordable housing component threshold, among other provisions, to ensure the vision of affordable home production is realized in this bill.
Stay tuned for opportunities to be involved in this crucial effort.
Sincerely,
Ray Pearl
CHC Executive Director
