Portantino Bill Creating Regional Affordable Housing Trust Passes Assembly Local Government Committee
For Immediate Release: June 8, 2022
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Portantino Bill Creating Regional Affordable Housing Trust Passes Assembly Local Government Committee
Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 1177, introduced by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) which seeks to create an affordable housing regional trust between the cities of Pasadena, Burbank, and Glendale, passed the Assembly Local Government Committee today.
“The high cost of housing has had a devastating effect on Californians, especially lower income and workforce households,” stated Senator Portantino. “Rents and home prices have outpaced wage growth. A long-term regional approach is critical to addressing California’s affordable housing crisis - which is why SB 1177 is so important. I’m proud to represent these three great cities that initiated this creative solution and are working together to address our regional housing needs.”
Collectively, the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena have nearly 3,000 affordable housing units in the combined development pipeline, including permanent supportive housing, senior housing, workforce housing, and affordable home ownership units. However, they are unable to bring their backlog of affordable housing projects to completion due to insufficient local funding. This situation has dramatically affected the city’s ability to meet al l of their affordable housing needs.
“We are encouraged to see Senator Portantino’s SB 1177 move through the Senate and start to progress through the Assembly. It is a testament to the recognized need for more affordable housing resources to address the current crisis. In Pasadena, we have the land and the political and community will, but we need funding to continue to produce affordable housing for struggling seniors and families, and for persons who have no place to live,” stated Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo.
SB 1177 will create of a regional housing trust fund that would be administered by a joint powers authority (JPA) comprised of the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena. If created, the JPA would be allowed to request and receive private and state funding allocations, as well as authorize and issue bonds, to help finance affordable housing projects for persons and families of extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.
“Burbank supports the proposed Burbank Glendale Pasadena Regional Housing Trust (SB 1177), as it could bring much needed funding to Burbank and the tri-city area. In Burbank, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is 8,772 units. Of this total, 5,380 units are required to be affordable housing. This money could go a long way to ensuring Burbank meets these needs,” stated Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes.
“The City of Glendale applauds Senator Portantino’s continued efforts to make housing more available and affordable for California’s vulnerable households,” stated Glendale Mayor Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian. “We believe that working together will significantly advance affordable housing development projects that provide residents, especially working families, access to affordable housing and services.”
The cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena are members of the Arroyo Verdugo Sub-Region and have worked collaboratively in the past, sharing the goal of cooperatively addressing regional priorities and matters of mutual interest. They each operate their own housing authority, and both Glendale and Pasadena are two of the three cities in the state that have their own homeless continuum of care.
###
