“While the 2022-23 state budget contains some noteworthy expenditures, it invests only a fraction of the resources required to protect tenants, preserve communities and existing affordable housing, produce new affordable housing, and end homelessness.“
– Housing CA Policy Director Chris Martin
Dear friends, partners, and allies,
We are in the final stretch of this legislative year. Our heart-felt gratitude goes out to our dedicated supporters, Residents United Network members, multi-sector partners, and all co conspirators in our movement for housing justice.
In this issue, you will receive the latest update on our policy priorities. You can also help to boost the visibility of key proposals and urge state leaders to move some of these key proposals to the governor’s desk by retweeting our messages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Make your voices heard.
Housing CA recently released a statement in response to the final state budget for the coming year detailing how the state will invest taxpayer money to combat homelessness and spur production of affordable housing. We point to numerous wins while noting missed opportunities to realize bold, equitable solutions we know will help all Californians find and secure a stable place to call home.
In solidarity, strength, and gratitude,
The Housing CA Team
Changing Policy
Learn about the status of our priority bills as the legislative year comes to a close. In addition, Housing CA continues to weigh in on CARE Court. With coalition partners, we suggest another alternative that provides support to unhoused people struggling with mental illness. We are also continuing to work with the Bring CA Home coalition to secure an ongoing source of funding to combat homelessness and provide affordable housing and services. Also, hear more about our federal advocacy efforts.
Building Power
The Residents United Network (RUN) is excited to announce the development of the Steering Committee, a body of elected RUN members to represent the rest of the membership in decision making, both for RUN and with Housing CA. Steering committee representatives will be elected to represent RUN regions (helping create stronger regional cohorts) and serve as liaisons among coalitions, Housing California and RUN.
Shaping the Narrative
Our partners at Housing Narrative Lab have consolidated resources that housing and homelessness advocates can use to guide conversations around homelessness and possible solutions. During the third phase of their national narrative research project, they tested 30-second video clips to determine framing we can experiment with to mobilize the base, persuade the persuadables and neutralize the opposition. Check out their findings.
Building political and public will through narrative change is one of the key levers for creating a sustained movement for housing justice. Housing California believes we need a California for all, not just a California for some. To make ours a more Golden State we need advocates from across diverse sectors implementing long-term strategies for narrative change at scale. By aligning our efforts we can and will keep the promise of a California Dream for all.
The 2023 Annual Conference – Save the Date
Housing CA’s 2023 Annual Conference will be held March 27 – 29, 2023 at San Diego’s Town and Country Resort and Convention Center. Mark your calendar! Join other housing, homelessness, and multi-sector leaders and advocates in building a CA with homes, health, and wealth for all.
Recordings from the 2022 Annual Conference
Recordings from this past April’s Conference are available on the conference website. Hear from some of the bright minds, champions, and visionaries leading the conversations around housing and homelessness and helping to transform California into a state where all people can achieve homes, health, and wealth. If you encounter any technical challenges, please contact Jade Chin at jchin@housingca.org.
Save the date and stay tuned for more 2023 conference information over social media and email.
Help AB 2011 pass Senate Appropriations
Roadmap Home 2030 encourages California to reimagine growth by allowing housing in commercial zones which opens up appropriate sites for housing and ensures vibrant and productive uses of these properties. Assembly Bill 2011 affords the state this opportunity. Also known as the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, AB 2011 would allow for 100 percent affordable development, or new apartment and condominium developments to be built in commercial and mixed-use zones when at least 15% of the homes are affordable to low-income households. Recent articles in the Los Angeles Times and Mercury News highlight the significant benefits of this game-changing bill. The proposal currently sits in the Senate Appropriations Committee and needs your help to pass.
Tell your state senators and assembly members to support AB 2011. You can reach out to the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Anthony Portantino via Twitter, quote retweet Roadmap Home’s message and say:
Senator @Portantino please help move AB 2011 through the Appropriations Committee and reach the desk of @CAGovernor. California needs to accelerate the production of a #affordablehousing with this smart strategy.
Make sure to visit RoadmapHome2030.org and follow Roadmap Home 2030 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Take Action
If you make the minimum wage in California, you have to work 104 hours per week just to afford the rent and utilities on a modest two-bedroom apartment, and 83 hours per week for a one-bedroom apartment. Check out the Out of Reach report from our partners, National Low Income Housing Coalition, which shows that housing costs are just too high for low-wage workers.
Contact your congressional representatives and urge them to vote for key housing bills and more resources in the FY23 federal budget, expand vouchers through the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, prevent evictions with the Eviction Crisis Act, and strengthen renter protections.
In the News
- Narrative & Strategic Communications Director Unai Montes-Irueste talks about the 10% rent increase faced by many California tenants and how it could add strain on renters who are already spending disproportionate amounts of their income on rent. Read More
- The Los Angeles Time Editorial Board recently published an opinion piece about Gov. Newsom’s CARE Courts where they say it and the accompanying Senate Bill 1338 “merely create a new legal framework for the same failed approach.” Read More
- Despite lawmakers enthusiastically supporting Gov. Newsom’s CARE Court, county officials are concerned that there are insufficient resources to implement the program. One main concern is the short supply of affordable housing in California. Read More
Partner Updates
Want to get involved with housing and homelessness advocacy efforts and policy work in your area? If so, then attend one of the upcoming conferences from our regional partners. Here are some that you can check out:
Oct. 3: Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (in-person)
Oct. 12-14: Sacramento Housing Alliance (virtual)
Oct. 27-28: Southern California Assn. of Non Profit Housing (in-person)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 1: San Diego Housing Federation (in-person)
Nov. 2-4: California Coalition for Rural Housing (in-person)