California faces a significant housing affordability crisis spurred by a mounting supply shortage. State housing officials estimate that an average of 180,000 homes need to be built annually to keep pace with demand due to the rising cost of construction and loss of redevelopment dollars, among many other reasons. In addition, a growing number of the population is struggling to afford the cost of housing. Recognizing the acute impact that the housing crisis has on Western Riverside County, staff, to the extent possible, will engage in more targeted engagement efforts with state leaders on behalf of the subregion. 

• Support an incentive-based effort to expedite the development of market-rate and affordable housing.
• Support collaborative efforts that involve the building industry, regulators, non-profits, and other parties to develop housing that is affordable to residents in Western Riverside County.
• Oppose legislation that creates additional restrictions on local control of land use and development.
• Support legislation that provides ongoing state funding for mandated planning projects such as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), General Plan Housing Element updates, and other planning initiatives under AB 32 and SB 375.
• Support initiatives that further streamline CEQA requirements for projects included in approved housing elements.

• Support initiatives that provide funding to reduce homelessness, expand availability of permanent supportive and transitional housing, as well as coordinated re-entry services to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

• Support legislation that would institute an equitable geographic distribution of state funding for the development of programs that would improve the subregion.
• Oppose legislation that reduces state funding for local activities but still requires local governments to maintain existing service levels and responsibilities.
• Oppose legislation that calls for additional state and/or federal mandates absent funding.

• Oppose legislation that penalizes cities for not meeting state housing goals by threatening to withhold transportation funding.
• Oppose legislation that would increase tariffs and regulatory barriers for construction materials like steel and wood.
• Support legislation that would establish a funding program to fill the void created by the elimination of redevelopment housing set-asides.
•  Support legislation that incentivizes training for skilled and unskilled trades that work in the construction industry to reduce the cost of housing.