In a move to ramp up California's housing game, Governor Gavin Newsom has dolled out a "Prohousing" label to seven more communities, including Eureka and Santa Monica and Tulare County. This distinction, as announced by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), is not just a badge of honor; it unlocks funding perks and extra resources to turbocharge housing development.
This circle of honor now embraces 37 communities seen as torchbearers in housing creation across the Golden State. California's hunger for new homes — a whopping 2.5 million within the next eight years — is especially urgent for lower-income residents, and these Prohousing communities are on the frontline, chipping away at the state's chronic housing shortage. The program enriches them with several sweeteners, including coveted grant money and leverage when vying for competitive state funds, according to HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.
"We need to aggressively build more housing to support Californians," Governor Newsom stated. He suggested that prohousing cities get the VIP treatment regarding state aid and funding opportunities, nudging more local governments to hop on the bandwagon to meet housing demands.
Communities across the board, from small towns to urban giants, are pushing the envelope to hit the state's target: 2.5 million new digs by 2030. In line with this ambitious goal, the HCD released new guidelines for the Prohousing Designation Program on January 23, signaling a feeding frenzy for a $9.5 million incentive fund with a deadline set for March 15. Eligibility, it seems, hinges on local leaders rolling up their sleeves and attacking housing shortages head-on.
