[USE ON YOUR LETTERHEAD]
June 2, 2014
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 651-4906,
Re: Support for the Assembly’s Proposal for a $200 Million General Fund Allocation for Multifamily Housing Programs (General Government Issue #2240-001-0001, Department of Housing & Community Development)
Dear Senator Steinberg:
On behalf of [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION], I am writing in support of the Assembly’s proposal for a $200 million allocation for California’s Multifamily Housing Programs. This proposal is a cost-effective investment that will reduce and prevent homelessness, while generating new jobs.
[ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION]
Almost one million California households with extremely low-incomes (incomes of less than 30% of an area’s median income) do not have access to an affordable place to live. Rents have increased 20% within the last 12 years, while incomes have decreased 8%, which will likely increase the number of households struggling to afford decent housing. In the midst of this disparity, California has lost 79% of federal and state investment in affordable places to live.
Largely as a result of this crisis, homelessness is on the rise in California, increasing by 4.53% from 2012-2013. Already the state with the largest homeless population, homelessness in California has been increasing, even though homelessness has been decreasing nationally. The vast majority of these Californians are unsheltered, and California now holds the highest rate in the nation of homeless unaccompanied children and youth.
Homelessness is expensive to our local and state systems. Homeless Californians incur, on average, $2,897 per month in county and state costs, whereas formerly homeless Californians living in housing consume less than 40% of the public costs they previously incurred, even when taking into consideration the costs of their housing. Our local and state governments cannot continue to absorb the costs of homelessness; yet, we will have to, as a national study released this week shows the number of Californians at risk of falling into homelessness is increasing substantially,
Not only would affordable places to live prevent these individuals and families from falling into homelessness, an investment in affordable homes is an investment in jobs, a stronger economy, and increased state revenue. A state-commissioned report showed every new apartment creates 2.1 new jobs, and generates a $10,479 one-time increase in revenue from corporate taxes on builder’s profits and sales taxes, as well as an ongoing increase of $1,869 in state revenues.
The Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs makes sense: these programs are well-established and are consistently over-subscribed. They have produced thousands of affordable apartments statewide, leveraging, on average $2.78 in federal and private investment for every $1 of state investment. Thousands of homeless and disabled Californians who otherwise would have incurred millions in state and local costs are now living stably in safe, decent, affordable apartments, thanks to the California Multifamily Housing Programs.
We believe this investment will complement your efforts to fund affordable homes through Cap and Trade revenues, as well as potential passage of Proposition 41, which will create 7,000-10,000 affordable apartments for veterans, as the programs will fund housing opportunities for populations not reached through these other proposals.
Thank you for your leadership in working to end homelessness and create more affordable housing opportunities for Californians in need. We hope you continue your leadership through your support for the Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR TITLE]
[USE ON YOUR LETTERHEAD]
June 2, 2014
Senator Mark Leno
Vice Chair, Budget Conference Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 651-4911
Re: Support for the Assembly’s Proposal for a $200 Million General Fund Allocation for Multifamily Housing Programs (General Government Issue #2240-001-0001, Department of Housing & Community Development)
Dear Senator Leno:
On behalf of [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION], I am writing in support of the Assembly’s proposal for a $200 million allocation for California’s Multifamily Housing Programs. This proposal is a cost-effective investment that will reduce and prevent homelessness, while generating new jobs.
[ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION]
Almost one million California households with extremely low-incomes (incomes of less than 30% of an area’s median income) do not have access to an affordable place to live. Rents have increased 20% within the last 12 years, while incomes have decreased 8%, which will likely increase the number of households struggling to afford decent housing. In the midst of this disparity, California has lost 79% of federal and state investment in affordable places to live.
Largely as a result of this crisis, homelessness is on the rise in California, increasing by 4.53% from 2012-2013. Already the state with the largest homeless population, homelessness in California has been increasing, even though homelessness has been decreasing nationally. The vast majority of these Californians are unsheltered, and California now holds the highest rate in the nation of homeless unaccompanied children and youth.
Homelessness is expensive to our local and state systems. Homeless Californians incur, on average, $2,897 per month in county and state costs, whereas formerly homeless Californians living in housing consume less than 40% of the public costs they previously incurred, even when taking into consideration the costs of their housing. Our local and state governments cannot continue to absorb the costs of homelessness; yet, we will have to, as a national study released this week shows the number of Californians at risk of falling into homelessness is increasing substantially,
Not only would affordable places to live prevent these individuals and families from falling into homelessness, an investment in affordable homes is an investment in jobs, a stronger economy, and increased state revenue. A state-commissioned report showed every new apartment creates 2.1 new jobs, and generates a $10,479 one-time increase in revenue from corporate taxes on builder’s profits and sales taxes, as well as an ongoing increase of $1,869 in state revenues.
The Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs makes sense: these programs are well-established and are consistently over-subscribed. They have produced thousands of affordable apartments statewide, leveraging, on average $2.78 in federal and private investment for every $1 of state investment. Thousands of homeless and disabled Californians who otherwise would have incurred millions in state and local costs are now living stably in safe, decent, affordable apartments, thanks to the California Multifamily Housing Programs.
We hope you continue your leadership through your support for the Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR TITLE]
[USE ON YOUR LETTERHEAD]
June 2, 2014
Senator Kevin de Leon
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 651-4922
Re: Support for the Assembly’s Proposal for a $200 Million General Fund Allocation for Multifamily Housing Programs (General Government Issue #2240-001-0001, Department of Housing & Community Development)
Dear Senator de Leon:
On behalf of [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION], I am writing in support of the Assembly’s proposal for a $200 million allocation for California’s Multifamily Housing Programs. This proposal is a cost-effective investment that will reduce and prevent homelessness, while generating new jobs.
[ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION]
Almost one million California households with extremely low-incomes (incomes of less than 30% of an area’s median income) do not have access to an affordable place to live. Rents have increased 20% within the last 12 years, while incomes have decreased 8%, which will likely increase the number of households struggling to afford decent housing. In the midst of this disparity, California has lost 79% of federal and state investment in affordable places to live.
Largely as a result of this crisis, homelessness is on the rise in California, increasing by 4.53% from 2012-2013. Already the state with the largest homeless population, homelessness in California has been increasing, even though homelessness has been decreasing nationally. The vast majority of these Californians are unsheltered, and California now holds the highest rate in the nation of homeless unaccompanied children and youth.
Homelessness is expensive to our local and state systems. Homeless Californians incur, on average, $2,897 per month in county and state costs, whereas formerly homeless Californians living in housing consume less than 40% of the public costs they previously incurred, even when taking into consideration the costs of their housing. Our local and state governments cannot continue to absorb the costs of homelessness; yet, we will have to, as a national study released this week shows the number of Californians at risk of falling into homelessness is increasing substantially,
Not only would affordable places to live prevent these individuals and families from falling into homelessness, an investment in affordable homes is an investment in jobs, a stronger economy, and increased state revenue. A state-commissioned report showed every new apartment creates 2.1 new jobs, and generates a $10,479 one-time increase in revenue from corporate taxes on builder’s profits and sales taxes, as well as an ongoing increase of $1,869 in state revenues.
The Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs makes sense: these programs are well-established and are consistently over-subscribed. They have produced thousands of affordable apartments statewide, leveraging, on average $2.78 in federal and private investment for every $1 of state investment. Thousands of homeless and disabled Californians who otherwise would have incurred millions in state and local costs are now living stably in safe, decent, affordable apartments, thanks to the California Multifamily Housing Programs.
Thank you for your leadership in working to improve communities for Californians in need. We hope you continue your leadership through your support for the Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR TITLE]
[USE ON YOUR LETTERHEAD]
June 2, 2014
Senator Jim Nielson
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 651-4904,
Re: Support for the Assembly’s Proposal for a $200 Million General Fund Allocation for Multifamily Housing Programs
Dear Senator Nielsen:
On behalf of [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION], I am writing in support of the Assembly’s proposal for a $200 million allocation for California’s Multifamily Housing Programs. This proposal is a cost-effective investment that will reduce and prevent homelessness, while generating new jobs.
[ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION]
Homelessness is expensive to our local and state systems. Homeless Californians incur, on average, $2,897 per month in county and state costs, whereas formerly homeless Californians living in housing consume less than 40% of the public costs they previously incurred, even when taking into consideration the costs of their housing. Our local and state governments cannot continue to absorb the costs of homelessness; yet, we will have to, as a national study released this week shows the number of Californians at risk of falling into homelessness is increasing substantially,
Not only would affordable places to live prevent these individuals and families from falling into homelessness, an investment in affordable homes is an investment in jobs, a stronger economy, and increased state revenue. A state-commissioned report showed every new apartment creates 2.1 new jobs, and generates a $10,479 one-time increase in revenue from corporate taxes on builder’s profits and sales taxes, as well as an ongoing increase of $1,869 in state revenues.
The Assembly’s proposal to invest $200 million in the state’s Multifamily Housing Programs makes sense: these programs are well-established and are consistently over-subscribed. They have produced thousands of affordable apartments statewide, leveraging, on average $2.78 in federal and private investment for every $1 of state investment. This investment will complement your support for Proposition 41, which will create 7,000-10,000 affordable apartments for veterans if it passes on Tuesday. This funding will allow the construction of more rental housing for veterans in need, as well as allow veterans to live in integrated communities.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR TITLE]
[USE ON YOUR LETTERHEAD]
June 2, 2014
Senator Ricardo Lara
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 651-4933,
Re: Support for the Assembly’s Proposal for a $200 Million General Fund Allocation for Multifamily Housing Programs (General Government Issue #2240-001-0001, Department of Housing & Community Development)
Dear Senator Lara:
On behalf of [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION], I am writing in support of the Assembly’s proposal for a $200 million allocation for California’s Multifamily Housing Programs. This proposal is a cost-effective investment that will reduce and prevent homelessness, while generating new jobs.
[ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION]
Almost one million California households with extremely low-incomes (incomes of less than 30% of an area’s median income) do not have access to an affordable place to live. Rents have increased 20% within the last 12 years, while incomes have decreased 8%, which will likely increase the number of households struggling to afford decent housing. In the midst of this disparity, California has lost 79% of federal and state investment in affordable places to live.
Largely as a result of this crisis, homelessness is on the rise in California, increasing by 4.53% from 2012-2013. Already the state with the largest homeless population, homelessness in California has been increasing, even though homelessness has been decreasing nationally. The vast majority of these Californians are unsheltered, and California now holds the highest rate in the nation of homeless unaccompanied children and youth.
Homelessness is expensive to our local and state systems. Homeless Californians incur, on average, $2,897 per month in county and state costs, whereas formerly homeless Californians living in housing consume less than 40% of the public costs they previously incurred, even when taking into consideration the costs of their housing. Our local and state governments cannot continue to absorb the costs of homelessness; yet, we will have to, as a national study released this week shows the number of Californians at risk of falling into homelessness is increasing substantially,
Not only would affordable places to live prevent these individuals and families from falling into homelessness, an investment in affordable homes is an investment in jobs, a stronger economy, and increased state revenue. A state-commissioned report showed every new apartment creates 2.1 new jobs, and generates a $10,479 one-time increase in revenue from corporate taxes on builder’s profits and sales taxes, as well as an ongoing increase of $1,869 in state revenues.