Golden State Today

The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) today issued a Notice of Violation to the city of Norwalk, addressing the city's recent ordinance banning new homeless shelters and supportive housing. Governor Gavin Newsom described the city's move as "counterproductive and immoral" amid California's ongoing homelessness crisis.

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Housing and Community Development has taken formal action against Norwalk following the city's adoption of an ordinance prohibiting the development of new homeless shelters and other housing facilities. The HCD issued a Notice of Violation, warning that legal measures will follow if the policy is not reversed.

Governor Gavin Newsom stated, “It is unfathomable that as our state grapples with a homelessness crisis, Norwalk would pass an ordinance banning the building of homeless shelters. It is counterproductive and immoral for any community to throw up their hands and say they’ve done enough while they still have people in need. We can’t leave people in dangerous and unsanitary encampments — the city of Norwalk needs to do its part to provide people with shelter and services.”

The notice comes after Norwalk's city council adopted a 45-day urgency ordinance on August 6, imposing a moratorium on emergency shelters, single-room occupancy housing, supportive housing, and transitional housing. The council is set to consider extending this ordinance for another 10 months and 15 days on September 17. According to HCD, this moratorium breaches several state planning and fair housing laws including the Housing Crisis Act, Anti-Discrimination in Land Use Law, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, and Housing Element Law.

Norwalk has also failed to meet its state-mandated housing goals. The city has only issued permits for 175 units during this housing element cycle—just 3.5% of its assigned Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) target of 5,034 units.

HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez commented, “The City of Norwalk’s disingenuous moratorium equates badly needed homes for people struggling the most with liquor stores and payday loans. In doing so, they are harming their own community and blatantly violating a myriad of state housing laws. The only option is to repeal the moratorium and move past this regrettable episode.”

The Notice warns that failure by Norwalk to reverse its course could lead HCD to refer the matter to the Attorney General’s Office for litigation or revoke its compliance status with state housing element requirements. HCD had previously found Norwalk's housing element compliant in November 2023. The city has until September 23 to respond.

Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed strong opposition: “At a time when many Californians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads or lack housing altogether, banning new emergency shelters and new supportive housing not just defies common sense — it is unlawful,” he said. “Norwalk’s residents — indeed all Californians — should be outraged. If necessary, my office stands ready to take legal action against Norwalk.”

This development follows closely after Governor Newsom's executive order urging local governments to utilize state-provided funding to address unsanitary encampments within their communities by providing care, housing, and supportive services for those experiencing homelessness. Since 2019, HCD has awarded nearly $29 million in funds for housing and homelessness projects in Norwalk.

HCD’s Housing Accountability Unit issued the notice as part of its mission since being launched by Governor Newsom in 2021. This unit assists cities in meeting their legal responsibilities regarding fair share housing planning and permitting while holding non-compliant jurisdictions accountable—a focus that contributed significantly to California reaching a 15-year high in new housing starts.