Council Meets with Governor’s Senior Counselor on Housing and Homeless
The Bay Area Council’s Housing Committee this week welcomed Jason Elliott, Senior Counselor to Gov. Newsom on Housing and Homelessness, as he shared the Governor’s plans through the budget to address these critical issues. Among the funding Gov. Newsom has proposed is $1.75 billion to purchase additional motels to house the homeless, develop short-term community mental health facilities, and purchase and preserve housing dedicated to seniors; $500 million in low-income housing tax credits; and $250 million for infill infrastructure intended to facilitate housing.
Elliott also highlighted Gov. Newsom’s new Housing Accountability Unit at the Department of Housing and Community Development to further facilitate affordable housing production through monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement of existing housing production laws such as the Density Bonus Law and Housing Accountability Act. The HAU will be instrumental in ensuring existing housing laws are being implemented at the local level as intended.
The Housing Committee also endorsed five bills, including a federal bill sponsored by partner Up for Growth Action. The legislation includes:
- SB 7 (Atkins) – Extends AB 900 CEQA streamlining
- SB 10 (Wiener) – Allows CEQA streamlining on infill projects of ten units or less
- AB 119 (Salas) – Requires County Auditors to make information publicly available on property taxes paid by every assessed parcel
- AB 571 (Mayes) – Prohibits imposing a housing affordability fee on deed restricted affordable units
- S. 5061 (Klobuchar, Kaine) – Creates a new grant administered by HUD to assist states and localities with planning and implementing policies that increase housing supply and affordability.
Click here to more about these bills. The Council currently is reviewing additional legislation to promote the production of new housing. To engage in the Council’s housing policy work, please contact Senior Vice President Matt Regan.
