NEWS & UPDATES
From the LeSar Portfolio of Firms
January 2026 Newsletter
Two Bills, One Deadline: How Congress Is Navigating Housing Reform Heading into 2026
As Congress begins its 2026 legislative session, lawmakers continue negotiating how to fund Federal housing and homelessness programs amid a looming continuing resolution (CR) [...]
California Legislative and Budget Outlook: A Session Shaped by Deadlines, Feasibility, and Transition
Article Contributor: Holly Fraumeni de Jesus, Political Consultant, Lighthouse Public Affairs As the 2026 legislative session begins, California policymakers are entering a compressed and [...]
Consolidated Plan Support in California’s Central Valley Shows Need to Address Affordable Housing and Homelessness Challenges
As the new Federal administration budget negotiations continue, localities need continued support to prepare their Consolidated Plans, comprehensive planning documents required by the U.S. [...]
Don’t Miss Future Newsletter Issues! (We’re changing the sending address for our monthly newsletter)
Starting in April 2026, our newsletter will be sent from: [email protected] (instead of [email protected]) To make sure you continue receiving our emails without interruption, [...]
What We’re Reading
REPORTS / RESOURCES
Mayors Applaud Passage of Housing for the 21st Century Act in House Committee | U.S. Conference of Mayors | December 2025
The Potential End of Emergency Housing Voucher Funding: Public Housing Agencies’ Search for Solutions | Terner Center for Housing | December 2025
Building Renter Wealth: An Evaluation of Shared Prosperity Rental (SPR) Housing Program Design and Feasibility | UCLA Lewis Center | December 2025
The Impact of Residential Mobility on Segregation in California | UCLA Lewis Center & California Housing Partnership | December 2025
Californians’ Concern About Homelessness Has Softened | Public Policy Institute of California | October 2025
ARTICLES/MEDIA
Cities Can’t Punish Outreach Workers for Helping Homeless Californians Under New Law | CalMatters | December 28, 2025
This Program Gets Homeless People into Housing Fast. Will It Be One of the Last? | San Diego Union-Tribune | December 28, 2025
Trump Says ‘Housing First’ Failed the Homeless. Here’s What the Evidence Says. | New York Times | December 25, 2025
Year in Review: Big Changes to California Housing Policy | CalMatters | December 24, 2025
Why Homeownership in California Isn’t Nearly the Financial Slam Dunk It Once Was | CalMatters | December 19, 2025
What’s in the Housing for the 21st Century Act? | Bipartisan Policy Center | December 18, 2025
Congress Must Act to Prevent Cuts That Would Leave Hundreds of Thousands at High Risk of Homelessness | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | December 17, 2025
20% of Sacramento Shelter Guests Go on to Permanent Housing. Is There a Better Way? | Sacramento Bee | December 12, 2025
HUD Temporarily Withdraws Continuum of Care NOFO Amid Program Uncertainty | National Association of Counties | December 8, 2025
With Homelessness Rising, New Federal Rules Could Benefit States That Take Tougher Approaches | Stateline | December 5, 2025