Housing

Blanca Esthela Trejo has foregone treatment for lingering pain caused by COVID-19 in order to prioritize paying rent on the apartment she shares with her family. Photo by David Rodriguez, The Salinas Californian

Housing

How much is rent relief helping Californians?

Complex rules and landlord resistance are limiting the success of an unprecedented effort to help tenants. Advocacy groups are concerned what will happen after a statewide eviction moratorium ends June 30.

By

Manuela Tobias

• April 26, 2021

Housing

In COVID era, housing authority letters omit key tenant protection info

Public housing authorities in California, especially Los Angeles, have left critical coronavirus relief information out of letters sent to tenants. Advocates say the lack of information could lead to tenants evicting themselves when they don’t have to.

By

Amy Martyn

• April 20, 2021

Marlin’s Cove, a housing complex with low-income units, in Foster City on Dec. 2, 2020. Federal bonds allocated toward the construction of affordable housing across California expired in 2017 after less than half of the funds had been used. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Divide

How did $2.7 billion in housing bonds disappear?

An audit found an obscure state committee led by top elected officials missed spending deadlines for affordable housing bonds nearly a decade ago. Few are around to explain why.

By

Nigel Duara

• March 29, 2021

California Divide

Could these bills help California build more affordable housing?

Key legislators push duplexes, looser regulations and more money to boost housing supply.

By

Nigel Duara

• March 23, 2021

An aerial view of the small rural community of Bloomington on Dec. 18, 2020. Photo by Tash Kimmell for CalMatters.

California Divide

When a package at the front door means a warehouse next door

While warehouses have become ubiquitous in the Inland Empire, recent proposals call for rezoning residential land for industrial use, leaving the largely minority and low-income residents who live there with few choices.

By

Orlando Mayorquin

• February 12, 2021

Demonstrators calling for lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to pass rent forgiveness and stronger eviction protections legislation gather in front of the Capitol in Sacramento on Jan. 25, 2021. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

California Divide

California extends eviction moratorium through June

With the state's eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of January, California lawmakers passed two bills extending it through June.

By

Nigel Duara

• January 28, 2021

Galen Mancino, left, and Betsy Kinsey, hold up banners during a housing justice demonstration in the Adams Point neighborhood of Oakland on Dec. 5, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Divide

Lawmakers propose extending eviction moratorium until June 30

Under a legislative agreement, California would extend its eviction moratorium to the end of June. Landlords would get an incentive to forgive back rent using an extra $2.6 billion from federal relief.

By

Nigel Duara

• January 25, 2021

California Divide

How many Californians are at risk of eviction? Depends who you ask

Two estimates portend dramatically different consequences if an eviction moratorium extension doesn’t pass

By

Nigel Duara

• January 22, 2021

Economy

California Policy & Politics: A Primer

Download and read this 53-page overview of all the major issues facing California policymakers.

By

CalMatters Staff

• January 14, 2021

California Divide

Newport Beach was supposed to build 2 affordable units in 8 years — why so little?

The coastal community was called out in a state audit as one of many troubling flaws contributing to California’s affordable housing crisis. Researchers say a statewide planning process has allowed wealthier cities to lobby for fewer housing units than inland and less-wealthy cities. A new system is underway to bring more equity, but will it be strong enough to resist NIMBYism?

By

Nigel Duara

• December 28, 2020