Report: California needs 1 million more affordable homes – CalMatters

California’s Affordable Housing Crisis and Sustainable Development Goals

Overview of Housing Shortage

California faces a significant shortage of affordable housing, contributing to widespread housing instability and homelessness. According to a recent report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), nearly 1 million additional affordable homes are required to meet the needs of extremely low-income households, defined as those earning 30% or less of the area’s median income.

Current Housing Availability

1. California has only 25 affordable rental homes available for every 100 extremely low-income households.
2. The state ranks among the lowest nationwide in affordable housing availability, with only Oregon and Nevada having fewer homes per household.
3. Most extremely low-income households in California spend more than half their income on rent, increasing their risk of homelessness.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The lack of affordable housing exacerbates poverty by forcing low-income families to allocate disproportionate income to housing costs.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Addressing the housing shortage is critical to creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Housing instability negatively affects physical and mental health, underscoring the need for affordable homes to promote well-being.

Challenges and Legislative Efforts

Despite ongoing legislative efforts to increase housing construction, progress remains limited for the lowest-earning renters. Funding constraints contribute to the delay in building nearly 40,000 affordable units statewide, which are currently stalled due to lack of financial resources.

Expert Commentary

• Renee Willis, NLIHC President and CEO: “When renters are housing cost-burdened, they cannot afford to cover other basic necessities such as food, healthcare, transportation, or childcare.”

Healthcare Access Expansion Proposal

Senate Bill 1422: Medi-Cal for All Income-Qualifying Californians

A new bill proposes to extend Medi-Cal access to all income-qualifying Californians regardless of citizenship status. This initiative aims to reverse previous budget cuts and ensure immigrant adults aged 19 and older can enroll in the state’s Medicaid program.

SDG Alignment

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Expanding healthcare access promotes equitable health outcomes and supports community health.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The bill addresses disparities in healthcare access among immigrant populations.

Legislative and Political Context

• Governor Gavin Newsom had expanded Medi-Cal access to undocumented immigrants but partially reversed these expansions due to rising costs.
• Senator María Elena Durazo emphasizes the economic contributions of undocumented immigrants and the importance of inclusive healthcare.
• The bill’s passage remains uncertain amid ongoing state budget deficits.

Insurance Rate Settlement Benefiting California Policyholders

State Farm Settlement Details

A proposed settlement with State Farm aims to provide refunds and protect policyholders from further insurance premium increases following wildfire-related claims in Los Angeles County. The settlement is expected to save California consumers approximately $530 million.

SDG Relevance

• SDG 1: No Poverty – Reducing insurance costs helps alleviate financial burdens on households affected by natural disasters.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Addressing wildfire-related impacts supports community resilience to climate change.

Additional Settlement Provisions

• State Farm agreed not to cancel any new policies during the current year.
• The settlement followed scrutiny from consumer advocacy groups and public hearings.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 1: No Poverty – The article highlights the issue of housing instability and homelessness among extremely low-income households in California.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The discussion on expanding Medi-Cal access to all income-qualifying Californians regardless of citizenship status relates to ensuring healthy lives and access to healthcare.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article addresses inequalities faced by low-income renters and undocumented immigrants in accessing affordable housing and healthcare.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The shortage of affordable housing and efforts to build more homes relate to making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 1 – Target 1.1: Eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured by income levels. The article’s focus on extremely low-income households and their housing needs aligns with this target.
2. SDG 3 – Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential healthcare services. The proposed Medi-Cal expansion bill aims to fulfill this target.
3. SDG 10 – Target 10.2: Empower and promote social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, or immigration status. The article’s discussion on immigrant access to healthcare and housing affordability reflects this target.
4. SDG 11 – Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services. The article’s emphasis on the shortage of affordable rental homes and legislative efforts to build more aligns directly with this target.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

• Indicator for SDG 1.1: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, or in this context, the number of available affordable homes per 100 extremely low-income households (25 homes per 100 households in California).
• Indicator for SDG 3.8: Coverage of essential health services and proportion of population with access to health insurance, implied by the number of income-qualifying Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal regardless of citizenship status.
• Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50% of median income who have access to affordable housing and healthcare services, implied by the discussion on immigrant access and housing cost burden.
• Indicator for SDG 11.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums or inadequate housing, or alternatively, the ratio of affordable rental homes available to extremely low-income households, as reported by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: calmatters.org