Capitol Reporter

Affordable-home and homelessness policy news from the halls of the Capitol

The June 6, 2019 Issue

State News:
Legislative and Budgetary Housing Package Still Moving
State Funding and Comment Opportunities
National News:
Props 1 and 2 Leaders Receive National Housing Conference's 'Housing Visionary Award'
Housing California Update:
Staff Changes

State News

Legislative and Budgetary Housing Package Still Moving

Several important bills to address housing needs for Californians struggling most to afford rent are moving in the state legislature and will require your continued support!

Also expect to see a final budget from state leadership by June 15. According to a poll released today by the Public Policy Institute of California, 74% of the state supports a $1 billion budget commitment to addressing homelessness. Let's make sure that money is spent effectively. Send budget conferees and the governor a letter using the link below to urge for solutions we know will work.

Sponsored Bills

ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry) Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure Voter Approval: Needs 2/3 of Assembly to pass. This bill would place on the 2020 ballot the opportunity to reduce the local vote threshold for approval of bond and special tax measures to fund the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of infrastructure, including affordable housing, from a two-thirds vote to a 55% majority.

AB 10 (Chiu) Expanding the California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program: This bill increases state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program funding beginning in 2020 by an additional $500 million.

SB 282 (Beall) Supportive Housing for People on Parole Experiencing Homelessness: A grant program for counties to provide supportive housing for people on parole with a mental illness who are homeless.

SB 361 (Mitchell) Health Home Program Clean-Up: In 2013, Governor Brown signed AB 361 (Mitchell), which authorized the state to take advantage of an Affordable Care Act optional Medi-Cal benefit, now referred to as the Health Home Program (HHP). This clean-up legislation would remove language around restricting state funding and also make the program more meaningful.​

AB 307 (Reyes) Homeless Youth Grant Program: A grant program to provide housing for youth experiencing homelessness.

SB 329 (Mitchell) Source of Income Discrimination: Ends discrimination against housing voucher holders by prohibiting landlords from keeping voucher holders from applying for available rental housing simply because of their source of income.​

SCA 1 (Allen) Repeal Article 34: Passed in its first committee on June 4. Still has two more committee hearings and needs 2/3 of Senate to move to Assembly (not subject to deadlines). Would repeal Article 34 of the California Constitution, which currently prohibits the development, construction, or acquisition of an affordable housing development in any manner by any state public body until a majority of the qualified electors of the jurisdiction where the housing development is proposed approve the project by voting in favor at an election.

Supported Bills

AB 1279 (Bloom) Exclusionary Communities: In any area designated as a high-resource area, the bill would require that a housing development be a use by right, upon the request of a developer.

AB 1482 (Chiu) Rent Caps: This bill would cap rents at 7% plus inflation for three years, with some exemptions.

AB 1486 (Ting) Public Surplus Land for Affordable Housing: This bill would clarify and improve enforcement of the Surplus Land Act to increase the supply of affordable housing. Critical provisions including expanding the definition of surplus land and local agencies, streamlining the notification process to affordable housing developers, and prioritizing proposals with deepest affordability.​

AB 1763 (Chiu) Density Bonus: This bill would provide a density bonus to affordable developers of 80% for 100% affordable developments. ​

SB 5 (Beall) Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment Program: Similar to Redevelopment, this bill would provide funding for predevelopment, development, acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing; transit-oriented development; and projects promoting strong neighborhoods.​

SB 9 (Beall) Allowing the Sale of State Low Income Housing Tax Credits Beyond 2020

See our website for a complete a list of our supported bills.

 

State Funding and Comment Opportunities

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is requesting comments on proposed amendments to the No Place Like Home Program, which received $2 billion in funding for supportive housing for people with mental illness after Housing California and partners ran a successful Proposition 2 ballot campaign. Written comments due no later than 5 p.m., Monday, June 10, to nplh@hcd.ca.gov.

National News

Props 1 and 2 Leaders receive National Housing Conference's 'Housing Visionary Award'

The California Ballot Initiative Team that worked with partners statewide to pass $6 billion in affordable and supportive housing funding, received the Housing Visionary Award on June 6 in Washington, DC. The award is given annually to honor achievements of organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions toward advancing affordable housing. The Propositions 1 and 2 ballot initiative team was led by Lisa Hershey, Housing California; Ray Pearl, California Housing Consortium; Carl Guardino, Silicon Valley Leadership Group; and Cesar Diaz, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

 

Housing California Update

Staff Changes

Housing California wishes former Policy Director Tyrone Buckley all the best in his new role at the California Department of Housing and Community Development, where he'll continue the good fight for fair housing. During his four years at Housing California, Tyrone helped pass pivotal housing policies and unprecedented levels of affordable housing funding. Under his policy leadership, our community secured a permanent source of affordable housing funding (SB 2), placed a $4 billion housing bond on the ballot (SB 3), and passed a statewide inclusionary zoning policy (AB 1505), among many other accomplishments.

Housing California is excited to bring on board Russell Hartley as our new Digital Communications Associate. Russell most recently served as the Assistant Communications Specialist for the City of Rancho Cordova. He also currently serves as the Communications Director for the Sacramento County Young Democrats

 

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Housing California
1107 9th Street, Suite 560
Sacramento, California 95814
916-447-0503
staff@housingca.org

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