California grapples with a severe housing and climate crisis, with 2.5 million homes needed and escalating climate impacts threatening livelihoods.
Why it matters: The intertwined crises exacerbate affordability issues, especially for low-income residents.
- Nearly 200,000 people are homeless, and 80 percent of low-income households struggle to afford rent without sacrificing basic needs.
The big picture: Effective government permitting is crucial to addressing these challenges.
- Current processes are often time-consuming and opaque, hindering necessary projects.
What’s next: Streamlining permitting could lower costs for housing, electricity, and transportation, while protecting the environment.
- Reform is needed to enable timely and transparent project approvals, essential for sustainable growth.
The cost of inaction is too high, affecting millions of Californians and the environment. It’s time for a change.
