(San Jose: August 30, 2006) The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County has joined hundreds of organizations across California to endorse Proposition 1C on November’s ballot.

In our communities, the problems of homelessness, home affordability, and domestic violence are getting progressively worse:
• More than 360,000 Californians are homeless every night.
• Last year, 5,108 women and children were turned away from full domestic-violence shelters.
• Home affordability is at a historical low.

The Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act (Proposition 1C) offers a greater variety of housing options for California’s middle- to low-income families in communities throughout the state. Both renters as well as future homeowners benefit from the bond’s critical programs, which include:
• Multifamily Housing Program - Builds apartments for seniors, families, and people with disabilities — $395 million
• Emergency Housing Assistance Program - Builds and renovates emergency shelters and transitional rental homes for homeless families with children, battered women, and individuals — $50 million
• Supportive Housing Program - Builds apartments with support services for people with chronic disabilities, such as mental illness or physical disabilities — $195 million
• Farmworker Housing Grant Program — Builds for-sale and rental homes for agricultural workers — $135 million
• Cal-HOME Program - Funds a range of homeownership programs — $300 million
• California Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Program - Provides assistance in the form of second loans for down payment and closing costs — $200 million
• Programs to provide infrastructure vital to home development — $1.35 billion

This measure will be funded out of existing state resources without raising taxes.

The Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act will not only provide a stable home for California’s working families; women escaping violent environments; and people with mental illness/disabilities — the bond will also boost California’s economy, through new jobs and an overall increase in housing-industry economic activity.

Prop 1C is endorsed by Habitat for Humanity (Greater Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, and San Diego), AARP, CA Partnership to End Domestic Violence, Foster Youth Alliance, CA Chamber of Commerce, CA State Sheriffs Association, the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County, and hundreds of other organizations.