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California Housing Director Affordability Advocate
Lynn Jacobs, president of the Building Industry Association of Southern California and Ventura Affordable Homes, has been named the new director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Jacobs’ duties include managing housing finance, rehabilitation and community development programs across the state to preserve and expand safe and affordable housing opportunities and promote strong communities for all Californians.
With nearly 20 years of experience promoting affordable housing development, Jacobs sits on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the California Building Industry Association, which represents more than 6,500 builders and other industry partners throughout California. Jacobs sits on and has chaired several boards and organizations, including the California Housing Partnership Corporation, the Loan and Grant Committee for the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County, the Ventura County Unified School District Bond Oversight Committee and the City of Ventura Planning Commission.
The biggest task for the new director will be to oversee awarding nearly $800 million remaining in a $2.1 billion housing bond intended for low-income and first-time home-buyer programs. The governor has directed the department to expedite awards of the bond funds, which have been used for more than 83,000 housing units and shelter beds in less than three years. Additionally, the first project eligible for funding from the Governor’s Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness has been submitted and received preliminary approvals.
Jacobs, in recognition of California’s steady population growth, will be working to encourage increased housing production. She is also charged with assisting Sunne Wright McPeak, secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, to advance the governor’s historic infrastructure agenda. Lack of infrastructure is cited by local governments as a major obstacle to approval of housing projects.
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