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

FEBRUARY 2024

New Bills and Second-Year Bills Still in Play

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

With the deadline for new bills to be introduced approaching on February 16, the legislature has been busy introducing numerous bills. We expect momentum to increase as we approach the deadline. For second-year bills, January 31 was the last day for each house to pass bills that remain in their house of origin, and we saw several bills continue in their journey through the Legislature.

Notable housing and homelessness bills introduced include:

• AB 1893 (Wicks, D-Oakland) and would modify the infamous “builders remedy,” the law that states that if a city does not have a “substantially compliant” housing element, jurisdictions cannot use its zoning or general plan standards to disapprove any housing project that meets the 20% affordability requirements. This bill is intended to make the tool more accessible in cities that continue to find paths to deny these projects and attempts to put guardrails on some of the more egregious “super-sized” project examples that have made headlines across the state.
• AB 1886 (Alvarez, D-Chula Vista) would clarify the intent of the Builder's Remedy by specifying that if a jurisdiction fails to comply with State housing law as determined by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), a housing project can be accelerated with limited restrictions. 

Learn more in our summary of new and notable bills > >

Historic Mental Health and Housing Ballot Initiative on March 2024 Ballot

by Dr. Yelba Carillo, Principal | Homelessness Solutions Team 

On March 5th, California state voters will vote on Proposition 1, the Behavioral Health Services Program and Bond Measure, which crucially addresses the homelessness crisis through funding housing and shelter, a shift towards a greater acknowledgment of housing as a solution to homelessness.

Proposition 1 will also restructure how individuals who are unsheltered and living with mental illness can receive care and expand the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Proposition 1 is the product of two laws passed during the 2023 legislative session - SB 326 (Eggman) and AB 531 (Irwin) - and received sweeping bipartisan support.

Learn more about what Proposition 1 could accomplish >

Homelessness Leaders Ascending to Key Housing Positions in California

by Christina Mun, Chief Strategy Officer | LeSar Holdings, Inc.

In the acclaimed book, Homelessness is a Housing Problem, authors Gregg Colburn and Clayton Aldern reiterate the growing consensus that homelessness needs to be solved through housing solutions. They show that housing market conditions, such as the cost and availability of rental housing, are more strongly associated with regional homelessness rates than other common explanations, including drug use, mental illness, or poverty. The recent appointment of two leaders with extensive homelessness experience to top housing positions in California underscores this continuing link.

Meet the new industry leaders > >

Secure Your Spot for the 2024 Vienna Social Housing Field Study!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to unravel the secrets behind Vienna's remarkable success in mitigating the global housing crisis. Limited spaces are available for the Global Policy Leadership Academy’s immersive Social Housing Field Study, scheduled for April 14 – 20, 2024.

Jumpstart your understanding of social housing intricacies and gain insights from Vienna's unparalleled model. Engage with fellow housing leaders, foster meaningful connections, and delve into profound learning experiences with Viennese housing experts to drive impactful solutions in your own community.

Hurry, only a few spots remain for this eye-opening field study in April, with more available in July. Click the image above to watch our short video of program highlights.

FREE Housing Policy Leadership Academy and Bootcamp

Applications close February 22

Don't miss your chance to participate in two FREE in-depth housing policy learning opportunities through the Global Policy Learning Academy’s longstanding education partnership with SANDAG.

Beginning March 7, our 10-week Housing Policy Leadership Academy and our advanced, 5-week Housing Policy Bootcamp provide diverse leaders and housing professionals with in-depth forums to explore equitable, inclusive policy solutions to increasing housing production and affordability in their communities, while fostering a collaborative approach to coalition-building strategies.

Earn your HPLA certificate and apply your knowledge to bring real change to housing affordability!

Overview of the Governor’s Budget | Legislative Analyst’s Office | January 2024

Housing Supply Solutions to Prioritize in 2024 | JPMorgan Chase | January 2024

Understanding Proposition 1: Implications for Californians and the State’s Behavioral Health System | California Budget & Policy Center | January 2024

Ownership and Management of Small Multifamily Rental Properties | Terner Center for Housing Innovation | January 2024

Symposium Highlights: From Scarcity to Abundance: Research and Strategies for Housing Policy | Terner Center for Housing Policy | December 2023

‘Universal frustration’: In California, a crisis so dire Republicans and Democrats are working together | LA Times | January 31, 2024

Approaching Bay Area deadline a ‘test case’ for California’s housing crisis | CalMatters | January 25, 2024

Six Takeaways from America’s Rental Housing 2024 | Joint Center for Housing Studies | January 25, 2024

An existential threat to Newsom’s ‘Homekey’ program | Politico | January 19, 2024

Dream for All: Down payment assistance for first-time California homebuyers relaunches with new lottery | CalMatters | January 18, 2024

Homelessness is on the California ballot this March. Will conditions change on the street? | CalMatters | January 18, 2024

Silicon Valley billionaires’ Solano County utopia plan: Big promises, deep doubts | Mercury News | January 18, 2024

Supreme Court will hear case about homeless encampments, with huge implications for California | CalMatters | January 16, 2024

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

Join our team, or forward this opportunity to members in your network!

Controller | LeSar Holdings, Inc.

This position is responsible for the efforts and results of the accounting and financial departments. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or the Chief Operating Officer (COO) regarding all financial and accounting activities, the Controller will oversee finance department staff in day-to-day operations.

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