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Committee backs constitutional amendment to guarantee minimum state funding for housing and homelessness
Summary
ACA 4, the HOPE Act, would dedicate a floor of general fund spending toward affordable housing and homelessness efforts; the Assembly Human Services Committee voted to send the measure onward as amended to the Assembly Appropriations Committee amid discussion about whether more funding alone will solve homelessness.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson presented ACA 4, the "Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOPE) Act," and said the amendment would increase and stabilize funding for affordable housing by dedicating a minimum percentage of the state's general fund. Jackson said the measure would unlock sustained funding for housing production and homelessness solutions and that his office would accept committee amendments.
Witnesses from the affordable‑housing sector urged support. "Dedicating a 5% minimum from the state's general fund is something that we have been advocating for," Eric Vasquez of EAH Housing told the committee, saying his organization sees the measure as a structural solution to the state's housing shortage. Mimi Khalili of AG Global Solutions described how housing instability damages education, health and economic outcomes and urged passage.
During questioning, some members expressed skepticism that more funding alone would resolve homelessness, pointing to past spending and the need for program improvements and streamlined development processes. Supporters countered that recent program evaluations identify which strategies work and that sustained funding is necessary to scale those approaches.
The committee adopted the measure as amended and voted to send it to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee vote as recorded in the minutes was 5 to 2 in favor of advancing ACA 4 as amended.
