New Housing Report Finds California Fails to Produce 100,000 Units Annually

The report by the state Department of Housing and Community Development is in the form of a draft assessment that solicits comments. For the last 10 years, the state produced on average 80,000 units annually, while the need was for 180,000 units.

2 minute read

January 7, 2017, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Leaving California

britta heise / Flickr

Justin Ewers shares news of a detailed report, "California’s Housing Future: Challenges and Opportunities," which represents "the [Brown] administration’s highest-profile move on housing since last spring, when the governor sought to accelerate housing construction in urban areas by dramatically streamlining the local approval process for multi-family developments." That proposal failed in the California State Legislature in 2016.

In California’s Housing Future, the administration has returned to the fray, offering the first official assessment of the state’s housing goals since 2000—and highlighting the challenges policymakers will have to overcome to make it easier to rent or buy a home in California.

The 2000 report, "Raising the Roof, California Housing Development Projections and Constraints 1997 - 2020," was released not by Brown's predecessor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but by his predecessor, Gov. Gray Davis.

The Draft Statewide Housing Assessment by the California Department of Housing and Community Development solicits public comment through March 4, 2017 and will be the basis of public meetings this month held throughout the state from San Diego to Redding, in addition to a January 13 webinar.

Among the report's other findings:

  • Lack of supply and rising costs are compounding growing inequality for younger Californians. 
  • One-third of renters pay more than 50% of income toward rent.
  • Homeownership rates are at their lowest in California since the 1940s.
  • California [with 12% of the nation’s population] accounts for a disproportionate 22% of the nation's homeless population.
  • Continued sprawl will decrease affordability and quality of life while increasing combined housing and transportation costs on families.

"The report includes a range of potential solutions, including streamlining local and state land-use and environmental rules and boosting funding for low-income housing," reports Liam Dillon for the Los Angeles Times. Dillon was also the guest on KPBS (NPR affiliate in San Diego) Midday Edition on Jan. 4 where he discussed the report's findings and recommendations.

Hat tip to MTC Headlines.

Thursday, January 5, 2017 in Public CEO

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

3 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

5 hours ago - UNM News