California has a shortage of 1.2 million homes affordable to lower-income households – but state funding has not kept pace with the expansive need. As shovel-ready affordable housing projects sit waiting for the funding to move into construction, housing instability and homelessness continue to rise. 

RCD is proud to support the Affordable Housing Bond Acts of 2026, which would place a $10 billion affordable housing bond on the 2026 statewide ballot to fund affordable housing development for the following four years. If passed, this bond would build and preserve over 45,000 affordable homes, help 13,000 families become homeowners, and create thousands of good-paying jobs for California workers.    

Take Action! A link to: Join the statewide housing bond coalition to receive updates  

Permanent housing is the solution to homelessness, and affordable housing providers like RCD are an integral part of the homelessness response system. An individual’s journey through the response system often starts with a process known as Coordinated Entry, through which individuals and families facing homelessness are assessed, prioritized, and directed toward services based on their needs. For example, an individual who needs deeply affordable housing with wrap-around supportive services may be matched with one of RCD’s permanent supportive homes through Coordinated Entry. 

In a perfect world, Coordinated Entry would ensure that any episode of homelessness is brief – but the scarcity of resources and imposition of bureaucratic red tape can add costly delays. Through our local Continuums of Care, RCD advocates for well-resourced and well-managed Coordinated Entry systems. Alongside the NPH PSH Working Groups, we aim to cultivate consensus on best practices in Coordinated Entry and improve collaboration to get people into housing faster. 

Take Action! Federal funding for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which funds Coordinated Entry, is under threat. If enacted, these cuts could force 170,000 people nationwide back into homelessness. A link to: Email your Congressional Representatives to express your support for renewal of FY 2026 CoC awards. 

Every RCD property undergoes periodic renovations to ensure our residents have safe, high-quality housing for generations to come. However, these improvements often require complex refinancing that can trigger significant property transfer taxes – up to $11,000 per unit in Berkeley. These costs reduce the funding available for actual renovation work and make it challenging to compete for limited state resources.  

In March 2025, Berkeley District 4 Councilmember Igor Tregub sponsored a resolution to study exempting 100% affordable housing developments from these taxes. This exemption would help RCD and other affordable housing providers upgrade amenities for residents and ensure the long-term preservation of affordable homes across Berkeley.  

Take Action! Stay tuned – we expect that City Council will consider establishing an exemption process as part of the FY 2026 budget process. 

Alameda County voters passed Measure W in 2020 to enhance essential County services for those experiencing homelessness, including supportive housing, mental health services, job training, and other general fund safety nets. A lawsuit prevented Alameda County from allocating Measure W funds until 2025, at which point there was interest in exploring other potential uses.  Because Measure W is a general tax, funds can support any County service. 

RCD joined with over 50 local affordable housing, homelessness, housing justice organizations, and individuals to ask the Board of Supervisors to retain this money for housing and homelessness services. A link to: Read our coalition letter in support of using Measure W to fund homelessness solutions. 

On July 30th, 2025, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors made a historic investment of more than $1.4 billion to homelessness solutions from Measure W (approximately 80% of annual funds). This is the largest commitment the County has ever made to address homelessness. 

The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program funds integrated public investments that include affordable housing, transportation, urban greening, and community programming, all with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is the state’s largest source of stable, ongoing funding for affordable housing. However, in Spring 2025, ongoing funding for the program was placed at risk during negotiations around the reauthorization of the Cap-and-Trade program. 

RCD was part of a diverse coalition of housing and transportation groups advocating for continued funding for AHSC in the Cap-and-Trade reauthorization. 

In September 2025, the Legislature and Administration re-authorized a Cap-and-Trade framework that included substantial, dedicated funding for the AHSC program, with $800 million allocated annually through 2045. This was a huge victory for our interconnected affordability, connectivity, sustainability, and equity goals.