Housing Policy Forum Series
SCAG’s Commitment to Southern California’s Housing Crisis
The SCAG Housing Policy Forum Series offers an opportunity for emerging and established leaders to engage in shared learning about housing policy issues and trends while identifying opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and innovation. This initiative seeks to educate policymakers and thought leaders on best practice solutions to support coalition building and equitable housing development.
The first Forum was held in Fall 2021 and focused on the challenges and opportunities in federal and state housing legislation. The second forum, scheduled for April 2022, will provide a rundown of opportunities to accelerate housing production and gain insights of SCAG’s REAP programs. Additional forums will be held in Summer and Fall 2022.
Who Should Attend a Housing Policy Forum?
- Public agency staff from any departments and divisions (e.g., housing, planning, community and human services, parks and recreation, economic development, public works, public safety, public health, and more)
- Elected officials
- Planning commissioners
- Housing and tenant rights advocates
- Housing developers (building market rate, workforce, and affordable products for both rental and homeownership)
- Education, healthcare, and social services professionals
- Transit, climate and environment, and parks advocates
- Labor organizations
- Employers and anchor institutions
Get Involved
Contact
Alisha James
Community Engagement Specialist
james@scag.ca.gov
(213) 236-1884
A Rundown of Federal and State Funding and Legislation
We kicked off the first quarterly forum of the Housing Policy Forum Series with a rundown of the challenges, opportunities, and trends in current federal and state housing legislation in Southern California. Get ahead of the curve in understanding how to leverage recent changes in state laws and funding sources to meet local and regional housing needs.
Held on Nov. 1, 2021
Agenda Nov 2021 SCAG Housing Policy Forum
This virtual forum offered an opportunity for participants to get the inside view on federal housing legislation during a special panel conversation with policy leaders as they discussed where we are now, what it means, and what is to come.
Read moreSpring 2023
Rethinking Social Housing for California
SCAG and SANDAG partnered to host the housing forum on “Rethinking Social Housing for California” on March 15, 2023. This forum provided information on social housing models, spotlighting Vienna, to highlight parallels and key differences in California’s housing landscape to uplift potential for adaptation of social housing policies. Presenters and panelists discussed opportunities to adapt innovative social housing policies in a context fit for California and identify what steps we can take to bring social housing to our region.
Resources
Fall 2022
California’s Housing Budget & 2022 Legislative Landscape: What You Need to Know
On Nov. 16, SCAG hosted a housing policy forum, that covered the latest information on state housing policy initiatives in the context of the concluded Fall 2022 legislative session. The session provided an overview of the 2022-2023 state budget and funding trends. It also reviewed key state bills and legislative themes to enable stakeholders to identify funding and legislative opportunities that can meet their local and regional housing needs.
Resources
Summer 2022
Equitable Homeownership
On August 2, SCAG held its third Housing Policy Forum on Equitable Homeownership in collaboration with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) with over 260 attendees. The forum provided an overview of the State of homeownership in California presented by Adam Briones, CEO of California Community Builders.
A panel of housing practitioners shared emerging programs and best practices for diverse homeownership, including the CA Dream for All Program and the African American Homeownership Program. We were also joined by local housing leaders from the SCAG and SANDAG regions that presented case studies on homeownership solutions, alternative housing models, and the role that lenders can play in helping residents finance a home.
Resources
Equitable Homeownership Agenda
Presentation Slide Deck
Spring 2022
Accelerating Housing Production: Achieving Housing on a Regional Scale
The second forum of the series was held on April 19, 2022 and featured a discussion of State, regional and local, trends and opportunities related to accelerating housing production. Participants gained insights into new and innovative projects from SCAG’s Regional Early Action Plan (REAP) program and had an opportunity to provide input on SCAG’s REAP 2.0 program, which aims to accelerate infill development, housing, and VMT reductions in ways that advance equity.
Fall 2021
A Rundown of Federal and State Funding and Legislation
We kicked off the first quarterly forum of the Housing Policy Forum Series with a rundown of the challenges, opportunities, and trends in current federal and state housing legislation in Southern California. Get ahead of the curve in understanding how to leverage recent changes in state laws and funding sources to meet local and regional housing needs.
Held on Nov. 1, 2021
Agenda Nov 2021 SCAG Housing Policy Forum
This virtual forum offered an opportunity for participants to get the inside view on federal housing legislation during a special panel conversation with policy leaders as they discussed where we are now, what it means, and what is to come.
Panelists
 |  |  |
| Jennifer LeSar, Moderator Founder & CEO, Global Policy Leadership Academy and LeSar Development Consultants | Ann Oliva Vice President for Housing Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | Mike Kingsella Executive Director, Up for Growth |
The event featured a review of current state legislation, policy trends, and a forecast of issues to watch in 2022. Forum participants had the opportunity to:
- Learn how federal housing legislation aligns with state and regional goals to meet housing needs.
- Discuss key themes and current trends in state housing policies and potential impacts.
- Engage with interactive tools to provide input on housing policy priorities.
- Resources
- Presentation
- Housing Policy Forum Q&A
- Harnessing the American Rescue Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
- Why Expanding Housing Choice Vouchers is Essential to Ending Homelessness, Housing Financial Services Committee Testimony from Ann Oliva
- Build Back Better Legislation
- H.R. 4496 The Ending Homelessness Act of 2021 Handout
- H.R. 4497 The Housing is Infrastructure Act Handout
- S. 2234/H.R. 5385: Affordable HOME Act Handout
- S. 2820 The Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All Act (DASH Act) Handout
- S. 5061 The Housing Supply and Affordability Act Handout
- 2021 California Housing Legislation Handout
- FY 2021-2022 California State Budget Handout
Get Involved
Contact
If you have questions about the Housing Policy Forum Series, please contact:
Alisha James
james@scag.ca.gov
(213) 236-1884