Together, we can build the housing Placer needs

Placer County faces a growing housing crisis, and local leaders are taking action. On June 10, the Board of Supervisors approved a 2025-2029 Housing Action Plan, which aims to build 1,300 affordable housing units over the next five years. The Placer Community Foundation recently hosted a housing discussion with local partners, officials and advocates. The event featured Secretary Tomiquia Moss and Deputy Secretary Sasha Kergan of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. We brought together people from across the region. James Corless, executive director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, joined us in a conversation with the City of Roseville team, including Councilmember Bruce Houdesheldt, to discuss inclusive development in the city. We also met with Placer County's Health and Human Services staff and partners to talk about the need for permanent supportive housing. Later, we spoke with faith-based leaders and affordable housing advocates to talk about streamlining approvals, funding and specific opportunities for churches to be part of the solution. One community stood out in the conversation: Roseville. For more than 30 years, the city has prioritized affordable housing in its planning process. Roseville has integrated housing into specific plans, revitalized its downtown and worked effectively with both public and private partners. It's a clear example of local government leading with intention and results. At Placer Community Foundation, we've supported affordable housing work for more than 15 years. Our donors have funded community-based housing advocacy, outreach and education. We've also helped strengthen faith-based coalitions, including efforts tied to SB4, which allows affordable housing development on church-owned land. As co-chair of the League of California Community Foundations' public policy committee, I see the housing challenges faced across the state. The league is working closely with Secretary Moss and her team to advance solutions. Only four community foundations in California hosted the secretary during her recent visits. We were proud to be one of them. Now it's time to turn plans into progress. The county's goal – 1,300 affordable housing units – is ambitious but necessary. It's one thing to have a plan, and another for the plans to turn into actionable results. We need funding for affordable housing projects to be built. The developers of affordable housing have to see the money pencil out, after all. And we need community support. So when these projects come up for approval by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, it's important to make your voice heard in support of responsible development. Placer County needs housing that working families, seniors and young people can afford. Let's work together to make that happen. Veronica Blake is CEO of the Placer Community Foundation.