Governor Gavin Newsom, along with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), has stripped the City of Norwalk of its housing element compliance, following the city’s imposition of an illegal ban on homeless shelters and housing. This measure effectively disqualifies Norwalk from receiving pivotal state funds designated for housing and homelessness and removes its authority to reject builder’s remedy affordable housing projects, reported the Governor's office.
Despite warnings, Norwalk has reportedly failed to carry out its state-mandated duty to plan for adequate housing, having approved permits for only 175 units of the 5,034-unit goal set by the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. "After the state has provided cities and counties with unprecedented funding to address the homelessness crisis, it’s beyond cruel that Norwalk would ban the building of shelters while people are living on the city’s streets," Governor Newsom said in a statement, chastising the city for neglecting its community's needs.
The HCD's action intends to expedite development within Norwalk and incentivize an end to the city's unlawful housing ban. HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez commented on the situation, stating, "The City of Norwalk’s actions have placed them in violation of state housing law, and therefore their housing element is no longer in compliance." He noted the city's refusal to rectify its actions despite the department's guidance and the looming threat of state intervention.
While Norwalk has taken a stance against providing essential services and housing for the homeless, it previously accepted nearly $29 million in state funds for housing and homelessness solutions. The city’s recent actions contravene multiple state laws, including the Housing Crisis Act and the Anti-Discrimination in Land Use Law, among others. Newsom's administration has shown dedication to accountability, pointing to a significant rise in housing starts in California – a 15-year record high – as a result of stringent compliance enforcement, said the Governor's office.
Norwalk’s stance has not gone unnoticed, with the state issuing a Notice of Violation last month. The local council, rather than take steps toward compliance, chose to extend the moratorium on new shelters and related housing for an additional 10 months and 15 days. This extension comes despite earlier statements from council members indicating an intent not to enforce the moratorium right away, maintaining a precarious situation for housing development in the city.
