Habitat California Responds to CalHome Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ellen Immergut | Director of Communications
Habitat for Humanity California
ellen@habitatca.org
619-379-5793
Habitat for Humanity California Celebrates Final CalHome Awards and Urges Governor to Restore Funding for Affordable Homeownership
SACRAMENTO, CA - Habitat for Humanity California joins Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in celebrating the final round of awards from the CalHome Program, a long-standing and vital source of funding for affordable homeownership in our state. These awards will help Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other nonprofit developers continue building and preserving homes that create stability, independence, and generational wealth for California families earning lower incomes.
Habitat for Humanity affiliates were awarded over $46 million in CalHome funding in this round, which will build and preserve 472 homes in 16 California communities.
While Habitat is deeply grateful for these awards, the organization warns that without renewed investment in CalHome, this marks the end of California’s only state program dedicated exclusively to increasing affordable homeownership supply. The 2025–26 state budget eliminated CalHome funding, leaving thousands of ownership opportunities in jeopardy across the state.
“CalHome has been a cornerstone of Habitat’s ability to serve working families who aspire to own a home, build equity, and achieve stability for their family,” said Debbie Arakel, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity California. “These final awards will make a meaningful difference for the families and communities they reach, but without new investment, the hundreds of homes we stand ready to build will be stalled before construction even begins. California cannot afford to walk away from homeownership as part of its comprehensive solution to solve our state’s housing crisis – there are just too many benefits, including improved health and educational outcomes, increased civic engagement, and less reliance on ongoing government assistance.”
Since its inception, the CalHome Program has enabled Habitat for Humanity affiliates across California to help thousands of families achieve safe, stable, and affordable homeownership. A 2023 infusion of $250 million into CalHome demonstrated what’s possible when the state invests in equitable housing opportunities - fueling construction and preservation of hundreds of Habitat homes that would not otherwise exist.
Habitat for Humanity California is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislators to fund CalHome in the 2026–27 state budget and continue advancing policies that ensure homeownership remains within reach for California’s working families.
“Affordable homeownership changes lives, strengthens entire communities, and builds intergenerational stability,” said Arakel. “Replenishing CalHome funding is an investment not just in homes, but in California’s future.”
About Habitat for Humanity California
Habitat for Humanity California is the statewide support organization for the 30+ Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving communities across California. We work to increase access to safe, decent, and affordable housing through advocacy, resource development, and capacity-building efforts that strengthen the impact of our local affiliates. Together, we help families build and improve places to call home, empowering them to achieve stability, self-reliance, and a brighter future. Since our founding, Habitat affiliates in California have built, renovated, and repaired thousands of homes in partnership with hardworking families and generous volunteers and donors.
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