California Not Creating Affordable Housing Quickly Enough, Audit Finds

An article from the San Francisco Chronicle highlights the results of a state audit that accuses California of failing to effectively use surplus state-owned properties to increase affordable housing. "Michael Tilden, the acting state auditor, reviewed California's compliance with a 2019 executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom that prioritizes the use of state-owned land to support the creation of affordable housing."

"While it's estimated more than 30,000 units of affordable housing could be provided to renters under the executive order, the state Department of General Services needs to speed up the process of offering properties for development, the audit concluded."

The report recommends new laws that require agencies to comply with the executive order, regular comprehensive reviews to assess additional properties, and better communication between agencies. "Of the 92 properties the department plans to develop, it has made only 19 available, the report found. In addition, the department anticipates that it will take seven years to make the remaining parcels available, 'but the addition of just one staff member could reduce that time by more than two years,' Tilden wrote."

According to the article, "The Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) generally agreed with the report’s assessments and noted that they would implement the recommendations, the auditor’s office said."