Gov. Newsom Signs Transformative Interim Housing Bill Sponsored by Bay Area Council

The Bay Area Council today heartily applauded Gov. Newsom for signing landmark legislation that promises to radically transform California’s ability to quickly and affordably create low-cost housing for the state’s many thousands of unhoused residents.

The legislation (SB 1395) by state Sen. Josh Becker will help vastly accelerate the construction of interim housing to bring more people indoors, save lives, and restore access to public spaces. The new law removes significant and costly barriers local governments have faced in scaling interim housing solutions for homeless residents. Interim housing can be built fast and at a much lower cost than other forms of shelter. And it is a preferred housing option for many people currently living on the streets.

“It’s hard to overstate just how transformative this legislation can be in addressing what arguably has been a massive humanitarian crisis for California,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “Today, California sent a message that the time has come to bring people indoors, save lives, and restore access to public spaces. The Interim Housing Act eliminates red tape and encourages local governments to prioritize and scale the interim housing needed to end the encampment crisis. We thank the leadership of Senator Becker for authoring, the legislature for passing, and Governor Newsom for signing SB 1395 into law.”

Wunderman also thanked our co-sponsors of the bill, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, DignityMoves and SPUR. With today’s signing, the Council will now shift its energy and resources to ensure cities and counties across the state take advantage of its provisions and work with partners in the private sector to build a pipeline of interim housing products.

“Interim housing is the missing rung on the ladder to permanent housing, and with the Governor’s signature, the Interim Housing Act will make available statewide a proven local housing strategy, giving local governments a new tool to address the homelessness and housing crises,” Sen. Becker said. “It will lead to more housing options and significantly increase the inventory, which will put a roof over the heads of our unhoused neighbors faster so that they can get back on their feet and on track towards permanent housing.”

Specifically, SB 1395 will encourage the development of interim housing by achieving the following:

• Clarifying that relocatable, non-congregate interim housing is eligible for streamlined zoning, thus reducing construction time and costs; 
• Empowering local governments who want to build interim housing by cutting red tape and expediting approvals (CEQA expansions for Low Barrier Navigation Centers and Shelter Crisis Act projects); 
• Extending the sunset for existing streamlining authorities – Shelter Crisis Act and Low Barrier Navigation Centers – to provide locals more assurance that they can use existing tools to address our homelessness crisis beyond 2026; and  
• Freeing up state funding for interim housing.