State, Local Leaders Unveil Funding Plans for Affordable Housing

State and local leaders on Wednesday unveiled plans for $21 million in state funds that will help increase affordable housing, tackle the homelessness crisis, and provide worker training in the San Gabriel Valley.

State Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), Assemblywoman Blanca E. Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) and leaders from the cities of Baldwin Park, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Monrovia, and Claremont attended the event in front of an affordable housing project in Monterey Park as they discussed the state funds they were able to secure for the San Gabriel Valley.

“Alleviating the housing and homelessness crisis in the San Gabriel Valley remains a top priority,” Sen. Susan Rubio said. “Over the past two years, in collaboration with local leaders, we have laid the groundwork for an innovative private-public partnership. With the $5.6 million I successfully secured previously, this $20 million grant will expand projects that empower our local service providers to address this crisis in the way that best fits our regional needs.”

In 2019, Senator Rubio passed Senate Bill 751. It authorized the creation of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority, and allows communities within the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to fund housing to assist the homeless and persons of extremely low, very low, and low income. It allowed the Trust to receive public and private financing and funds for this purpose. The Trust will oversee this new funding. In addition, it received $1 million in state funding that will go toward workforce development.

“I am proud to support Senator Susan Rubio in bringing this much needed funding back to the San Gabriel Valley,” said Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, who is chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Caucus. “The lack of affordable housing and homelessness are crucial issues facing our communities and it is imperative that we act quickly to increase the supply of housing. This funding, along with money for workforce development, is a huge step in the right direction and I look forward to continuing our partnership with local leaders to ensure that sufficient resources are brought to the San Gabriel Valley.”

Becky Shevlin, Monrovia Councilmember, president of the SGVCOG and vice chair of the Trust Board, praised the collaboration with state and local leaders in bringing the funding.

“San Gabriel Valley cities last year joined together to establish a housing trust to fund and finance affordable housing developments and homeless shelters in our region,” she said. “The $20 million in state funding secured by Senator Rubio with the support of her San Gabriel Valley legislative colleagues will be the catalyst for the construction of affordable housing developments with funding shortfalls across our region from among the pipeline of more than 1,000 affordable housing units in various stages of entitlement in the San Gabriel Valley.”

Claremont Mayor pro Tem Jed Leano, who serves as chair of the Trust, noted how it will help the region.

“The significant state funding secured by Senator Rubio will help jumpstart our efforts to fund the construction of low-income housing projects and homeless shelters supported by host cities across the San Gabriel Valley. We truly appreciate Senator Rubio's leadership in sponsoring the state legislation establishing the housing trust and her ongoing strong support for its critically important efforts to respond regionally to the housing shortage,” he said.