Six key affordability challenges Californians face today

The curated articles discuss the rising affordability challenges faced by Californians, especially in the Sacramento region. Several articles address the struggle for affordable housing, presenting a common theme of growing economic pressure on families.

In one article, Sacramento authorities confront a significant challenge with approximately 300 affordable public housing units sitting vacant, while demand remains high. Staff shortages and supply chain issues contribute to the delay in filling these units. Another article sheds light on a Sacramento County pilot program intended to offset housing fees for low-income residents, aiming to make affordable housing projects more feasible. Meanwhile, many Sacramento homeowners hesitate to sell their homes due to low mortgage rates, constricting the housing market further. Lastly, budget constraints also affect institutions, as seen with Sacramento State facing a $45 million budget cut, which adds another layer to affordability woes in the state.

A portion of the Mirasol Village affordable housing community is seen by drone under various phases of construction on June 29, 2022, in Sacramento near Richards Boulevard in the River District. By Xavier Mascareñas

NO. 1: AT ANY GIVEN TIME, 300 AFFORDABLE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS IN SACRAMENTO SIT VACANT. WHY?

A federal agency sent a letter to SHRA about the vacancies last year. | Published July 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Theresa Clift

No image found

Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Nicolaus, argues against ABx2-1 during the special session on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. By José Luis Villegas

NO. 2: WHAT’S ON THE LINE AS CALIFORNIA APPROACHES BUDGET DEADLINE?

Lawmakers are prepared to meet the budget deadline — even if it means working on the weekend. | Published June 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kate Wolffe

NO. 3: SACRAMENTO COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS BEGINS SOON

The ordinance will affect multi-family households in unincorporated parts of Sacramento county, the county’s engineer said. | Published January 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Emma Hall

No image found

Anna Curry, a real estate agent, uses her daughter Lotus’ bedroom as an office on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. She and her husband Issak both work at home from the room in the 1,067-square-foot Rancho Cordova home they bought six years ago. With a 2.25% mortgage rate, they’ve decided to stay in the too-small home rather than buy a new home with a higher rate. By PAUL KITAGAKI JR.

NO. 4: MANY SACRAMENTANS ARE STAYING IN HOMES THEY’VE GROWN OUT OF TO KEEP GREAT MORTGAGE RATES

There were many more home sales in 2024 compared to 2021. | Published February 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Theresa Clift Phillip Reese

Sacramento State students make their way to the University Union in 2020. By Renée C. Byer

NO. 5: SACRAMENTO STATE ANNOUNCES $45 MILLION BUDGET CUT. WHAT THE CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY FACES

The university opted for a $45 million one-time cut instead of $161 million over a long-term time frame. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Emma Hall

Francesca Wander, Karen Jacques and Mary Steinert join a coalition of renters, seniors, affordable housing advocates and environmentalists protesting outside the California Public Utilities Commission meeting at Warren Alquist State Energy Building in Sacramento on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The CPUC is considering approving a $24 monthly fixed charge – also known as the “utility tax” – on residential consumers who get their electricity from PG&E and other providers. By Paul Kitagaki Jr.

NO. 6: ASSEMBLYMEMBERS MUST ADJUST THINKING OF AFFORDABILITY IN ORDER TO HELP CALIFORNIANS | OPINION

This year, the California Assembly hopes to tackle affordability. In order to do that, their definition of the word must change, writes columnist LeBron Hill. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by LeBron Hill

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.