What’s going on with housing and homelessness in California in 2025?
The state coffers that fund affordable housing are running low, a second and more aggressive Trump administration is upending federal housing policy and the firestorms that ripped through Los Angeles and Trump’s re-election have Democratic state lawmakers in a legislative frenzy. One wave of bills are meant to speed up rebuilding in LA. Another package is aimed at speeding up construction across the state. Yet another bundle of bills are focused on tamping down rents, property taxes and insurance premiums. Amid all this change and tumult, one thing remains constant: The cost of housing and the chronic homelessness crisis remain top concerns for Californians and their elected officials.
CalMatters housing and homelessness team:
- Editor: Richard Procter, [email protected]
- Housing Reporter Ben Christopher, [email protected]
- Homelessness Reporter Marisa Kendall, [email protected]
Quick Facts
- 52%: Share of California renters spending at least 30% of their income toward rent.
- 8x: How much larger the price of the average home is than the state’s median income.
- 2,500,253: The number of new homes California’s housing department says the state needs to build before 2030 to meet demand.
- 181,399: The number of homeless Californians, per the latest point-in-time count estimate.
- 28%: The percentage of homeless Americans that live in California.
Housing and homelessness Bills
In Focus
Here are all of the bills related to housing or homelessness that are being considered this session. Highlighted bills are identified by CalMatters as among the most significant in 2024.
AB 609
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development projects.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development projects.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
SB 749
Mobilehome parks: closure, cessation, or change of use.
In Progress Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing
Mobilehome parks: closure, cessation, or change of use.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing
AB 1206
Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
SB 677
Housing development: transit-oriented development.
In Progress Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing
Housing development: transit-oriented development.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing
AB 306
Building regulations: state building standards.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
Building regulations: state building standards.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
ACA 3
University of California: home down payment loans for support staff.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
University of California: home down payment loans for support staff.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
Key Players
Legislative Leaders
Scott Wiener
District 11, San Francisco
Chris Ward
District 78, San Diego
Buffy Wicks
District 14, Oakland
Non-Legislator leaders
These people are the most active on housing and homeless issues as determined by how many times they testified in a related hearing or took a position on a bill.
