Los Angeles newest ‘prohousing city’ in California

California Construction News staff writer

The City of Los Angeles is the latest jurisdiction to receive a ‘prohousing’ designation for efforts to build more housing, faster. Cities and counties that earn the designation have an advantage over other jurisdictions for state funding for housing.

“California is taking aggressive action to build more housing in every region of the state. I’m thankful to Los Angeles and Mayor Bass for committing to building more housing, faster, and doing their part to help tackle the housing crisis. Cities and counties across the state need to meet this moment and act with urgency to bring more housing to their communities.”

Incentives available include additional points or other preferences in the scoring of competitive funding programs administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), giving them an advantage over other jurisdictions – including in access to state funding. All told, 11 jurisdictions across California have already earned the state’s Prohousing designation.

“Affordable housing is front and center in our work to create a more thriving and equitable California, and requires all of us working together to produce and preserve more housing,” said Secretary Castro Ramírez. “California commends the City of Los Angeles for establishing policies and practices that streamline development, accelerate housing production and reduce costs to expand safe and dignified housing options for Angelenos.”

To earn the Prohousing designation, cities and counties must promote climate-smart housing by enacting policies, including streamlining multifamily housing developments, up-zoning in places near jobs and transit to reduce emissions, and the creation of more affordable homes in places that historically or currently exclude households earning lower incomes and households of color.

“We have to build more, faster. Los Angeles will continue to do everything we can to confront this crisis with the urgency it deserves,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Thank you to Governor Newsom, Secretary Castro Ramírez, and Director Velasquez for continuing to work in concert with our city to bring L.A. in a new direction.”

Communities are also eligible for the Prohousing Incentive Pilot (PIP) Program that rewards Prohousing communities at the forefront in addressing California’s housing crisis with additional funding to accelerate affordable housing production.

Last month, Gov. Newsom announced Sacramento County, Placer County, and the City of El Cerrito as Prohousing cities.