The report by the state Department of Housing and Community Development is in the form of a draft assessment that solicits comments. For the last 10 years, the state produced on average 80,000 units annually, while the need was for 180,000 units.

Justin Ewers shares news of a detailed report, "California’s Housing Future: Challenges and Opportunities," which represents "the [Brown] administration’s highest-profile move on housing since last spring, when the governor sought to accelerate housing construction in urban areas by dramatically streamlining the local approval process for multi-family developments." That proposal failed in the California State Legislature in 2016.
In California’s Housing Future, the administration has returned to the fray, offering the first official assessment of the state’s housing goals since 2000—and highlighting the challenges policymakers will have to overcome to make it easier to rent or buy a home in California.
The 2000 report, "Raising the Roof, California Housing Development Projections and Constraints 1997 - 2020," was released not by Brown's predecessor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but by his predecessor, Gov. Gray Davis.
The Draft Statewide Housing Assessment by the California Department of Housing and Community Development solicits public comment through March 4, 2017 and will be the basis of public meetings this month held throughout the state from San Diego to Redding, in addition to a January 13 webinar.
Among the report's other findings:
- Lack of supply and rising costs are compounding growing inequality for younger Californians.
- One-third of renters pay more than 50% of income toward rent.
- Homeownership rates are at their lowest in California since the 1940s.
- California [with 12% of the nation’s population] accounts for a disproportionate 22% of the nation's homeless population.
- Continued sprawl will decrease affordability and quality of life while increasing combined housing and transportation costs on families.
"The report includes a range of potential solutions, including streamlining local and state land-use and environmental rules and boosting funding for low-income housing," reports Liam Dillon for the Los Angeles Times. Dillon was also the guest on KPBS (NPR affiliate in San Diego) Midday Edition on Jan. 4 where he discussed the report's findings and recommendations.
Hat tip to MTC Headlines.
FULL STORY: Governor’s Housing Department Releases List of Options for Addressing California’s Housing Crisis

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

Test News Post 1
This is a summary

Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.

Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service