HCD Strengthens Efforts to Increase Housing Accountability

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has a new Housing Accountability Unit (HAU) which will play a critical role in ensuring that local jurisdictions fulfill their legal responsibility to plan and zone for their share of the state’s housing needs. According to Megan Kirkeby, HCD Deputy Director for Housing Policy, “A housing element is no longer a paper exercise – it’s a contract with the state of housing commitments for eight years and the Housing Accountability Unit will hold jurisdictions to those commitments”. 

HCD’s expanded accountability work will include:

• Prohousing incentives and planning grants supporting local jurisdictions to comply with state housing laws;

• Education and technical assistance to help jurisdictions understand the law; and

• Strong accountability actions for non-compliance as needed.

With the increased accountability and enforcement efforts, HCD has issued 253 letters ranging from inquiries, technical assistance, notices of noncompliance, and housing element decertification.  In addition, effective January 1, 2022, HCD now has the authority to enforce Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing law, The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 – SB 330, Streamlined Ministerial Permit Processes – SB 35, By Right Supportive Housing Provisions – AB 2162, By Right Low Barrier Navigation Center – AB 101, and limitations on development standards – AB 478.

The Housing Element is an investment in protecting our communities by planning for the housing needs of a diverse population. The new HAU will work to ensure that jurisdictions’ Housing Elements are successful in addressing the housing needs of their communities.