California Farmworker Housing Study (AB 1654)

HCD has commissioned the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) at the University of California, Davis, and the California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) to conduct the California Farmworker Housing Study as required by AB 1654 (Rivas, 2022). The overall goal is to provide recommendations and inform a comprehensive strategy for meeting the needs of the state’s farmworkers. The final report and recommendations from the research team will be submitted to HCD in 2026.

Methodology

Gather farmworkers’ perspectives by surveying farmworkers in the following regions:

• Central Coast
• Eastern Coachella Valley
• Imperial Valley
• Sacramento Valley
• San Joaquin

Analyze farmworker demographics, wages, and existing housing studies at the state, regional, and county levels.

Identify barriers and opportunities to farmworker housing development through listening sessions, interviews, and/or focus groups.

Produce quantitative estimates of farmworker housing needs at different income levels using existing data.