Sam Liccardo, our congressman representing the 16 th district, is living up to his campaign promise to reach across the aisle. Even if the bipartisan bills that Rep Liccardo is supporting aren’t the headline grabbing issues that get all the (often undesirable) media attention, we should acknowledge and be grateful for his efforts.

Housing is an easy one for everyone to support.

RESIDE Act

Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments (RESIDE) Act aims to provide grants for communities to convert vacant buildings into affordable housing. Rep Liccardo noted, “We can help transform downtown ‘doom loops’ and strip malls into flourishing, vibrant communities.”

UNLOCK Act

Unleashing Needed Local Options to Construct and Keep Housing (UNLOCK) Act provides local municipalities with more flexibility to use Community Development Block Grant funds to help construct affordable housing.

BUILD Housing Act

Better Use of Intergovernmental and Local Development (“BUILD”) for Housing Act simplifies the often rigorous and expensive environmental review requirements for specific types of projects, particularly small and infill housing development which are often good sites for affordable multifamily projects.

SUPPLY Act

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are small cottages or sometimes converted garages that are located on the same lot as the main house but banks to date have been reluctant to finance ADU construction. ADUs are an important way to help address housing shortages and in 2022, California issued almost 84,000 ADU permits. In our local community, ADUs serve to fulfill affordable housing requirements. The Supply Act creates a new federal financing pathway for ADUs and “…will help homeowners who are struggling to get financing to get units like those built,” according to Rep Liccardo (see Post 39).

If we can all take a step in the right direction together, perhaps we can start making a dent in eliminating housing insecurity in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.