SACRAMENTO, CA – A key committee today approved a bill by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that addresses the San Gabriel Valley’s affordable housing shortage and homeless crisis.

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 1212, which strengthens the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust by making three changes to the board. First, it will guarantee continuity of experience by staggering the two-year terms of board members. Second, it will expand housing and homelessness expertise on the board. Third, it will ensure board decisions are equitable by requiring city representatives on the board be from different cities.

“The economic circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic make it critically important to ensure that housing does not become even more unaffordable,” Sen. Rubio said. “The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust does exactly that and can serve as a model for other regions across the state.”

“The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust is needed now more than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic threatening the most vulnerable among us,” said Jed Leano, chair of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust and a councilmember for the City of Claremont. “We thank Senator Rubio for her strong commitment to the Trust and her willingness to bring forward this legislation to help make the Trust even stronger.”

In 2019, Sen. Rubio partnered with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to author SB 751, which created the Trust and allows communities within the COG’s jurisdiction to fund housing to assist the homeless and persons of extremely low, very low, and low income. It also allows the Trust to receive public and private financing and funds for this purpose. The board will consist of seven members from the governing board of the SGVCOG and two experts in homeless or housing policy.

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