As the milestone of the new governor’s 100th day in office passed this month, affordable housing advocates find ourselves in new territory. State leaders understand our work and the need for action—an outcome CHC has worked for years to produce. At the same time, the field has become more crowded and the housing narrative more complex.
For CHC, I believe this is an opportunity and a moment to recommit to the strategy that got us here.
The new administration has clearly prioritized housing, and with the support of CHC members, is committed to taking action in this year’s budget to promote affordable construction—dramatically increasing the state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and opening up surplus state land to development.
Members of the Legislature also recognize the urgent need to act, and dozens of substantive bills will be moving in May to the floor of the Assembly and Senate—including five CHC-sponsored bills that will increase state investment in housing and reduce barriers to desperately needed development. (More information on these bills is in the “In Case You Missed It” section.)
With the housing crisis expanding, a desire to *do something* is also fueling other advocates of every stripe—from NIMBYs to YIMBYs—who have ramped up their energy and are working hard to make their voices heard.
In the midst of all this, it is important to remember what got us here, and what CHC’s role is.
The California Housing Consortium is a large statewide coalition of affordable housing developers and financing professionals—an unrivalled network of experts who understand how housing policy works, how it impacts communities across California, and how it can ensure every Californian has a safe, affordable place to call home.
In spite of our legislative victories in recent years, we recognize the work is not done. California still has a shortage of 1.4 million affordable rental homes—and closing that gap is our number one priority. That means roughly one-third of the 3.5 million units the governor has pledged to produce during his administration will need to be affordable to low-income households.
CHC members know what will take to produce these units—while preserving existing affordable housing stock and ensuring millions of households struggling to pay the rent can afford to live in their communities.
This is the message we will be sharing in May and June with the Legislature and Administration in the critical budget negotiations, committee hearings, and floor votes ahead.
I’m proud of the role CHC has played in bringing California’s housing conversation to where it is today. I look forward to working with you to ensure the voice of affordable housing experts continues to be heard in the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Ray Pearl
CHC Executive Director