CVV News l August 23, 2023
SACRAMENTO – As the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals hears San Francisco’s appeal of a court order constraining the city from addressing homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced an additional $38 million to help local communities clean up encampments throughout the state. In total, under the Newsom Administration, the state is providing $750 million to local governments to connect individuals living in encampments to housing and services.
What Governor Newsom Said: “In California, we are cutting red tape and making unprecedented investments to address homelessness, but with each hard-fought step forward, the courts are creating costly delays that slow progress. I urge the courts to empower local communities to address street encampments quickly and comprehensively.”
Throughout the country, decisions handed down by judges from Phoenix to San Francisco are paralyzing local government’s ability to address homelessness. These decisions prohibit cities from enforcing reasonable limits on sleeping and camping on public sidewalks, and allow unsafe encampments with makeshift, dangerous housing structures to grow unchecked – running counter to common-sense approaches to address the challenges on our city streets.
The $38 million announced today is provided through the Encampment Resolution Fund which was designed by the Administration and the Legislature to provide communities of all sizes with the support to move people living in encampments into housing. As the state continues to invest dollars and resources to assist individuals living on the streets, it is critical that the judicial branch not constrain these efforts.
This most recent round of funding will support seven communities statewide, connecting approximately 1,250 people experiencing homelessness in encampments to needed services and housing. Six of the seven projects will resolve encampments along state rights-of-way.
The following communities are receiving the funding announced today:
- San Joaquin County will receive $11.1 million.
- The Bakersfield/Kern County Continuum of Care will receive $7 million.
- The City of Thousand Oaks will receive $5.8 million.
- The City of Long Beach will receive $5.3 million.
- The City of Visalia will receive $3.6 million.
- Sonoma County will receive $2.8 million.
- The Pasadena Continuum of Care will receive $2.1 million.
San Francisco previously received two Encampment Resolution awards totaling over $17 million. Collectively, the Newsom Administration has committed more than $30 billion to address housing and homelessness since taking office, with $3.5 billion for homelessness in the 2023 state budget alone.
Governor Newsom Announces $567 Million for New Affordable Housing
CVV News l May 19, 2023
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that $567 million is now available statewide to build much-needed multifamily affordable housing. This is part of the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s second round of funding under a streamlined, combined application across four programs which have to date provided over $1.3 billion to expand affordable, climate-smart, multifamily housing in California.
The first round of Multifamily Finance Super Notice of Funding Availability (Super NOFA) awards announced in February totaled more than $825 million and launched the development of 9,550 homes in 58 communities across California.
Why it’s important: Increasing and preserving California’s housing supply, including affordable housing, is a top priority for Governor Newsom. The Governor recently signed over 70 housing-related bills and 20 CEQA reform bills to cut red tape and get more housing built, faster. Since taking office, the Newsom Administration, in partnership with the Legislature, has invested $30 billion in housing-related programs. Governor Newsom is focused on holding local governments accountable to planning for 2.5 million new homes by 2030, with at least one million of those homes being affordable housing – as required by state law.
What Governor Newsom said: “Despite challenging economic conditions, California is keeping our commitment to spur the development of needed housing in all 58 counties. We’ll continue to provide major funding and resources, coupled with strict accountability measures, to tackle the housing shortage that threatens California’s growth and long-term prosperity.”
HCD is working to reduce barriers that constrain the growth of much-needed multifamily housing, making it easier for developers to apply to four different funding programs in a single application through the Super NOFA. Today, HCD released guidelines for the $576 million 2023 Super NOFA, along with a notice of funding availability for the following programs:
- Multifamily Housing Program – $236 million
- Infill Infrastructure Grant Program – $168 million
- Joe Serna, Jr., Farmworker Housing Grant Program – $110 million
- Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program – $62 million
“Governor Newsom has been resolute in addressing a housing supply deficit that has been decades in the making, and this new funding will lead to the construction of thousands of climate-friendly homes near economic opportunities,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “We look forward to applications from communities across the state to build homes for hard-working farmworkers, unhoused veterans and low-income Californians.”
“HCD continues to innovate and collaborate with stakeholders to build more affordable housing faster,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “This announcement of over $500 million to build multifamily affordable housing demonstrates our commitment to supporting cities and counties in meeting their affordable housing requirements.”
The Round 2 Super NOFA application portal opens June 1, with applications due by July 12 at 4:00 p.m. PST. Round 2 Super NOFA award announcements are anticipated in Winter 2023.
California to Build More Housing, Faster
CVV News-Posted: October 5, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO – Building on California’s historic efforts to tackle the housing crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation to streamline the housing approval process in California and create thousands of good paying jobs. Governor Newsom also announced $1 billion in awards to 30 shovel-ready projects through the California Housing Accelerator – creating 2,755 new homes for Californians.
“California has made historic investments and taken unprecedented actions to tackle the state’s housing crisis over the past four years,” said Governor Newsom. “But we recognize there’s more work to do – this package of smart, much-needed legislation will help us build new homes while rebuilding the middle class. I’m thankful for the leadership of the Legislature for stepping up to meet this moment to help address the affordability crisis that stretches across the entire nation.”
Governor Newsom signed the housing package alongside legislative, local, housing, and labor leaders, at the future site of an affordable housing community in San Francisco.
“SB 6 and AB 2011 are game changers when it comes to producing desperately needed housing for all income levels,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins. “These two bills are the culmination of many years of work to find solutions that streamline the regulatory process and ensure that workers building homes are being paid a fair wage. I applaud Senator Anna Caballero and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks for their dynamic teamwork and tireless dedication to serving their communities, and our state. I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for signing these bills, and to Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, Speaker Anthony Rendon, and our labor partners for helping make this victory possible. With these laws in place, we will soon see more building and more jobs, and more families will be able to achieve the California Dream.”
“This signings demonstrate that we can make real progress on improving California’s housing outlook, despite the many challenges we face,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. “In particular, AB 2011 shows what can be accomplished when disparate advocates team up on a critical goal. And, of course, the Assembly is proud to have been able to team up with the Senate and the Governor to make this all a reality.”
AB 2011 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and SB 6 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) together will:
Help create much-needed new housing units for low and middle income Californians by allowing housing to be built in underutilized commercial sites currently zoned for retail, office, and parking uses.
Generate thousands of jobs with health benefits and good wages – and encourage apprenticeships.
Increase use of public transit by building housing near existing transit or near corridors for new transit.
“The Middle-Class Housing Act or SB 6 can result in the construction of at least 2 million housing units and is one solution to build up and avoid sprawl,” said Senator Anna M. Caballero. “SB6 gives local governments the option for an expedited development process to avoid the property remaining vacant. SB6 includes strong worker protections to ensure that homes built under SB6 pay workers fair wages and prioritizes the use of a skilled and trained workforce. The bottom line is that SB6 is transformational for cities and middle-class families which coupled with historic state investments, families will have a real chance at being able to buy a home of their dreams.”
“Today we are taking a monumental step in our efforts to turn our housing crisis in a different direction,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. “The Governor’s signature on AB 2011 marks a turning point for California’s housing production needs — no longer will lack of land be an issue. No longer will there be a lack of incentive for workers to join the construction workforce. And, no longer will red tape and bureaucracy prohibit us from building housing in the right locations to address our climate crisis.”
“This legislation will help create millions of desperately needed new homes and protect the workers who will build it,” said Doug McCarron, General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters. “Importantly, it will give the workers an opportunity to afford the housing they’re building. I want to commend Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature for advancing this ambitious and necessary housing package.”
The Governor also announced that the Department of Housing and Community Development is awarding $1.02 billion in funding for the second round of the California Housing Accelerator, providing funding to 30 shovel-ready projects whose financing has been stalled because they have been unable to obtain tax credits. These new awards will help get construction underway quickly for 2,755 new housing units throughout the state. To date, $1.9 billion in funding for the California Housing Accelerator has been awarded, supporting a total of 57 projects to produce a total of 5,071 units. The vast majority of these units will be for extremely low to very low-income households and unhoused residents, and will provide affordable homes for seniors, families, transitional-age youth, veterans, people with disabilities, essential workers and unhoused individuals.
Last year’s California Comeback Plan invested a historic $10.3 billion – by far the most ever invested in housing – into a comprehensive housing affordability strategy, while also implementing new laws and accountability measures. Building on these unprecedented efforts, this year’s budget invests an additional $3.3 billion for affordable housing production and homeownership opportunities.
Help for Homeowners With Past-Due Property Taxes
CVV News-Posted: July 28, 2022
The California Mortgage Relief Program is expanding to provide tax payment assistance to help you get caught up. The program uses federal Homeowner Assistance Funds to help homeowners with past-due property tax payments.
The program is free. The funds do not need to be repaid and there is no cost to apply.
“This will be a big help to homeowners who are delinquent on property taxes due to COVID-19,” stated Donna Riley, Stanislaus County Treasurer-Tax Collector. “Eligible homeowners could receive up to $20,000 to cover past due property tax payments.”
Riley added that there are more than 2,800 homeowners currently behind in their property taxes in Stanislaus County. To receive funding, applicants must meet specific criteria related to financial hardship caused by the pandemic.
To find out if you qualify for the program, please go to CaMortgageRelief.org. You can also call 1-888-840-2594.
The California Mortgage Relief Program is part of the state’s Housing is Key initiative
