Governor Newsom’s Newly Created Housing Accountability Unit Marks First Year | California Governor

SACRAMENTO – One yr in the past, Governor Gavin Newsom launched the Housing Accountability Unit on the California Division of Housing and Neighborhood Improvement (HCD) with the aim of accelerating stringent enforcement and oversight on the native stage to create extra housing, sooner in California. Since 2020, HCD has helped to clear the way in which for almost 3,500 new properties, with about half of these because of the Housing Accountability Unit’s work within the final yr.

“The housing disaster we’re experiencing in California was a long time within the making, however we’re taking aggressive steps with an all-of-the-above strategy, which incorporates unprecedented actions to result in accountability on the native stage,” stated Governor Newsom. “Understanding that we’ve no time to waste, in only one yr, the Housing Accountability Unit has moved with a fierce depth to interrupt the established order and take away bureaucratic roadblocks.”

Below Governor Newsom, for the primary time in state historical past, native governments are being held accountable to fulfill their housing targets, with a statewide aim of reaching 2.5 million new models by 2030 – 1 million of which should be inexpensive. To assist attain this aim, the Housing Accountability Unit has labored with native jurisdictions to supply technical help and evaluation of insurance policies that usually hinders the constructing of housing all through the state. Of their first yr, the unit opened the door to almost 1,700 new properties, with over 600 being inexpensive housing.

“California is eradicating obstacles to housing improvement and preservation, streamlining allowing, and, most significantly, holding native jurisdictions accountable for assembly the housing wants of their communities,” stated Enterprise, Shopper Providers and Housing Company Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “By prioritizing enforcement of state housing legal guidelines, we’re working towards the day that each one Californians may have entry to an inexpensive place to name residence.”

Amongst different key accomplishments over the previous yr, the Housing Accountability Unit launched a first-of-its-kind Coverage and Follow Assessment into San Francisco’s authorized, planning, and political obstacles to housing manufacturing in any respect earnings ranges. The unit additionally formally absorbed enforcement of the Surplus Land Act, unlocking a whole bunch of inexpensive housing models by way of its evaluation of state surplus land.

“Cities and counties should abide by state housing legal guidelines,” stated HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Initially, HCD will present technical help to create a path towards understanding and complying with state housing legal guidelines. However now not are cities’ and counties’ compliance going unchecked. Accountability is vital to getting the two.5 million new housing models our state must serve Californians throughout the earnings spectrum.”

Because the state continues to steer the nation in tackling the housing disaster, native accountability and enforcement measures will proceed to be efficient instruments to make sure that each metropolis and county meets its fair proportion of housing. Moreover, the Governor’s historic funding of $13.6 billion over the previous two years – probably the most ever invested in housing – creates the state’s most complete housing affordability technique. To bolster these efforts, within the final two years, the Governor has signed over 70 housing payments, offering cities and counties with the instruments and assist wanted to construct housing in any respect earnings ranges.

To study extra in regards to the milestones accomplished over the previous yr go to: Accountability and Enforcement | California Division of Housing and Neighborhood Improvement.

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