Richmond Confidential: Contra Costa affordable-housing advocates hope to build off ‘great energy’ of new state laws

“During the Richmond town hall, some speakers talked about the significance of the state bills, including Senate Bill 3, which will put a multibillion-dollar housing bond on California’s ballot in November 2018.

The ballot measure was described as just a drop in the bucket of California’s overall funding needs, but proponents still emphasized its importance. “If there’s one thing I would like everyone to take away from this, it is please tell your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers about this housing bond,” said Pedro Galvao, policy manager for the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California.

While encouraged by the new state legislation, local activists still are pushing for a regional solution to the housing shortage and affordability crisis.

“[During] these past November elections, there were three counties that were putting housing bonds, or housing financing, on their ballots and we feel that Contra Costa should pursue something like that as well,” said Zuleika Godinez, policy coordinator for Ensuring Opportunity, a campaign to end poverty in Contra Costa.”

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