RELEASE: Major Environmental and Affordable Housing Organizations Endorse Senator Wiener’s SB 50, the More HOMES Act

California League of Conservation Voters, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California & Habitat for Humanity endorse SB 50

January 31, 2019

San Francisco –  Today, the California League of Conservation Voters, the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH), and Habitat for Humanity announced their support for Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 50, the More HOMES Act. NPH – which is a coalition of 750 affordable housing organizations – also signed on as a co-sponsor of SB 50, joining co-sponsor California YIMBY. SB 50 eliminates hyper-low-density zoning near public transit and job centers, thus legalizing apartment buildings and affordable housing in these locations so that more people can live near transit and near where they work. SB 50 will help make housing more affordable and reduce carbon emissions by allowing people to live closer to where they work and closer to transit. SB 50 also reduces or eliminates minimum parking requirements for new developments.

According to these new progressive endorsers:

“Building denser and more affordable housing close to public transportation is key to reducing pollution and improving the health of our communities and the quality of our lives,” said Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer of the California League of Conservation Voters. “An integrated approach to land use is necessary in the face of increased climate impacts, and CLCV is proud to conditionally support this legislation, and work alongside the author and other stakeholders, to ensure green infrastructure and adaptation best practices are included along with robust affordable housing and anti-displacement standards.”

“NPH is pleased to continue partnering with Senator Wiener to increase access to safe, stable, affordable homes and strengthen our communities,” said Amie Fishman, Executive Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California. “NPH is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 50 because it creates new housing near transit, increases affordable housing opportunity in historically exclusionary communities, and provides critical tenant protections. This bill supports our commitment to producing, protecting, and preserving affordable opportunities for our most vulnerable community members.”

“Working families are under immense pressure in the Bay Area,” said Maureen Sedonaen, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. “The housing and affordability crisis they are facing demands an urgent response that will have a real impact. Updating zoning standards to allow higher density housing on transit corridors would be just what the doctor ordered. Habitat urges all legislators interested in helping build more safe and decent homes for Californians to support SB50.”

“I am proud to have these three major progressive organizations support the More HOMES Act,” said Senator Wiener. “SB 50 is about ensuring that everyone can afford housing and forcefully addressing climate change. The California League of Conservation Voters understands that housing policy is environmental policy. NPH and Habitat for Humanity know that we must update our zoning if we are to create more equitable and affordable housing and communities. I look forward to continuing to work with these amazing partners to protect our working families and our environment, and I am grateful to have their support.”

SB 50 is also supported by the State Building and Construction Trades Council, the California Apartment Association, the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition, the California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund (CaRLA), and a host of other renter, business, and labor organizations. It also enjoys bi-partisan support from members of the Legislature and support from numerous mayors and city council members from around the state.

SB 50 was introduced on Dec 3, and will be set for a hearing in the coming months.