Trying to address California’s lack of affordable housing

Brown and lawmakers are trying to spur more home building as well as spend more money on low-income housing subsidies as a way to deal with booming housing costs. Trailer Bill 707: A Brown-led initiative, now crafted as a “trailer” bill related to the state budget enacted in June, would streamline local approval for housing developments that reserve some of their units for low-income residents. If a version of the bill passes, the governor has agreed to spend $400 million this year on housing subsidy programs.

AB 2299, AB 2406, SB 1069: These three bills would try to make it easier for homeowners to add another housing unit in their backyards or as part of their existing homes.

SB 879: This bill is a $3-billion bond package of low-income housing subsidies that would require voter approval in November 2018.

The latest: On Aug. 18, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) declared the Brown measure dead for the year, which ends the most prominent housing debate at the Capitol. It’s also unlikely the $400 million reserved for low-income housing subsidies as part of the deal will be spent. Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), the author of SB 1069, said it’s now all the more important that his additional unit bill pass.

Back story: California’s average home price of roughly $460,000 is more than double the national average and even higher in coastal communities in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Many academics and experts blame a lack of supply as the primary driver of rising costs. The Brown-led measure faced significant opposition, especially from powerful labor and environmental groups.