On May 13, CHC joined with our state and regional partners to release a new Affordable Housing and Homelessness Framework, highlighting a package of immediate and long-term policy solutions needed to support vulnerable Californians during and after the COVID-19 emergency.  

The Framework includes a series of detailed funding proposals that can be addressed as part of the state and federal response to the crisis, including $100 billion in federal rental assistance, $2 billion in state funding for homelessness services, a new $1 billion state funding pool, as outlined in our Keep CA Housed proposal, to ensure affordable housing properties can remain operating, and a range of emergency updates to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The Framework also calls for the prohibition of evictions from rental housing for non-payment of rent during the crisis and the provision of financial assistance to those rental housing providers. In addition to these short-term proposals, the Framework also highlights a 9-bill package in the state Legislature that can address its four principles—investing in affordable housing production and preservation, reducing barriers to affordable housing development, tackling homelessness, and promoting housing stability.

With the state now facing substantial budget deficits and an abridged legislative session, CHC is encouraging the Governor and Legislature to use the Framework as a guide as they seek to address the impacts of COVID-19 on housing and to maintain and expand access to affordable housing in the future.

“The COVID-19 emergency has only intensified California’s daunting affordable housing challenges, and it has never been more important for state leaders to find ways to ensure access to safe, affordable homes,” said Ray Pearl, Executive Director of the California Housing Consortium. “Now is also the time to assist lower-income households struggling to pay rent, preserve the state’s limited supply of affordable housing, and help accelerate the economic recovery by promoting production of the safe, affordable housing Californians need.”

To view the Affordable Housing and Homelessness Framework, click here.