Committee advances constitutional amendment to dedicate stable funding for affordable housing (ACA 4)

Assemblymember Corey Jackson presented ACA 4, called the Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOPE) Act, and the committee adopted committee amendments before voting to move the measure to the Appropriations Committee.

Supporters told the committee that homelessness and housing affordability are among California’s most pressing problems and argued ACA 4 would increase and stabilize funding for affordable housing production and homeless services. Eric Vasquez of EAH Housing said the HOPE Act would unlock funding that developers and service providers need to expand permanent supportive housing and other affordable units. "A roof is just the beginning," Vasquez said, urging support for dedicating a minimum share of the state's general fund to housing production and services.

Mimi Khalili testified in support, recounting personal and community impacts of housing instability and urging the committee to adopt the measure to restore stability and long-term outcomes for children, seniors and working families. Committee members asked questions about the current state expenditures on homelessness and whether increased funding would produce improved outcomes; witnesses and the author argued the data show recent investments have slowed growth of homelessness but more sustained funding and increased housing stock are needed.

The committee moved and seconded the measure and recorded votes. The roll call recorded a majority in favor to send the constitutional amendment to Appropriations; the final committee tally recorded the motion adopted and the measure advanced.

Proponents framed ACA 4 as a structural solution to stabilize funding and speed affordable housing production; opponents were not recorded in committee testimony. The committee chair recommended the measure be adopted as amended and forwarded to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.