Golden State Today

Governor Newsom announced that 24 projects in 20 California communities will receive more than $789 million in cap-and-trade funds to build housing and sustainable projects, such as public transit, and bike and walking paths. The funding is provided through the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program.

SACRAMENTO — Continuing the state’s support for local communities in creating new housing, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the state is awarding nearly $789.8 million in cap-and-trade funds for 24 projects throughout California to create thousands of affordable homes and infrastructure improvement projects such as bikeways, zero-emission public transit, and pedestrian walkways.

“We cannot solve the homelessness crisis without creating new affordable homes. Today, we’re reinvesting more than three-quarters of a billion dollars generated through cap-and-trade funding to build thriving and affordable communities for California families. By creating livable communities with sustainable transportation options, we can meet both our state’s climate targets and our goal of providing affordable housing for every Californian,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The funding will build 2,483 new rent-restricted homes as part of 24 different affordable housing projects, with more than two-thirds of homes dedicated to lower-income communities.

Projects receiving these awards are located in 20 communities across the state including Berkeley, El Cerrito, Healdsburg, Hemet, Inglewood, King City, Livingston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Oceanside, Oxnard, Red Bluff, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Walnut Creek, and the county of Los Angeles.

The funding is the eighth and third-largest round of grant awards for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program. This program funds housing and transportation projects close to jobs, schools, and other daily destinations to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the state. Through all eight rounds of AHSC investments will total $3.8 billion.

“These investments not only address the urgent need for affordable housing that is integrated with critical infrastructure in a holistic approach to development but also contribute significantly to our fight against climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our most vulnerable communities,” said Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Director Sam Assefa. “By integrating sustainable transportation with affordable housing we are creating healthier more resilient neighborhoods where all Californians can thrive.”

In addition to creating housing these 24 projects will also support the purchase of 52 new zero-emission transit vehicles installation of approximately 100 new bus shelters construction of approximately 60 miles of bikeways as well as repair and construction of more than 60 miles of sidewalks to create safe accessible walkways.

The AHSC Program is administered by SGC and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. It is part of California Climate Investments a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions strengthening the economy improving public health and the environment–particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing renewable energy public transportation zero-emission vehicles environmental restoration more sustainable agriculture recycling among others.

Since taking office Governor Newsom has invested over $40 billion to boost affordable housing additionally more than $27 billion to address homelessness. Today’s funding announcement follows Governor Newsom’s recent executive order that urges local governments to use unprecedented state funding to address unsanitary dangerous encampments within their communities provide people experiencing homelessness with care supportive services they need.

He has also enacted dozens of CEQA reforms into law. Additionally Governor Newsom championed the creation of the Housing Accountability Unit at the California Department of Housing and Community Development ensuring cities counties fulfill their legal responsibilities plan permit their fair share housing leading partly high levels housing starts seen last fifteen years.