Bringing you updates in legislation, policy, and other news relating to affordable housing, homelessness, sustainable communities, and related issues.

JANUARY 2024

Looking Back on 2023 and Moving Forward to 2024

by Jennifer LeSar, President and Founding CEO | LeSar Portfolio of Firms

Reflecting on the accomplishments of the past year, we celebrate the strides made towards more stable, safe, and affordable housing in California. At the same time, there are fresh reminders that our work is not done, and we must continue innovating and identifying ways to ensure California remains a place for all.

In 2023, the Governor and Legislature continued to prioritize housing and homelessness, passing numerous laws to streamline housing development, explore innovative approaches, and increase funding sources for housing production.

Two high-profile bills by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) continue the yearlong trend of land use streamlining: SB 4, the “Yes in God’s Backyard” bill, streamlines the development of new affordable homes on land owned by faith-based institutions and nonprofit colleges, and SB 423 extends and strengthens SB 35 to further streamline and accelerate housing permits in certain localities.

As the concept of social housing continues to stoke interest both in California and nationally, SB 555 (Wahab, D-Fremont) created the Stable Affordable Housing Act of 2023 to create opportunities for social housing through a mix of acquisition and new construction and requires the state’s Housing and Community Development department to develop, adopt, and submit to the legislature a Social Housing Study by December 31, 2026.

Continue reading this article on our website >

2024 Governor's Budget Proposal

by Jacqueline Woo, Manager, CA Legislative Analysis | Global Policy Leadership Academy

The Governor announced his budget on January 10th, detailing several reversions and reductions in funding, including those for housing and homelessness programs, to address the State’s anticipated budget deficit. The Governor’s team projected a lower deficit than the State Legislative Analyst Office’s (LAO) projection – close to $38B compared to the LAO’s $68B estimate – largely due to more optimistic revenue projections.

Despite this, key housing and planning programs saw reversions of more than $1B of previously committed funding, while key homelessness programs saw delays of around $600M to future years. 

Read more >

Early New Bills and Notable Second-year Bills

by Jacqueline Woo, Manager, CA Legislative Analysis | Global Policy Leadership Academy

The second year of California’s 2023–24 legislative session is underway, with a few newly introduced and several second–year bills continuing their journey through the legislative process. At the top of many lawmakers’ minds are a looming $38 - $68M budget deficit and elections: all 80 Assembly seats and half of the 40 Senate seats are on the ballot this year.

Learn more in our summary of new and notable bills >

Be a Changemaker: Register for the 2024 Vienna Social Housing Field Study

What can we learn from a city that has largely avoided the current worldwide housing crisis?

Jumpstart your understanding of social housing and the incredible success of the Vienna social housing model by joining the GPLA immersive Social Housing Field Study being held April 14 – 20, 2024. Network and engage in deep learning with other housing professionals to facilitate solution development and implementation back home!

California’s Prohousing Designation Program: Rewarding City and County Policies that Boost Housing Supply | Terner Center for Housing Innovation | December 2023

Addressing Homelessness in California: A Collaborative Research Series | Terner Center for Housing Innovation, Abt Associates, UCSF’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) | December 2023

Homelessness in US Cities and Downtowns | Brookings Institution | December 2023

Making It Pencil: the Math Behind Housing Development - 2023 Update | Terner Center for Housing Innovation | December 2023

The Impact of Time-Limited Subsidy Programs in Reducing Homelessness | California Policy Lab | November 2023

Digging out: Newsom outlines plan to cover state budget deficit | CalMatters | January 10, 2024

As California evictions boom, whether tenants get lawyers depends on where they live | CalMatters | January 8, 2024

Could this obscure tax idea reshape American housing? | Vox | January 5, 2024

When does California’s security deposit cap start? Here are 8 new renter laws to know | Sacramento Bee | January 4, 2024

New California housing laws aimed to streamline building process take effect in 2024 | CalMatters | January 1, 2024

How We Can Bring Vienna’s Housing Model to the U.S. | Shelterforce | December 19, 2023

The big bet on “tiny homes” to fix homelessness | Vox | November 29, 2023

Not your grandma’s granny flat: How San Diego hacked state housing law to build ADU ‘apartment buildings’ | CalMatters | November 28, 2023

LeSar Development Consultants works with leaders in creating large-scale, lasting social change through customized consulting services focused on creating physically, economically, and environmentally resilient communities.

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