Senator Susan Rubio Delivers $24.5 Million to Increase Affordable Housing, Tackle Homelessness, and Provide Worker Training
SACRAMENTO – Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) announced today that the 2021-22 state budget includes $20 million to help create affordable housing in the San Gabriel Valley as well as continuing to tackle the homelessness crisis. In addition, she secured $4.5 million to help workers gain new skills for higher-paying jobs.
“Alleviating the housing and homelessness crisis in the San Gabriel Valley remains a top priority,” Senator Rubio said. “Over the past two years, in collaboration with local leaders, we have laid the ground work for an innovative private-public partnership. With the $5.6 million I successfully secured previously, this $20 million will expand the projects that support and empower our local service providers to address this crisis in the way that best fits our regional needs.”
In addition, Senator Rubio said: “After this devastating pandemic, with thousands of jobs in jeopardy, this $4.5 million for workforce development will help create a pipeline of well-skilled workers at a critical time in our region as we reopen our economy.”
Senator Rubio passed Senate Bill 751 in 2019. It authorized the creation of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority, which allows communities within the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to fund housing to assist the homeless and persons of extremely low, very low, and low income. It also allowed the trust to receive public and private financing and funds for this purpose.
“The significant state funding secured by Senator Rubio will help jumpstart our efforts to fund the construction of low-income housing projects and homeless shelters supported by host cities across the San Gabriel Valley. We truly appreciate Senator Rubio's leadership in sponsoring the state legislation establishing the housing trust and her ongoing strong support for its critically important efforts to respond regionally to the housing shortage,” said Claremont Mayor Pro Tem Jed Leano, who serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust.
“San Gabriel Valley cities last year joined together to establish a housing trust to fund and finance affordable housing developments and homeless shelters in our region,” said Becky Shevlin, incoming President of the SGVCOG and Vice Chair, San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust. "The $20 million in state funding secured by Senator Rubio with the support of her San Gabriel Valley legislative colleagues will be the catalyst for the construction of affordable housing developments with funding shortfalls across our region from among the pipeline of more than 1,000 affordable housing units in various stages of entitlement in the San Gabriel Valley."
For the 2021-22 budget, Senator Rubio secured $4.5 million for workforce development. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) will receive $3.5 and SGVCOG will receive $1 million.
“Training in well-paying jobs can be a primary means of avoiding homelessness. Our San Gabriel Valley cities appreciate the workforce development funding secured by Senator Rubio. This funding could help support existing programs we are engaged in to offer job training to the homeless and to provide training to foster youth at risk of becoming homelessness as they reach adult age so they can be certified as green home energy auditors,” Shevlin added.
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Media Contact: Edward Barrera, edward.barrera@sen.ca.gov