Every Californian deserves the dignity of a safe, affordable home — an attainable reality in a state as prosperous and resourceful as California. Yet state homelessness and affordable housing investments are approaching critical funding cliffs, with deeper cuts expected in 2025 if one-time allocations are discontinued and federal dollars face cuts under the Trump administration. Ensuring vital housing efforts continue will require sustained funding and new revenue to protect and uplift Californians and communities statewide.
Noteable state investments in California’s homelessness response and affordable housing production began in 2019. Over the past six years, the combination of flexible federal dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic, strong state revenues, and a growing urgency to address housing costs led to unprecedented state investments in affordable housing and other homelessness solutions — however, continuing this progress hinges on ongoing funding.
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Core State Investments to Solve Homelessness Are Temporary
California homelessness-related spending reached a high of $6.8 billion in 2022-23, fueled by the surge in state revenue during the pandemic and flexible federal dollars. However, 2024-25 spending dropped to $2.5 billion, nearly half of which is not guaranteed in the next budget cycle. Although these investments have not fully met the scale needed to end homelessness, they have helped more Californians experiencing homelessness to access stable housing than ever before. These dollars, while designed as temporary, are also now core to California’s homelessness response systems statewide, making the potential loss of funding a significant threat to ongoing progress.
State Affordable Housing Investments Remain Low
Meaningful investments in affordable housing, particularly for individuals and families with the lowest incomes, can help solve the ongoing struggle of more Californians falling into homelessness and facing housing insecurity faster than they can be stably housed. Yet, despite the critical need, the 2024 Budget Act cut over $1 billion for various housing programs, while continuing some modest one-time augmentations.
Despite the state's unprecedented recent investments in affordable housing, state General Fund dollars comprised less than 20% of funding that supported affordable housing and homeownership attainment between 2019 and 2023. The majority of non-General Fund dollars for affordable housing primarily reflects federal funds and private bonds that are likely threatened with the incoming Trump administration. Potential cuts to federal funding for affordable housing underscore the need for state leaders to amplify and continue efforts, particularly given that all of these investments are still a small share of the sustained funding needed to solve California’s housing shortage.
As California faces projected budget shortfalls and potential federal funding cuts to vital housing and safety net programs under the Trump administration, it’s more urgent than ever to sustain the programs that are building affordable housing and keeping Californians housed. Without robust new revenue streams and continuous funding, these successful efforts face dire cuts that will have devastating consequences for Californians who rely on them and communities across the state.