Help Local Families: Advocate for CalHome

Some of the homeowners we partner with wanted to share what homeownership means for them and their families. All of these homeowner families were helped on their journey to homeownership in part by funds from CalHome – this is the only state funding that is specifically for affordable homeownership. Let their words and experiences speak for the importance of access to homeownership, and join us in advocating for the reinstatment of CalHome in the state budget. Scroll to the bottom of the page for our quick, step by step guide to making your voice heard in support of CalHome!.

Saul, Redwood City homeowner

“Owning my home means my family and I have stability, security, and a sense of pride. It gives us a foundation to build our future, invest in our community, and provide a safe space where memories are made.”

Isabel and Saul moved into their Redwood City Habitat home in 2022. Their family of four has enjoyed the stability they have found through homeownership and the growth they have experienced for their two sons.

Kristen, San Francisco homeowner

“Owning my home means my family and I have stability, safety, and a place we can truly make our own. It’s allowed us to stay close to school, work, and community, and has given my children the security of knowing they have a permanent home.”

Stability is a word we hear from homeowners time and again, it’s a word that comes up so often as it is a vital and tangible outcome of owning a home. Since moving in, Kristen has experienced this stability first hand, and is building a foundation for her sons, who themselves are fifth generation San Franciscans, and enabling them to stay close to their deep roots and network.

Monica, Redwood City homeowner

“Owning my home means my family and I have somewhere warm, comfortable and safe to be. Somewhere we can each have our own space and be ourselves. A place to create lasting memories of laughter and love.”

Affordable homeownership has many fundamental impacts on a family – the feeling of stability, ability to save and more financial independence, equity building – the list is long. Monica and her family who moved into their Redwood City home in 2022 have experienced those things, and their experience highlights the more personal but just as important effects of owning your own home – pride of homeownership, being able to make it your own and having a safe space to be truly yourself.

Be an Advocate for Affordable Homeownership

You can make your voice heard in support of CalHome, the only state funding in California for affordable homeownership. Simply follow the steps below to let your representative know the importance of access to affordable homeownership and reinstating CalHome in the state budget to support it.

Thank you for your support, when we raise our voices together we can make real change happen!

Visit https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ and input your street address, city and zip code to find your California representatives.
You can call them or send an email through their contact on their webpage, using the below script.
If you would like a letter or email addressing your concerns from the office, let them know that you would like a response and repeat your name and contact information before ending the call.

CALL / EMAIL SCRIPT:

Good morning/afternoon. My name is (first and last name) and live in (location) in

(elected official name)’s district. Firstly, I’d like to share my thanks for their support of housing in our district. I would also like to share my concerns with (elected official name) about the removal of funding for CalHome in the state budget.

Cutting CalHome, the only state funding for homeownership, impacts my community and my neighbors. I am concerned about the impact these cuts will have on access to affordable homeownership in my community. Money from the CalHome program is used to increase affordable homeownership production and preserve the homes of low-income families. However, the money from CalHome has completely run out.

The housing crisis affects everyone in California and increasing access to affordable housing and housing for ownership is a vital part in tackling this affordability issue.

I hope (elected official name) will support the reinstatement of $280million for CalHome in the state budget. Thank you.