June 11 Support letter SB 37 Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act of 2023

June 11, 2024

The Honorable Christopher Ward, Chair 
Assembly Committee on Housing and 
Community Development 
1020 N Street, Room 156 
Sacramento, California 95814 

The Honorable Jasmeet Bains, Chair 
Assembly Committee on Aging and
Long-Term Care 
1020 N Street, Room 153 
Sacramento, California 95814 

Re: Senate Bill 37 (Caballero): Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act of 2023: Support 

Dear Chairs Ward & Bains, 

On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I write in support of Senate Bill 37, which would provide the state’s first housing subsidies to older adults and adults with disabilities who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Additionally, we urge legislators and HCD to consider including Marin County in the initial 5 geographic areas for the Pilot program, as Marin’s high cost of living is a persistent challenge for low-income older adults and adults with disabilities who are long-time residents of our community. 

Affording the rising cost of housing is increasingly difficult for low-income older adults and those living with disabilities in California – many of whom rely on a fixed Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For extremely low-income renters, roughly 8 out of 10 spend more than 50% of their monthly income on rent, placing them at risk of homelessness. Homelessness for adults in California over 65 is expected to triple between 2017 and 2030, which is why a key goal of the California Master Plan for Aging addresses older adult homelessness. 

Nearly one-third of Marin residents are over 60, and nearly half who rent (56%) spend more than 30% of their income on rent (ACS 2017-2021). The County is seeing this issue worsen, and quickly. The Marin County Area Agency on Aging’s 2023 Older Adult Needs Assessment found that older adults who reported they were “very concerned” with housing affordability doubled from 2019 to 2023 (10% to 20%). In addition, financial security was the concern among older adults that increased the most over the study’s four-year period; jumping from being a concern to 13% of older adults in Marin in 2019 to nearly one-third (29%) in 2023. 

Yet, to date, no comprehensive state program exists to provide long-term housing subsidies for older and disabled adults on fixed incomes – and federal programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers often take years for applicants to access, and can accommodate only a fraction of eligible applicants. 

SB 37 would address this issue by directing the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to develop the “Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Pilot Program”, which would offer competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, continuums of care, public housing authorities, and Area Agencies on Aging to administer a housing subsidy program. Grants would cover the difference between 30% of a person’s household income and the unit’s reasonable rent, and be prioritized in communities where high proportions of renters face cost burdens. In its pilot stage, the program will be available in up to 5 geographic regions or counties. 

We believe SB 37 will meaningfully address homelessness for a vulnerable group of Californians in need of additional financial support. We are proud to support the bill, and encourage your “aye” vote when it is heard in the Assembly Committees on Housing and Community Development and Aging and Long-Term Care.

Sincerely,

Dennis Rodoni, President
Marin County Board of Supervisors

Cc: Marin County Board of Supervisors
Senator Mike McGuire
Assemblymember Damon Connolly