The new law aims to help local governments speed up the construction and placement of small, mobile homes.
by mark kreidlerfor capital and main
California’s affordable housing crisis exists on many levels. This issue transcends the political realm and very often involves staggering cost estimates that seem impossible to resolve.
But the new law represents a small step on that path, and a step at the very ground level.
It was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September. law The scheme extends a more than 10-year process for local authorities to streamline and expedite the construction and installation of so-called tiny houses in their communities. This transitional housing is prefabricated, portable, and very basic and has already been successfully used in San Jose and other cities to move more homeless people off the streets and into shelters. .
“Transitional housing is the missing rung on the ladder to permanent housing,” said bill author State Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park). early this year. ” [bill] We will take proven local housing strategies and make them available across the state, giving local governments new tools to address homelessness and the housing crisis. ”
dignity movementis a Northern California nonprofit that partners with several communities on such projects, using private funds and using the same building codes that FEMA uses to respond to natural disasters. We are building these living modules. This allows above-ground installation of public facilities, reduced room sizes, and the need for permanent foundations underground.
Depending on the location of available land, units can be moved by forklift to one area and later to another. Using this approach, the city of San Jose has built hundreds of temporary housing units and plans to build more. Mayor Matt Mahan said last year that San Jose’s unsheltered residents 10% reductionFrom 2022.
“Certainly, there are a number of things that make it much more cost-effective,” said Elizabeth Funk, founder and CEO of Dignity Move, adding that each tiny home’s price will be lower than the state’s He valued it at $50,000, compared to estimates of more than $800,000. building affordable housing; “The cost of leaving someone on the street is twice the cost of bringing someone indoors for treatment and perhaps returning them to a self-sufficient life. That seems very logical, but… It is still against policy.”
This law is one of several bills enacted in 2024 that could directly impact inequality in California. especially:
Eviction protection. Under previous law, a tenant who received an eviction notice from a landlord had to respond within five business days, or the tenant automatically lost the case. The new law was authored by Rep. Ash Kalra (D-San Jose). double that period Up to 10 business days. Housing advocates say the extra time will give tenants a chance to consider their options and receive support, including legal aid. This can be a significant problem for non-native English speakers, who may not initially understand the gravity of the notice given to them.
Family vacation and vacation. Two bills signed by Newsom would allow workers to take time off. In the past, employers could let workers use up two weeks of paid vacation before taking state leave. paid family leave The program provides up to eight weeks of partial pay to take time off for things like family emergencies or bonding with a new child. The employer is no longer allowed to enforce such requirements. Meanwhile, other laws require employers to: give a vacation Victims of “qualifying acts of violence,” including domestic abuse and sexual assault, are eligible, regardless of whether anyone has been charged or convicted in connection with the incident.
Medical Debt and Credit Reports. A small number of states do not allow credit reporting agencies to include personal medical debt as part of their evaluation. California will join in 2025. new law specifically prohibited Government agencies will be prohibited from including debts that people owe directly to health care providers such as hospitals and doctors. (Medical debt charged to a credit card is not covered.) According to the California Healthcare Foundation: 1 in 3 people Californians reported having medical debt in 2023. Almost 50% of the state’s resident Latinos had such debt.
There are no mandatory anti-union meetings. The new law comes amid an uptick in union activity across the state recently. Prohibit mandatory workplace meetings Commonly known as “captive audience” meetings, employers give their opinions on “religious or political issues.” This is a direct target of the long-standing practice by some employers of having workers rally together in order to tell employees why forming a union is wrong. Additionally, workers cannot be subject to retaliation for refusing to attend such meetings.
minimum wage. Although not a new law, the statewide minimum hourly wage will increase to $16.50 in the new year, based on an existing formula that takes into account inflation adjustments. (Measures to raise the minimum amount to $18 by 2026) failed by a narrow margin ) The minimum wage for fast food workers has already increased to $20 in most facilities, while workers in some health care facilities have begun receiving raises designed to reach $25 an hour over the years. . Across California, it is estimated that one childless adult needs to earn that much. $27+ per hour Just to meet basic needs.
