1st of the Month - LeSar Portfolio of Firms

Bringing you updates on legislation, policy, and other news relating to middle-income and affordable housing, homelessness, and sustainable communities.

MARCH 2026

FEDERAL UPDATES

Federal Update: FY 2026 HUD Funding Enacted; Bipartisan Housing Reform Advances

After weeks of negotiation against the backdrop of a continuing resolution and broader appropriations process, Congress finalized full-year funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Fiscal Year 2026.

The FY 26 appropriations bill, part of the larger Consolidated Appropriations Act, was signed into law in early February, providing $77.3 billion in HUD program funding, an increase of more than $7.2 billion over the prior year. These funding levels resulted from vocal advocacy efforts across the country following earlier budget drafts that proposed cuts.

by Jennifer LeSar

Founder and CEO

LeSar Portfolio of Firms

STATE UPDATES

California Housing Update: Budget Constraints, Bond Momentum, and Innovation

As the Legislature reconvened for the second year of its two-year cycle, housing has continued to surface as a key area of focus. Over the past two months, lawmakers have navigated high-profile policy debates, fiscal constraints, and emerging innovation strategies that together signal both the limits and the possibilities shaping California’s 2026 housing agenda.

From the defeat of another rent regulation proposal to the advancement of a multibillion-dollar affordable housing bond and renewed attention to construction innovation, the Capitol’s recent activity offers an early snapshot of where the housing debate is headed this year.

Community Colleges as Workforce Partners in Homelessness Response: Partnering with Santa Monica College

Throughout the country, homeless service providers are facing high staffing vacancies, worker burnout, and training challenges, while at the same time, demand for homeless services continues to grow. Addressing the homelessness crisis will require an enhanced ability to attract, mentor, and retain frontline homeless services staff and develop strategic partnerships to do so.

LeSar Development Consultants (LDC) has partnered with Los Angeles County’s Santa Monica College to examine workforce challenges in the County’s homelessness sector and explore how community colleges can be an important partner in addressing training and onboarding gaps experienced by new frontline staff in homeless services.

by Colleen Murphy

Principal, Homelessness Solutions Team

LeSar Development Consultants

Article Contributor: Stefan Gonzalez

Senior Associate, Homelessness
Solutions Team

LeSar Development Consultants

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RECENT INDUSTRY REPORTS

The Cost of Fragmentation: A Comparison of State Affordable Housing Finance Governance Systems | Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley | February 2026
2026 Federal Housing Policy Preview | Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley | January 2026
Abundance for Who? | Center on Poverty & Inequality, Georgetown Law | January 2026
Assessing the Cost of Impact Fees on Affordable Housing: An Analysis of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Projects in California | Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley | January 2026
Worst Case Housing Needs for Renters Ticked Down, But Remain High | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies | January 2026

WHAT WE'RE READING

Factory-Built Housing Hasn’t Taken Off in California Yet, But This Year Might be Different | CalMatters | February 13, 2026
Slums? Informal Settlements? Just Call These Cities ‘Homegrown’ | CityLab | February 11, 2026
California's Blockbuster Housing Legislation Faces Rocky Rollout | Politico | February 10, 2026
SMC Expands Homeless Services Training Program With $355K Grant | Santa Monica Daily Press | February 10, 2026
Can Condo Conversions Deliver Long-Term Affordability? | Shelterforce | February 6, 2026
State Doesn't Have Enough Money for Affordable Housing Fund, Lawmakers Say | Sacramento Bee | January 23, 2026
An Experiment to Move Homeless People Into Long-Term Housing Is Still Going Strong | Voice of San Diego | January 23, 2026
Sacramento is Doubling Down on Tiny Homes. Is it a Bold Move or a Misguided One? | Sacramento Bee | January 23, 2026
Building Affordable Housing in California is Pricey and Slow. Newsom Wants to Fix it by Consolidating Power | Politico | January 21, 2026
This Acclaimed S.F. Restaurant is Offering an Unusual Employee Benefit: Housing | San Francisco Chronicle | January 21, 2026

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With a diverse range of subject matter expertise and an unwavering commitment to equity, access, and excellence, the LeSar portfolio of companies is uniquely positioned to drive the systemic changes and capacity building necessary to address the housing affordability and homelessness crises.

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