Increasing the availability of housing statewide is critical to bettering the quality of life of all Californians and to ending homelessness. The 2019-2020 Budget Act provided a spectrum of support, incentives, and accountability measures to meet California’s housing goals, and provided for the establishment of the Prohousing Designation Program.
For application status, please view the Prohousing Designation Application Tracker (XLS).
As of March 26, 2026, the following jurisdictions have earned a Prohousing Designation:
The Prohousing Designation Program application under the permanent regulations is now available. As of January 2, 2024, the permanent regulations for the Prohousing Designation Program are approved. All new PDP applications will need to be developed in accordance with the permanent regulations. Updated application materials and technical assistance related to the permanent regulations are below.
Eligible applicants are limited to local governments (cities and counties). HCD will review applications within 60 days and provide feedback.
Local governments with Prohousing Designation are eligible to apply for the Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP), a state investment from the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund:
Subsequent Notice of Funding Availabilities (NOFAs) for PIP are posted every August, with applications due every December, and Awards made every March.
When housing choice and access are limited because of someone’s race, sexual orientation, disability status, or other protected characteristics, there are far-reaching impacts on their lives. These impacts include access to job opportunities, access to quality education, and impacts to mental and physical health.
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice outlines HCD’s fair housing planning work to expand housing choice and access to opportunity for all Californians. The 2020 AI describes the current fair housing environment in California identifies impediments to fair housing choice and action steps to address those impediments
Discriminatory government policies, exclusionary tactics, and disparate treatment have long been key components of the housing system and have which encouraged spatial inequality based on race. For decades, systemic redlining, restrictive covenants in private land sales, and residential segregation restricted many groups, particularly communities of color, from accessing opportunity and meaningful fair housing choice.
