Dear friends,

Homeownership in California is increasingly out of reach for middle-income families – but with your help, we can do something about it.

The Los Angeles Times reported this month that the median home listed for sale in the LA metro area will soon cost $1 million. That's already the median price in much of the Bay Area. Statewide, the median cost to buy a home in California is $750,000.

That's outrageously expensive, and more Californians are being priced out. Just 36% of Black Californians own a home. And only 30% of Millennials in California own a home.

It doesn't have to be this way. That's why California YIMBY teamed up with California Community Builders to sponsor Sen. Anna Caballero’s bill SB 684 to create new pathways to homeownership for middle-income Californians. The bill will make it faster and easier to build smaller, more naturally-affordable "starter" homes near jobs, schools, transit, and other amenities.

Unfortunately, housing opponents are mobilizing to try and stop this bill from becoming law. An important vote is coming soon in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Will you speak out now and tell your Assemblymember to vote YES on SB 684 and create more pathways to homeownership for middle-income Californians?

Illustration of residents enjoying new homes in mixed use neighborhood

Here's how it works: SB 684 streamlines approvals for starter homes in infill developments of 10 homes or less in multi-family zones, and on vacant lots in single-family zones.

SB 684 will expedite the process of turning one large or underutilized lot into up to 10 smaller lots, each of which can then accommodate a smaller, more affordable entry-level home.

We used to build starter homes in California. But then we made them illegal to build in most places. Walk around many neighborhoods in California cities, and you'll see them: Dingbats and duplexes, bungalow courts and six-flats –- all built in the era when many more Californians had a shot at owning their own home.

But restrictive zoning policies ended that era, and are pushing these starter homes into more remote regions, far from jobs, often in areas vulnerable to wildfire.

SB 684 is an important step toward restoring the dream of homeownership to middle-income Californians. But opponents of new housing are gearing up to pressure Assemblymembers to stop this bill from becoming law.

Your email can help show your legislators that their constituents are fed up with the status quo – and want to make it easier for more Californians to achieve the dream of homeownership.

So, we need to show committee members that their constituents support homeownership opportunities for all Californians. Will you send your Assemblymember a message and encourage them to vote YES on SB 684?

SEND A MESSAGE >>

Gratefully,

Emily

Emily Jones
Campaign Manager
California YIMBY

California YIMBY is a movement dedicated to ending our state’s housing crisis and building a more inclusive, affordable, and accessible state for ALL Californians. If you were forwarded this email, you can join our movement here. DONATE NOW » Want to keep track of housing issues and the YIMBY movement? Sign up for the HomeWork, our newsletter here.

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