HCD works to reduce and prevent homelessness through strategic investments and local accountability that result in the faster production and preservation of safe, stable affordable housing.
HCD does not manage properties or place individuals in affordable housing. For assistance, please contact a person in your local community who helps people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Increase the Supply of Affordable Places to Live in California
By administering programs that provide grants and loans, HCD creates rental and homeownership opportunities for Californians, including veterans, seniors, young families, people with disabilities, farmworkers, tribes, and individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.
Preserve Affordable Homes and Protect Public Investment
Through asset management and compliance, HCD monitors affordable developments that use HCD funding to ensure they remain affordable for 35-55 years and compliant with program requirements. When they don’t, HCD intervenes, always with the goal of preserving affordable homes.
Protect Mobilehome and Manufactured Home Owners
Similar to the way California’s Department of Motor Vehicles manages titling and registration for automobiles, HCD manages the titling and registration for mobilehomes. HCD also protects families and individuals who live in mobilehomes by inspecting mobilehome parks (in areas where the local government chooses not to) and enforcing regulations for those who build and sell manufactured homes.
Guard the Health and Safety of All Californians through Adoption of Building Standards
HCD protects the health and safety of Californians by enforcing standards for housing construction and maintenance. HCD proposes adoption of general building standards to the California Building Standards Commission and helps local government and building inspectors. HCD also creates specialized standards including CALGreen (the nation’s first mandatory green-building code) accessibility and universal design, which ensures housing is accessible to all (including seniors and people with disabilities).
Ensure California Plans for Housing That Meets Varied Needs of Californians
Housing is one of the most-important parts of any community and the way we plan for housing has wide-reaching impacts on the environment, education, health, and the economy. HCD plays a critical role in the housing-planning process, which was designed to ensure that communities plan for housing that meets the needs of everyone in California’s communities. HCD works with each of the 539 regions to determine their housing needs, and reviews each city or county’s housing plan (also known as the “housing element”) to determine whether their housing plan complies with state law. HCD enforces state housing laws and holds local jurisdictions accountable for their housing commitments.
Create Effective Solutions to the Housing Crisis through Policy and Research
HCD develops policies that support housing and community development and conducts research and analysis of California’s housing markets and needs. HCD produces California’s statewide housing assessment (required by state law), California’s consolidated plan (required for California to receive millions of federal dollars for housing and community development), and other special reports.