Affordable Housing Gets Boost in State Budget

Despite all of the trouble local governments have experienced with affordable housing over the last several years in California (losing the ability to extort units or money from builders, and by extension, new home buyers; losing a court case against doing the same for rental projects; and, elimination of redevelopment agencies), the recent passage of the state budget presents a few bright spots:

• $50 million for the state's Multifamily Housing Program. (First General Fund appropriation for this program in more than a decade)
• $50 million for the Multifamily Housing Program — Supportive Housing. (Again, first General Fund appropriation for this program in more than a decade)
• $135 million for affordable homes and other components of sustainable communities in the 2014-15 budget year, including bike and walking improvements, transit, and planning.
• At least 10 percent of the ongoing revenue from cap-and-trade for affordable homes (estimated to be $200 - $300 million per year starting in 2015).
• $20 million to support CalWORKs participants who face homelessness or housing instability as a barrier to self-sufficiency.
• $5 million to county child-welfare agencies to serve child and youth victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including prevention and intervention services. (Also includes a commitment to fund this work at no less than $14.3 million/year in future years.)