Everyone deserves a safe place to live, yet 15% of Californians now point to housing and homelessness as the “most important issue facing people in California today.” according to the December 2023 Californians and Their Government Statewide Survey from the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

Why it matters

The League of Women Voters of California supports equal opportunity in housing. From meeting basic human needs to land use and transportation to climate change, this is an issue that affects all parts of the state and a large number of our positions. Needs are different in different areas. Some have a greater need for permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless while others need homelessness prevention — family housing or senior housing but all areas need state (and federal) support to meet unmet needs.

What we’re doing

The League of Women Voters of California supports legislative efforts aimed at California’s housing crisis. This includes efforts to increase equal opportunity to decent, stable, and affordable housing as well as prohibiting housing discrimination based on specified personal characteristics, including source of income. We also promote solutions to increase the amount of housing built in a sustainable and accessible manner.

Want to learn more?

• Find out more about our current legislative work listed in our Bill Status Report.
• Read Myth vs. Fact, an FAQ by CA YIMBY that breaks down common housing policy misconceptions: Housing Policy Myths vs Facts
• Watch our Housing & Homelessness Speaker Series. Watch the webinar recordings here, or find the entire playlist on YouTube.
• Learn how the state of California has adopted policies to increase housing supply, including affordable housing, and how this may impact you by watching “Can California State Policy Fix the Crisis in Housing?” from the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.