California has a new state agency that is completely dedicated to housing. As Ben Christopher reports Calmatters, the new agency separates housing and homeless services from existing businesses, consumer services and housing institutions. As it stands, “Affordable housing grants, lenders and urban planning regulators share agency letterheads with everyone on the cannabis and alcohol industry supervision, professional licences, auto mechanic watchdog and the California State Horse Racing Commission.”
The new agency also “simplifies the state’s Hydra with affordable housing financing systems.” Part of the restructuring plan addresses the myriad organisations that affordable housing developers must approach in order to apply for loans, grants, tax credits and other incentives. As written “” the new housing agency will consist of current agency housing-related entities, along with the new Affordable Housing Finance Board, who will be tasked with adjusting the housing grant program currently under the governor’s control. ” However, the main sources of funding will continue to be managed by the Ministry of Finance’s office.
Housing advocates say the move is a “first step” in a much-needed restructuring of the state’s housing resources.
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