California Gubernatorial Candidates’ Approaches to Housing and Homelessness

The upcoming California gubernatorial election features eight candidates, each presenting different strategies to tackle the state’s housing affordability and homelessness crises. Despite varying approaches, there is a consensus on the necessity of reducing bureaucratic hurdles to accelerate housing construction.

Republican Steve Hilton advocates for more suburban development as a solution to housing affordability. Democratic candidates focus on increasing housing within current city limits. The high cost of housing and the related homelessness issue are crucial challenges for the state. Candidates have proposed building more housing to improve affordability and address homelessness, with some also targeting mental health and drug addiction concerns.

Meet the Candidates

The race includes two Republican and six Democratic contenders, with the top two, irrespective of party, advancing to the November election. Republicans include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and commentator Steve Hilton. Democrats feature Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, and Antonio Villaraigosa.

Xavier Becerra

Former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Becerra emphasizes building more homes to balance supply and demand. He proposes cutting red tape and speeding project approvals that meet affordability and environmental criteria. Becerra wants municipalities to act on building permits within 90 days and aims to reform laws to encourage condo construction. Eviction protections and restricting investor home purchases are also part of his platform.

On homelessness, Becerra plans a $150-million yearly fund to prevent losses of homes to rent struggles and foreclosures.

Chad Bianco

Bianco aims to eliminate government obstacles that have made housing unaffordable. His strategies include quickening project approvals and removing the California Environmental Protection Act, which he argues complicates development. Bianco opposes weakening property tax benefits for long-time owners and wants cities to clear homeless encampments, aided by a 2024 Supreme Court ruling. He supports increased mental health treatment provisions.

Steve Hilton

Hilton, a conservative commentator, believes more homes need to be built to resolve affordability issues. He favors developing new suburbs over urban areas. Hilton suggests reforming environmental laws to limit lawsuits that delay housing projects and streamlining infrastructure funding for new city development. Hilton opposes rent control, claiming it stifles construction incentives, and advocates for increased group shelters for the homeless.

Matt Mahan

Mahan asserts high housing costs drive Californians out, linking it to homelessness. He calls for lowering urban housing fees and opposes high taxes on new housing. He aims to cut processing times for permits, enabling developers to hire certified planners if delays occur. Mahan promotes factory-built housing, citing cost-efficiency, and urges reforms for safer condo development. His homelessness plan includes swift provision of interim beds and state law amendments to support shelter construction.

Katie Porter

Porter advocates for varied housing types to boost affordability. Her agenda includes federal investment, promoting innovative building, and removing unnecessary barriers. For homelessness, Porter focuses on interim housing, rental aid, and rapid rehousing initiatives.

Tom Steyer

Steyer pledges to spearhead policies for constructing 1 million homes over four years by optimizing public funds and leveraging private capital. He aims to close tax loopholes for commercial properties and reduce fees that inflate housing costs. Additionally, Steyer envisions factory-built housing to improve construction efficiency.

Steyer supports expanding interim housing with services, criticizing the costliness and time consumption of permanent housing solutions.

Tony Thurmond

Thurmond proposes building 2 million homes, partly through using surplus school district land. His plans target homes for teachers, nurses, and essential workers, potentially reviving redevelopment agencies for construction backing. Thurmond focuses on services-laden homes for the homeless.

Antonio Villaraigosa

Villaraigosa links affordability issues to supply and demand discrepancies, backing recent laws for denser housing. He suggests cutting development fees, reforming environmental laws, and allocating $10 billion for public land housing. He supports limits on investor home purchases and expanded mortgage assistance.

For homelessness, Villaraigosa would boost the Homekey program to add 10,000 permanent supportive housing units. Interim housing and compulsory treatment expansions are also part of his agenda.