The United Voice for Affordable Housing 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Legislative leaders and Governor Newsom identified $12 billion to $18 billion in funding “solutions” in the current budget that will trim a sizable portion of the projected budget shortfall. CHC and our partners continue to work with legislators to reject some of the proposed cuts.

• The Legislature has until June to place measures on the November ballot, but with the state revenue picture still uncertain, the size and scope of this year’s bonds are not likely to be agreed upon until May. Proposition 1, the mental health bond championed by Governor Newsom, secured enough votes to pass last month. 

• CHC continues to support AB 1657 (Wicks), a $10 billion housing bond that would support a range of successful affordable housing programs.

• CHC board members, Laura Archuleta and Linda Mandolini, testified during the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight, chaired by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim). During the hearing both Laura and Linda emphasized how our state's scalable investments have created more units, helping ensure low-income Californians have access to affordable housing.

• Reminder: Merritt Scholars applications are due on April 15th, please share with undergraduate and graduate students interested in affordable housing.

2024 POLICY FORUM &

CALIFORNIA HOUSING HALL OF FAME AWARDS

Registration is open!

Join us in-person for networking, interactive policy discussions and a celebration of the 2024 California Housing Hall of Fame honorees.

May 16th, 2024, 8:30am-2:00pm

Early Bird Registration

is discounted until April 30.

CHC Members use promo code

'CHC24MEMBER' for $50 off.

Limited hotel room block

available until April 15 at the

Luskin UCLA Conference Center

for a reduced rate

AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEWS OF THE MONTH

California is building fewer homes. The state could get even more expensive. (Los Angeles Times)

EDITORIAL: Prop. 1 passed—barely. Now the real work to fix California’s mental health crisis begins.

(San Francisco Chronicle)

Fresh batch of YIMBY housing bills clash with coastal protections (again) (CalMatters)

Controversial California law meant to spur new housing could get more teeth (KQED)

Lawmakers in California can override local housing limits, state court rules (San Francisco Chronicle)

Housing advocates in Livermore decry what they see as a new tactic for NIMBYs (San Jose Mercury News)

Elk Grove affordable housing project officially relocated after outcry, lawsuits. (Sacramento Bee)

FEDERAL UPDATE FROM DAVID GASSON

March Madness is coming to a conclusion (now that it is April) and although I will lament the end of men’s and women’s basketball seasons, I will not lament the end of what has turned out to be a disappointing March for the tax bill. The high hopes we all had after the passage of the bill in the House, and what seemed to be positive talks between Ranking Member Crapo and everyone that wanted to pass the bill, have all but crashed to the ground as Senator Crapo rallies his colleagues to vote against the bill if it is brought to the floor.

With the Senate out on recess until April 8^th, we all await Majority Leader Schumer’s decision on calling for a vote. The questions are, will there be enough Republican Senators willing to buck leadership and vote for the bill, or will Senator Schumer make the Republican’s vote against it and use it as campaign fodder: Republican’s vote against business tax cuts!!

Either was, the road ahead does not appear favorable for the bill and thus our LIHTC provisions. We continue to discuss strategy with Senator Cantwell and others and I would not count out the possibility of another trick up their sleeves to get the housing provisions addressed this year but we must wait for the current drama to play out before the next act can begin.

CHC MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

CHC Member: Community HousingWorks

Project Name: Portola Senior Apartments

Location: Lake Forest, California

Units: 58 one-bedroom apartments for one or two-person households 62 years and older living at 50% area median income (AMI) or less.

Opening Date: November 2023

State & Federal Financing Sources:

• Tax-exempt bonds issued by California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA), the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC)

The Portola senior apartments is built as a standalone four-story building with ground-floor retail space. The community is designed to promote dignified aging-in-place with features such as an elevator, on-site laundry, ADA-compliant bathrooms and kitchens. Residents will receive free public transportation passes, free high-speed internet, and access to on-site classes focused on adult education, health and wellness, and skill building.

Residents, Jackie and Patrick Rosetti shared their experience with homelessness and how moving into Portola has changed their lives. Jackie explained, “Providing a new, affordable, beautiful complex of apartments with a wonderful, diverse community in a remarkable neighborhood ended our homelessness, profoundly changed our lives, relieved and encouraged our friends and family, put us closer to friends and family, our church, reduced drive times and saved us lots of money in gas. For that, Pat and I are grateful.”

Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) attended the groundbreaking and commented on how difficult it is to develop affordable housing, despite how much it’s needed. “[Portola] works because it takes a quality developer who understands affordable housing and financing,” she said.