NEWS & UPDATES
From the LeSar Portfolio of Firms
May 2025 Newsletter
California Legislature Convenes in Light of Wildfire Disasters, Focusing on Key Housing Themes
In Fall 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law over 60 housing-related bills, most of which became effective January 1, 2025. These new laws will likely shape housing [...]
Rising Housing Insurance Rates are Impacting Owners and Developers
Nearly every day since the recent wildfires in Los Angeles started on January 7th, 2025, the Governor has issued executive orders waiving fees, permitting and review requirements under the California [...]
New Administration’s First Month Signals Shift in Approach to Housing and Homelessness
The new Trump administration ushered in new appointments and executive orders that both underscored the need for affordable housing and signaled a shift in approach towards housing and homelessness, [...]
Biden-Harris Administration Awards $100M in Second HUD PRO Housing Grants
Note: Last week, the Trump budget office issued and then rescinded a memo freezing spending on federal loans and grants, sparking widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country. [...]
Looking Back on 2024 and Moving Forward to 2025
Reflecting on the events of the past year, we recognize the potential future headwinds facing the development of more stable, safe, and affordable housing in California. At the same time, [...]
What We’re Reading
REPORTS / RESOURCES
California Affordable Housing Needs Report 2025 | California Housing Partnership | April 2025
Improving America’s Housing 2025 | Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University | April 2025
Success on the Street | SPUR | March 2025
The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes | National Low-Income Housing Coalition | March 2025
ARTICLES/MEDIA
San Diego City Council Approves Law Banning Technology Used in Rental Price Fixing | Fox5 San Diego | April 16, 2025
Housing Bills Looking to Achieve ‘Functional Zero’ In Unsheltered Homelessness | San Diego Union Tribune | April 12, 2025
California Lawmakers Push to Lower Rent Cap, Expand Protections. Property Owners Are Worried | KQED | April 2, 2025
LA County Defunds LA Homeless Services Authority, Creates Its Own Department | Fox LA | April 2, 2025
LA Passes ‘Right To Counsel’ Law, But Many Tenants Facing Eviction Won’t Get A Lawyer Yet | LAist | April 1, 2025
Modular Housing May Finally Have Its Day — As Solution to Wildfire Rebuilding | LA Times | March 27, 2025
Judge Orders HUD To Release $30 Million In Grants to Fair Housing Groups | Common Wealth Beacon | March 27, 2025
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why? | Planetizen | March 27, 2025
Will This Bill be the End of California’s Housing vs Environment Wars? | CalMatters | March 26, 2025
Affordable Housing Developers Stalled by Blocked Federal Funds | CityLab | March 25, 2025