As the nation confronts its greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression, concerns related to housing affordability and stability loom large. An estimated 12–15 million renters are likely to be immediately affected by job or income losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although not news to the 20 million renters who have long faced housing insecurity owing to high housing costs, the pandemic and resulting job losses have raised concerns about the lack of housing rental subsidies, particularly for lower-income households.

“How do you start changing the systematic racism found in housing policies, when the systems you’ve put in place are not working? You repeal the laws. Take them off the books.” This is the question and answer Tia Boatman Patterson, executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), gave as she reflected on how to effectively address social inequities that have been perpetuated in the state’s housing policies.

More than $137 million awarded to 15 applicants for 19 projects totaling 938 units, awards include five projects in the City of Los Angeles totaling 269 units, Sutter County will partner with Habitat for Humanity to convert a hotel to permanent housing with supportive services, and Governor submits request to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to allocate an additional $200 million of Coronavirus Relief Funding for Homekey.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, unaffordable housing costs represented one of California’s most pressing challenges ...