California Housing Crisis at Forefront of Olson Company and Rose Institute's Annual Symposium

Housing

May 10

SEAL BEACH, Calif., May 9, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - The Olson Company, in partnership with Claremont McKenna College's Rose Institute of State and Local Government, hosted the 2nd Annual Housing Policy Symposium on April 26, addressing critical issues in California’s housing sector. The event, co-hosted by former California Governor Gray Davis at Claremont McKenna College, brought together policymakers, community leaders, and experts to discuss solutions for the state's housing affordability and production challenges.

The symposium featured opening remarks from Governor Davis and L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, who both emphasized the urgent need for innovative housing solutions. Mitchell specifically highlighted the regional housing needs, stating, "The projections suggest that the need across L.A. County is 800,000 housing units across all income levels. … I hope you all will be mindful of your own stories as we lock arms to figure out how we close this huge delta around housing availability for Angelenos across our region."

A key component of the symposium was the presentation of findings from the Rose Institute Long Beach Study, a collaborative research project with The Olson Company, which analyzed the effectiveness of recent state laws aimed at improving housing affordability and increasing production. The study examined the impact of various housing legislation categories, including accessory dwelling units (ADUs), permit streamlining laws, and density bonuses, providing insights into their effectiveness in the City of Long Beach.

Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, commented on the state’s housing affordability crisis, stating, "Affordability is the greatest crisis facing California. ... At the core of affordability is the lack of supply."

The event also included panel discussions with city representatives from Southern California, sharing best practices and innovative methods for increasing the affordable housing stock and overcoming regulatory hurdles to housing development.

Panelist discussions underscored the critical need for collaborative efforts to address the housing shortage and explored various legislative and local solutions being implemented to enhance housing production and affordability. State Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Buffy Wicks discussed legislative challenges and the importance of uniform permitting processes to facilitate housing development. They also highlighted recent measures like SB 9, aimed at easing restrictions on the construction of duplexes and subdivision of residential lots.

Jason Elliot, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Newsom, expressed optimism about the future of housing policy in California, saying, “I think all the ingredients are now in the pot, and our job is to stir. ... I am really optimistic.”

The symposium not only highlighted the complexities of tackling California's housing crisis but also the ongoing commitment of various stakeholders to find enduring solutions through collaboration and policy innovation.

For more information on the symposium and future events, visit www.olsonco.com.

Source: The Olson Company via Newswire