Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Yet millions of people across the country are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep up with rising rents, or experiencing homelessness entirely. In CA-34, we see this crisis firsthand — from families forced to live in their cars to seniors being priced out of their longtime neighborhoods.

To tackle this crisis head-on, I’m fighting for a federal housing system that prioritizes people, not profit. That means moving away from short-term fixes and investing in long-term solutions that treat housing as a human right.

Expansion of Housing Choice Vouchers and Emergency Rental Assistance

Too many families are waiting years — even decades — for a Housing Choice Voucher that could help them afford stable housing. I support fully funding and expanding the Housing Choice Voucher program so that it becomes an entitlement available to every eligible household, not a lottery system.

Additionally, we need permanent, robust federal support for emergency rental assistance. During the pandemic, we saw just how critical this lifeline was. Families should never be at risk of eviction because of an unexpected job loss or medical emergency.

Federal Incentives for Permanently Affordable Housing

I will fight to create federal incentives for the development and preservation of permanently affordable housing — including units that are income-restricted and protected from market speculation. This includes:

• Offering direct federal funding and tax incentives for nonprofit housing developers

• Conditioning federal housing funds on affordability guarantees

• Prioritizing local governments that commit to long-term affordability goals

Permanently affordable housing isn’t just a temporary fix — it’s a generational investment in community stability and equity.

Strong Support for Community Land Trusts

Community land trusts (CLTs) are one of the most powerful tools we have to take housing out of the speculative market and put it into community hands. CLTs allow communities to own the land collectively, while individuals can build equity in their homes — ensuring permanent affordability and local control.

I support significant federal investment in CLTs, including:

• Direct seed funding to expand existing trusts and help new ones form

• Technical assistance and capacity-building grants

• Preferential access to surplus federal land for CLT use

This is how we create housing models that work for our communities, not corporate landlords.

Rapid Rehousing with Wraparound Services

Rapid rehousing is more than just putting a roof over someone’s head — it’s about addressing the root causes of housing instability. I support national expansion of rapid rehousing programs that include:

• Mental health care, including trauma-informed therapy and substance use support

• Workforce development and job placement services

• Childcare and transportation assistance for families transitioning back into stable housing

Housing-first must also mean services-first — because no one heals from homelessness without support.

A Proactive, Preventative Approach to Homelessness

Rather than responding to homelessness after it happens, we must build systems that prevent it entirely. I will advocate for a comprehensive federal review of homelessness risk factors, leading to:

• Early-warning systems using data from eviction courts, schools, and social services

• Emergency intervention programs for at-risk individuals and families

• Increased coordination between HUD, HHS, and local agencies

Homelessness is a policy failure — and we have the tools to stop it before it starts.

Housing is a right — not a commodity. We can and must build a country where everyone has the dignity of a safe home, where our communities are made stronger by affordable housing, and where no one is left behind.

Let’s fight for a future where housing security is the norm — not the exception.