A message from Miguel A. Santana, President & CEO

A home is more than shelter. It is the foundation for a stable workforce, healthy communities and the dignity every person needs to thrive. At the California Community Foundation (CCF), our pursuit of a good life for all Angelenos calls us to continually examine whether the policies shaping our region are advancing that vision.

That is why CCF is calling for thoughtful, targeted refinements to Measure ULA — a Los Angeles voter-approved transfer tax on property sales above $5 million that funds affordable housing, homelessness prevention and tenant assistance programs — which we proudly supported. We believed then, and continue to believe, that confronting the housing and homelessness crisis requires bold, reliable funding. At the same time, early experience and emerging data suggest the measure’s current structure has contributed to reduced transactions, slower housing production and increased housing costs.

Our position is simple: Los Angeles needs both sustainable funding for housing solutions and the conditions that allow housing to be built. These goals are interdependent.

The Los Angeles we seek is one where more families can afford to stay — where a working parent in Boyle Heights, a teacher in the Valley or a senior in South Los Angeles can find a stable place to call home. Achieving that future requires supporting those experiencing housing instability while ensuring new homes can be produced across income levels.

A Path Forward: Refinement, Not Retreat

Every home built — affordable or market-rate — eases market pressure, creates jobs and strengthens neighborhoods. Yet multifamily development in Los Angeles has slowed, leaving projects stalled and investment uncertain even as surrounding communities continue building. When production slows, the effects ripple outward: fewer homes, fewer jobs and reduced revenues that support schools, counties and essential services.

Carefully calibrated improvements to Measure ULA can help address these dynamics — preserving dedicated resources while restoring the flexibility, predictability and investment climate needed to accelerate production. As discussions about the future of Measure ULA continue, CCF believes the most effective path forward is to build on its foundation through thoughtful refinement rather than revisit its existence.

Flexibility will be especially important in a shifting fiscal landscape, as reductions and uncertainty across federal, state and county funding streams increase pressure on local systems. Done well, this approach honors voters’ intent while strengthening the measure’s long-term impact.

Looking Ahead

This moment also carries urgency. It is imperative to expand affordable housing to help our resilient wildfire survivors and displaced Angelenos gain stability. A Los Angeles that can recover and remain accessible must continue to build.

Grounded in data, experience and ongoing dialogue across the housing ecosystem, this work reflects our commitment to responsive, effective solutions. In the months ahead, CCF will continue working across sectors to advance evidence-based approaches that sustain critical funding, accelerate housing production and strengthen the pathway toward the Los Angeles our communities deserve.

In this issue, we’re spotlighting partners who are expanding economic opportunities, which is central to CCF’s commitment to ensuring all residents can achieve a good life. One nonprofit is brewing up better lives for young people through paid internships with a grant distributed by CCF from the state California Jobs First initiative. And during February’s Black History Month, we highlight two leaders who will continue steering that economic development work – both living examples of the community’s progress and resilience over centuries of racism and hardship.

With appreciation,

Miguel A. Santana

President & CEO
California Community Foundation