California faces a crisis of housing affordability due in large part to an under-supply of available homes, as a result of excessive government building regulations. These attempts by bureaucrats to centrally plan the economy and reshape the very fabric of our traditional communities has resulted in unbalanced real estate market, where housing demand far exceeds the supply.
On a latest socialist government intervention in the housing market. The legislature seeks to change the CA Constitution, by making housing a Constitutional right. ACA 10 Measure would declare that the state recognizes the fundamental human right to adequate housing for everyone is California, The measure would make is the shared obligation of state and local jurisdictions to respect, protect and fulfill this right, by all appropriate means, as specified.
On March 16, 2023, Governor Newsom announced $1 billion in homelessness funding, launching the state’s largest mobilization of small homes.
The state is currently in the process of purchasing homes and hotels to house the homeless. For example, Tuolumne County is currently looking to purchase homes priced below $450,000 that meet a certain criteria to house the homeless. The San Diego Housing Commission is looking into state grants to purchase three hotels to serve as permanent affordable housing. Efforts like these are taking place statewide.
The state seeks to achieve “adequate” housing for everyone and a “shared obligation” by “all appropriate means.” Instead of loosing up regulatory barriers. Land use policies and zoning regulations constrain the supply of affordable housing. Density limits, height restrictions, lengthy permitting and approval processes, all contribute to increased housing prices, which in turn result in lack of housing. Additionally, renting laws that are becoming increasingly unfavorable to landlords and rent controls have only been making housing rentals less available, resulting in higher rents and less affordable rental housing.
“Adequate housing for everyone” and “shared obligations by all appropriate means” are socialist measures that have proven throughout history to be unattainable. Specially for a state that has already defaulted on $18.6 billion debt, which is now falling on employees’ shoulders.
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