EL CERRITO, CA – On Tuesday, July 7, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joined El Cerrito Mayor Gabe Quinto; Lisa Baker, Chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Winters; Linda Mandolini, President of Eden Housing; and Shane Sutherland of Community Housing Development Corporation for a press conference highlighting the HOME Act, Rep. Garamendi’s affordable housing legislation. The bill recently passed the House of Representatives as part of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. 

Garamendi’s legislation will help increase the nation’s housing supply, expand affordable housing opportunities, and lower housing costs for working families by giving states and local governments the resources they need to build more housing.

“Contra Costa and Solano Counties have long been where working families of all backgrounds could afford to thrive, but the housing affordability crisis is putting that at risk,” said Garamendi. “That’s why I’m fighting to make housing in the East Bay affordable. The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which passed both chambers of Congress, includes my HOME Act, which modernizes HUD’s flagship housing production program and gives California cities, especially those here in the East Bay, the resources they need to build more affordable housing crisis. This common-sense bill passed with wide bipartisan support. Sign the bill, Mr. President and let’s start to build.”  

HOME Act BACKGROUND:  

Hardworking Americans face a severe shortage of affordable housing options, and minimum wage workers must work an average of 88 hours per week to afford a modest one-bedroom rental at fair market rates. In Contra Costa County, home values are more than double the national median and in Solano County, median rent is about 50% higher than the national median. But median household income is only 16% higher. That gap is why working families feel squeezed. 

By increasing the supply of affordable units, protecting tenants, and incentivizing equitable development, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and the HOME Act will make housing affordable again. 

HOME has already helped complete 31 affordable units in El Cerrito, with about $2.95 million in funds. The projects were Ohlone Gardens (14 units, $1.46M, completed in 2016) and Hana Gardens/El Cerrito Senior Housing (17 units, $1.49M, completed in 2019). 

Since 1992, the HOME Program:  

  • Led to more than 1,600 completed housing units in CA-08, and more than 125,000 homes in California overall. 
  • Over $190 million in HOME tenant-based rental assistance across California. 
  • Disbursed nearly $60 million in funds for CA-08, and over $5 billion for California overall. 
  • Built over 400 units built and distributed $20 million in Contra Costa. 
  • Built 500 units built and distributed $13.5 million in Vallejo. 

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