For Immediate Release
SB 591 Now Goes to the Assembly for Review
SACRAMENTO – The Senate passed legislation by Senator Josh Becker today to allow affordable housing developers to build intergenerational housing that will serve the needs of senior citizens and transition-age foster youth.
“My Senate Bill 591 enables creation of housing for seniors and youth so they can live, learn and thrive together while sharing a living space that provides vulnerable individuals a safe place to live,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula. “The benefits of such intergenerational living environments are proven. These living spaces create a dynamic and supportive community that traditional forms of age-restricted housing cannot match.”
SB 591 clears the way for financing of affordable housing that would accommodate senior citizens as well as former foster youth in early adulthood.
With the challenges for financing affordable housing, tax credits are well-used tools to help finance senior affordable housing for people ages 55 and older. Currently, however, such financing typically comes with restrictions prohibiting other types of affordable units in the same building. For example, an affordable housing project aimed at serving seniors could not include some units for transition-aged youth, despite the well documented social and health benefits to seniors associated with such intergenerational housing.
Supporters of the legislation include the City of Emeryville, which is partnering with Senator Becker on the bill, and Emeryville Mayor Dianne Martinez, AARP, the California Alliance for Retired Americans, the California Apartment Association, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Half Moon Bay Mayor Robert Brownstone, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, EAH Housing, Mentis, MidPen Housing, the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, and the People Concern.
SB 591 now goes to the Assembly for review.
###
SB 591 Fact Sheet:
https://sd13.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd13.senate.ca.gov/files/pdf/SB591_Becker_FactSheet_20210423.pdf
Media Contact: Leslie Guevarra, 415-298-3404, leslie.guevarra@sen.ca.gov