Before you vote on November 3, find out who could qualify for housing help, whether immigrant families are included, and what the measure would cost taxpayers.
Magazine, The Immigrant Experience
You work hard, pay your bills, and do everything you can to provide for your family. Yet every month, the rent takes such a large share of your income that saving for a home feels almost impossible.
For many California families, this is everyday life. And for immigrants who came to this country hoping to build a better future, the struggle can be even more complicated.
What happens when the people who help keep California running can no longer afford to live here?
It is a question worth asking as California voters prepare to decide on Proposition 1, an $11.25 billion housing bond on the November 3, 2026, ballot.
The measure would help finance affordable rental housing, homeownership assistance, housing for veterans and farmworkers, and programs intended to prevent homelessness and displacement.
But who would actually benefit? Could undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families qualify? Would it lower rents? And what would it cost taxpayers?
These questions were at the center of a voter education briefing organized by American Community Media (ACOM), where four housing experts examined the measure’s potential benefits, financial costs, and limitations.
The panel featured Chione Lucina Muñoz Flegel, executive director of Housing California; Dr. Ryan J. Smith, president and CEO of St. Joseph Center; Francisco Dueñas, executive director of Housing Now; and Jessica Hitchcock, managing director of research at the California Housing Partnership.
Together, they explored what Proposition 1 could mean for California families, including some of the communities most affected by the state’s housing crisis.
Their message was clear: California needs more affordable housing, but no single ballot measure can resolve a crisis that has developed over decades.
A Housing Crisis That Is Leaving Families Behind
Only 22% of California households can afford a median-priced home, according to figures presented during the briefing. More than half of renters spend over 30% of their income on housing.
For Black and Latino families, the situation is particularly difficult. Only 11% can afford a median-priced home, compared with nearly 23% of white households.
Black Californians represent approximately 7% of the state’s population but 26% of its unhoused population.
Immigrants, Asian American renters, farmworkers, seniors, and low-income households face serious housing pressures of their own.
Behind these numbers are people making difficult choices.
A parent may work two jobs and still struggle to pay rent. A young adult may have to leave the neighborhood where they grew up. A senior who has lived in the same community for decades may worry about being priced out.
And for families with undocumented members, finding affordable housing can also mean navigating fears about immigration status and eligibility for assistance.
Flegel described how the crisis is affecting working families across the state.
Workers are commuting long distances because they cannot afford housing near their jobs. Young people are unable to stay in their communities, while seniors and people on fixed incomes struggle to make ends meet.
Flegel, whose organization is helping lead the campaign supporting Proposition 1, was careful not to present the measure as a cure for every housing problem.
“This is a tremendous problem that is going to need many, many solutions,” she said.
Her argument was that California must continue investing in homes that remain affordable to lower-income families rather than waiting for the broader housing market to become affordable on its own.
What Would Proposition 1 Actually Do?
Proposition 1, formally called the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, would authorize California to borrow $11.25 billion through general obligation bonds.
The money would support several housing programs.
According to the California Secretary of State’s official voter guide, the proposed funding includes:
- $5.1 billion to build and rehabilitate affordable multifamily rental housing.
- $2.1 billion to acquire, preserve, and rehabilitate affordable housing, including supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
- $1.25 billion for mortgages for eligible California veterans.
- $1.1 billion for homeownership and down payment assistance.
- $1 billion for farmworker, tribal, and student housing.
- $500 million for infrastructure needed to support housing development.
- $200 million for local housing programs.
Hitchcock explained that affordable housing programs are intended to serve people whose incomes have not kept pace with the cost of living.
These include childcare workers, home health aides, seniors, people with disabilities, and other workers who help communities function but cannot always afford to live in them.
Hitchcock highlighted the Multifamily Housing Program, which would receive the largest share of the funding. Ten percent of that program’s funds would be directed toward extremely low-income households, according to her presentation.
The measure would also support homebuyers through programs such as CalHome and MyHome.
Hitchcock offered an example from Fresno County: a family of four earning $80,000 annually might only be able to afford a home costing about $240,000 at prevailing interest rates, while the median home price is closer to $400,000.
For eligible families, homeownership assistance could help narrow that gap.
But Proposition 1 would not simply give money to everyone struggling with housing costs.
Each program would have its own eligibility requirements, funding limits, and application process.
Can Undocumented Immigrants and Mixed-Status Families Benefit?
This was one of the questions I raised during the briefing because it matters to so many families in our communities.
How does immigration status affect access to affordable housing in California? And what happens when a household includes both documented and undocumented family members?
A panelist explained that California does not categorically prohibit undocumented immigrants or mixed-status families from benefiting from its state housing programs.
That distinction matters.
Affordable housing is not one single program governed by one set of rules. Some housing developments receive state funding, while others depend on federal assistance that may carry immigration-related restrictions.
According to the panelist, state housing investments can help create homes that remain accessible to immigrant households at a time when federal policies are creating additional barriers and uncertainty.
However, this does not mean every undocumented immigrant or mixed-status family would automatically qualify for housing supported by Proposition 1.
Eligibility would depend on the particular program, the funding sources involved, household income, and other requirements.
Families should therefore ask about the rules governing a specific development or assistance program rather than assuming they are either eligible or excluded.
That information matters, especially when fear or uncertainty prevents families from seeking help.
For immigrant households already struggling with high rents, the possibility of additional state-supported housing could provide opportunities. But whether those opportunities reach the people who need them will depend on how the programs are implemented.
Why Farmworkers and Immigrant Renters Have So Much at Stake
Dueñas brought the conversation closer to the experiences of renters across California.
He described the pressure on immigrant households, including undocumented renters who may face particularly high housing costs and limited choices about where they can safely live.
In some communities, multiple generations share homes because separate housing is simply unaffordable.
There is nothing unusual about extended families living together. But when overcrowding becomes the only way to manage rent, families may have little choice about their living conditions.
Dueñas explained that unaffordable housing affects more than household finances.
When rent consumes most of a family’s income, less money is available for healthcare, education, savings, and other necessities.
Local businesses also suffer when workers cannot afford to live nearby.
Farmworkers face a particularly difficult situation.
Many work in California’s agricultural regions, including coastal communities where housing prices are among the highest in the state.
These are workers whose labor helps put food on our tables, yet many struggle to find decent housing near the farms where they work.
Hitchcock referred to research showing that many farmworkers are deeply established in their communities but continue to live in overcrowded or substandard conditions.
Proposition 1 would invest in programs such as the Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program, which supports the construction and rehabilitation of farmworker housing.
It would also provide funding for tribal housing programs.
For families in agricultural communities, these investments could make it possible to remain near their jobs, schools, and support networks while gaining access to safer and more affordable homes.
Keeping Families Housed Matters Too
Building new homes is important. But what about families who are already housed and struggling to stay there?
This was another issue Dueñas emphasized.
Some affordable housing developments have agreements requiring them to maintain below-market rents for a certain number of years. When those agreements expire, the homes may become more expensive, putting existing tenants at risk of displacement.
Proposition 1 includes funding to help preserve some of these properties.
It would also support programs through which eligible organizations, including community-based groups, could acquire and rehabilitate existing housing to keep it affordable.
Hitchcock estimated that the measure’s preservation investments could protect approximately 3,200 affordable homes.
For families, that could mean remaining close to work, keeping children in the same schools, and maintaining the community relationships they have built over time.
For immigrant households, those relationships are often an important source of support—from relatives who help care for children to neighbors who share information, resources, and opportunities.
Losing a home can mean losing much more than an address.
Housing Alone Cannot End Homelessness
Smith spoke about the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and the organizations trying to help them.
St. Joseph Center supports approximately 15,000 people each year through housing, outreach, mental health, and workforce development services.
Smith explained that getting someone into housing is an important first step, but keeping them there can require additional support.
“We believe at St. Joseph’s Center very firmly in housing first, but we like to say it’s housing first, but not housing only,” he said.
Those additional services may include mental healthcare, substance use treatment, case management, help accessing benefits, and employment assistance.
But there is a fundamental obstacle.
Service providers can connect people with resources, prepare them for housing, and help address other challenges. Yet too often, there simply are not enough affordable homes available.
That can leave people in shelters or on the streets longer than necessary.
Smith also shared that he has personally experienced housing insecurity and homelessness, bringing firsthand understanding to the importance of stable housing.
For him, Proposition 1 could help close part of the gap between the number of people needing permanent housing and the homes currently available.
Still, the ongoing services that help people remain housed would also need continued support.
How Many Californians Could Proposition 1 Help?
The potential reach of the measure was another major focus of the briefing.
Hitchcock presented research from the California Housing Partnership projecting that Proposition 1 could provide housing benefits to more than half a million households over the long life of the investments.
She also estimated that the affordable homes funded could eventually generate nearly $500 million in annual rent savings once completed.
These projections reflect the Housing Partnership’s analysis, not guaranteed results.
The independent California Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that Proposition 1 could provide subsidies for up to 40,000 multifamily rental units, approximately 2,500 farmworker housing units, and about 1,200 university student beds.
It could also help up to 40,000 households with homeownership assistance, including eligible veterans.
The actual number of people helped would depend on construction costs, available financing, program implementation, and how effectively the funds are used.
And these investments would not reduce housing costs for everyone.
When a reporter asked whether Proposition 1 could bring down rising housing prices across California, Flegel acknowledged that the measure would not provide a universal solution.
That is an important distinction for voters.
The bond could help create and preserve affordable homes for eligible households, but it would not automatically reduce the rent or mortgage payments of everyone struggling to afford housing.
Would Proposition 1 Raise Taxes?
One of the concerns raised during the briefing was whether Proposition 1 would impose a new tax on Californians.
The measure does not directly establish a new tax. It would authorize the state to borrow money through bonds.
But that money must be repaid, with interest.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, $10 billion of the bonds would be repaid from California’s General Fund, which also supports services such as education and healthcare.
The remaining $1.25 billion, allocated to veterans’ home loans, would be repaid through payments made by participating borrowers.
The state’s independent fiscal analysis estimates that repayment of the housing bonds would increase state costs by approximately $500 million to $600 million annually for about 25 years.
That is a significant financial commitment.
Supporters argue that affordable housing should be treated as long-term public infrastructure, much like transportation systems or water projects, because the benefits can continue for generations.
But voters also have to consider the cost of borrowing and how future budgets will accommodate debt repayment alongside other public priorities.
California faces substantial needs in healthcare, education, and other essential services.
The question is not only whether affordable housing is needed, but whether this particular investment and its long-term costs represent the right approach.
Can Proposition 1 Really Solve California’s Housing Crisis?
Perhaps one of the most important messages from the briefing was the acknowledgment that Proposition 1 alone will not solve California’s housing crisis.
Flegel described a housing shortage that has developed over decades and will require multiple solutions.
Those include continued housing investment, stronger renter protections, and policies that allow more homes to be built efficiently.
Dueñas described housing as essential infrastructure that the state has not developed at the scale needed.
Smith emphasized that California must both help people experiencing homelessness and prevent others from losing their homes.
These are important considerations because Californians have already seen billions of dollars spent addressing housing and homelessness.
It is reasonable to ask what will be different this time.
How many affordable homes will actually be built? How many existing homes will be preserved? How many families will move into stable housing? And will people facing the greatest barriers be able to access the programs?
Those questions deserve answers long after the election is over.
Voters should also understand that the speakers at the briefing represented housing organizations and advocates who largely support Proposition 1.
The official voter guide includes arguments from supporters, but no formal opposition argument was submitted.
That does not eliminate the need to examine the measure’s costs, limitations, and long-term effectiveness.
What Your Vote Means on November 3
A YES vote on Proposition 1 would authorize California to borrow $11.25 billion to support the affordable housing and veterans’ programs included in the measure.
A NO vote would mean the state could not issue those bonds under Proposition 1.
Existing housing programs would not automatically end if the measure failed, but they would not receive this particular source of funding.
For Californians preparing to vote, the decision deserves careful consideration.
Proposition 1 offers a way to invest in affordable housing, preserve existing homes, and help some families achieve homeownership.
It also creates a financial obligation that future state budgets would have to meet.
For immigrant families, farmworkers, seniors, veterans, and working households struggling with housing costs, the potential benefits are meaningful—but not guaranteed.
The real test will come after the election, when promises must become homes, and families must be able to access them.
Before casting your ballot, take time to understand what Proposition 1 would do, what it would cost, and who it is designed to help.
Because housing is not just about having a roof over your head. It is about whether you can build a life, raise your family, and have a place in the community you call home.
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