California has notched another win in its ongoing battle against Huntington Beach's housing policies. A ruling from the California court of appeal has laid down the law, ordering the city to align with statewide housing requirements. Officials from Huntington Beach now find themselves under a 120-day deadline to bring their housing plan up to scratch after the court underscored the need for compliance.
According to an announcement from Governor Gavin Newsom's office, this decision reaffirms the state's position that every city, including charter cities like Huntington Beach, must meet its responsibilities for planning housing that serves all income levels. This comes after a year when the trial court recognized the city's breach of the law but fell short of setting strict deadlines or consequences, a situation now rectified by the appeals court's ruling.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, as Governor Newsom's office reports, pointed out that the "City’s continued reluctance to follow the law is inexcusable," and with the federal lawsuit against the constitutionality of state housing laws also lost, Huntington Beach seems short on options to defend its position. Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, emphasized that "every city, including charter cities, has a legal and moral responsibility to promote housing opportunities for people at all income levels," and promised continued vigilance over the city's adherence to housing legislation.
The victory aligns with Governor Newsom's housing agenda, which includes the establishment of the Housing Accountability Unit at the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). With an expansive mandate that ranges from enforcement actions to ensuring compliance with housing laws, the unit has championed the development of thousands of homes, including over 3,328 affordable units, as per the Governor's announcement. Firmly, Newsom's administration also tackles homelessness by funding new shelters, holding local governments accountable, and streamlining housing development processes.
Making a measurable impact, California has seen its rate of homelessness growth slow significantly under Newsom, in the face of increasing national numbers. The state's overall increase was just 3% in 2024, as opposed to the national rise of over 18%. These figures come as a testament to California's assertive approaches, which have also led to substantial reductions in veteran homelessness and advancements in combating youth homelessness.
