Padilla Announces More Than $16 Million for Affordable Housing in California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) June 26 announced that four California affordable housing initiatives were awarded a combined $16.2 million as part of the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program. PRO Housing aims to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production, preservation, and lower housing costs. 

The funding comes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which provided $85 million to establish a competitive grant program in the Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD.

“Far too many Californians are struggling to afford a place to call home,” said Senator Padilla. “We need to address the housing crisis with the urgency it demands through targeted community investments. While more investments are needed, this new federal funding stream will provide millions of dollars to incentivize affordable housing development, examine historical housing inequities, and expand access to home loans in communities across the state.”

Local applicants to receive PRO Housing program funding:

• Los Angeles County — $6.7 million: This funding will support housing in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, building and modernizing sewer and transportation infrastructure, and facilitating construction in areas that are supported by major public transit infrastructure, known as Transit-Oriented Districts. The county will conduct an equity audit to reverse land use patterns that have roots in systemically racist policies.

PRO Housing provides grant funding to communities working to address local housing barriers such as outdated local regulations and land use policies, inadequate infrastructure, a lack of available financing for development, extreme weather risks, and an aging housing stock. PRO Housing grant recipients will take actions to address these concerns such as updating state and local housing plans, revising land use policies, and streamlining permitting processes. 

Later this year, HUD will make $100 million in additional funding available for a second-round funding competition.