Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency

We’re saying goodbye this week to our wonderful Executive Fellow, Abnner Olivares! Over the last 10 months, Abnner has had a significant impact on several different projects across our multiple teams, from meaningful policy research to improved interagency collaboration to advance language access for all Californians. Thank you Abnner! You’ve left a lasting impression with all of us here at BCSH. And thank you to the Center for California Studies for providing this unique experience.

Congratulations California Housing Finance Agency and the entire team on your highest issuer credit rating of AA+.

HCD today announced 3 Homekey+ awards totaling $75.5M to help fund 200 permanent supportive homes and services for veterans and other Californians experiencing or at risk of homelessness and living with behavioral health challenges. Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency To date, Homekey+, funded through voter-approved Prop 1, has awarded $178.4M to support 10 projects to create 518 affordable homes with supportive services across CA - 88 homes which are reserved for veterans exiting or at risk of homelessness with behavioral health challenges. Today’s awards to County of Ventura, County of Santa Clara and City of Oakland demonstrate Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s unprecedented commitment to addressing housing stability, homelessness and associated challenges. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gFBmG64r

HCD today announced $52.6M in federal disaster relief awards to help the County of San Luis Obispo and County of Ventura, who were severely impacted by 2022-23 winter storms, jumpstarting construction of 91 affordable homes. Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development   The Disaster Recovery Accelerator Program (DR-ACCEL) funds are helping to build critical housing faster - 42 homes in City of Atascadero and 49 homes in City of Ojai for individuals, families and veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness. DR-ACCEL supports disaster recovery efforts and provides gap financing to help shovel-ready affordable housing projects that are stalled get on track to begin construction. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g96YtXpX

Today, HCD announced $144.5M in federal awards to build multi-family rental and single-family homes and support local housing assistance programs including rental assistance and first-time homebuyer opportunities.   Funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by HCD, the HOME Investment Partnership Program awards will assist 984 California households in rural and small communities, supporting the construction of 643 homes in 13 counties and services in 12 counties across the state. The HOME awards highlight the crucial role of federal funding in expanding upon state investments to address pressing housing challenges and deliver long-term housing solutions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gYqKxaM2 Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency

Don’t miss BCSH Deputy Secretary of Housing Sasha Wisotsky Kergan at Casita Coalition's Build the Middle National Housing Convening and hear more about how ADUs and middle housing are emerging as powerful tools in the Los Angeles wildfire recovery effort–and what lessons can be drawn from other post-disaster rebuilding efforts from around the country. https://lnkd.in/eMUAc6Za

🏫 August is back-to-school month for many youths in California. Housing stability is the most essential school supply — and far too many are returning without it. Youth experiencing homelessness in California are navigating impossible odds — often alone. In 2024, more than 47,295 unaccompanied youth experienced homelessness in California. These young people are: 🔹 More likely to be LGBTQ+ 🔹 Disproportionately Black, Native, or Latinx 🔹 Often aging out of foster care or juvenile justice systems 🔹 More likely to go to great lengths to stay hidden — couch-surfing, avoiding services, or blending in — which means the true number is likely much higher These aren’t “runaways” — they’re system-impacted youth without stable support. We’ll be sharing stories, data, and solutions each week in August — and we want to hear from you. 💬 Question: What’s something you wish more people knew about youth homelessness in your community? ⬇️ #YouthHomelessness #TAYHousingMatters #EquityInAction #CalICH

Thank you to the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and League of California Community Foundations for hosting us in the Tahoe-Truckee area last week. It was inspiring to come together and explore innovative housing solutions that truly address the unique needs of this community. We are so appreciative of the dozens of partners who welcomed us so warmly and who are working together to create real change in their community. We’re excited to continue working together in support these incredible efforts.  

Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) was honored to host Secretary Tomiquia Moss, the California Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, Sasha Wisotsky Kergan, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Consumer Relations, and Anastasia Carney, Deputy Secretary of External Affairs, last week. They came to learn about Tahoe-Truckee’s regional housing and forest-to-housing efforts as part of a greater, statewide effort hosted by the League of California Community Foundations. They came ready to listen, learn, and identify solutions that could be replicated across California. Day One focused on workforce housing and the Mountain Housing Council Legacy Partner Gathering. This dynamic conversation walked the Secretary through Tahoe Truckee’s full housing landscape, from rural homelessness to workforce housing gaps and rising fire insurance costs to where State policy can leave mountain communities behind. TTCF’s Kristina Kind presented data on our regional housing needs and the impact of the Mountain Housing Council from 2017-2023, including 29 partners engaged, 770 units facilitated, $80 million+ invested in the region, 15 programs launched, and 3 social enterprises created. Local leaders masterfully articulated our complex needs, demonstrated our community's ingenuity and resilience, and provided precise and actionable insights into how California can use Tahoe Truckee as a pilot for other rural communities. “What impresses me most is the collaborative mechanism of the Mountain Housing Council. I would love to see this model replicated in other communities,” Secretary Moss shared. TTCF had the same idea and has been developing a Mountain Housing Council playbook adaptable to other communities. On Day Two, we made the turn the intersection of forest and housing. "The Secretary and her team were eager to talk about the nuances of our local housing work and multi-sector collaboration, as well as the forest-to-housing portfolio we have been building for years at TTCF. They were already knowledgeable about the possibilities that can be unlocked when forested communities look at the forest health crisis as an opportunity for housing, workforce, and local economies," Stacy Caldwell, CFRE, TTCF CEO, shared. Stayed tuned for Day Two of the housing tour! Thank you to all our partners in this housing work: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Nevada County, CA, Town Of Truckee, Placer County, Tahoe Housing Hub, Sierra Community House, Related California , and Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency. This visit was hosted by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) and the League of California Community Foundations as part of a series to spotlight the unique needs and scalable housing solutions across the state. #housing #ruralhousing #homelessness #california #tahoe #truckee #biomass #foresthealth #housingcrisis #affordablehousing #systemschange #mountainhousing #mountainhousingcouncil #forestfutures

Join us in welcoming new BCSH Deputy Secretary of Housing Finance Advisor Christina Mun. Christina was sworn in this morning by Secretary Tomiquia Moss, and we are excited to add Christina to the BCSH team. She brings nearly two decades of experience in housing development, finance, and policy across California and New York. Welcome Christina!