Continuing the state’s support for local communities to create new housing, Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced the state will award nearly $789.8 million in cap-and-trade funds to 24 projects across California that will create thousands of affordable homes, as well as infrastructure improvements such as bike lanes, zero-emission public transit and pedestrian sidewalks.

“We cannot solve the homeless crisis without creating new, affordable homes. We are reinvesting more than three-quarters of a billion dollars in cap-and-trade funding to build thriving, affordable communities for California families,” said Governor Newsom. “By creating livable communities with sustainable transportation options, we can achieve both our state’s climate goals and our goal of providing affordable housing for every Californian.”

The funding will enable the construction of 2,483 new rent-restricted homes across 24 different social housing projects, with more than two-thirds of the homes set aside for lower-income communities.

The award-winning projects are located in 20 communities across the state, including Berkeley, El Cerrito, Healdsburg, Hemet, Inglewood, King City, Livingston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Oceanside, Oxnard, Red Bluff, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Walnut Creek and Los Angeles County.

The funding is the eighth and third largest round of grant awards for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, which funds housing and transportation projects near jobs, schools and other everyday destinations to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state. Across all eight rounds, AHSC investments total $3.8 billion.

“These investments not only address the urgent need for affordable housing integrated with critical infrastructure in a holistic approach to development, but also significantly contribute to our fight against climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our most vulnerable communities,” said Governor Sam Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. “By integrating sustainable transportation with affordable housing, we are creating healthier, more resilient neighborhoods where all Californians can thrive.”

In addition to creating housing, these 24 projects will also support the purchase of 52 new zero-emission public transport vehicles, the installation of approximately 100 new bus shelters, the construction of approximately 60 miles of cycle lanes, and the repair and construction of more than 60 miles of pavement to create safe and accessible crossings.

The AHSC program is administered by SGC and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. It is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that allocates billions of dollars in Cap-and-Trade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy and improve public health and the environment – ​​particularly in disadvantaged communities. Cap-and-Trade also creates financial incentives for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and more.

Since taking office, Governor Newsom has invested more than $40 billion to increase housing availability and more than $27 billion to address homelessness. The funding announcement follows the Governor’s recent executive order that, among other things, calls on local governments to use unprecedented state funding to address unsanitary and unsafe encampments in their communities and provide people experiencing homelessness with the care and support services they need.

He also enacted dozens of CEQA reforms into law. In addition, Governor Newsom supported the creation of the Housing Accountability Unit within the California Department of Housing and Community Development to ensure that cities and counties meet their legal obligations to plan and permit a fair share of housing development. This focus on accountability has, in part, led to a 15-year high in housing starts in California.