California’s governor supports farmworker homeownership with $16M in grants

Anyone who daydreams about moving to sunny California may be brought down to earth quickly after checking real estate listings.

Although 1 in 8 Americans reside in the Golden State, according to census data, California remains one of the most expensive states for homeownership. For many that work and live there — such as farmworkers who power the state’s agricultural sector — buying a home remains out of reach.

To help close this housing gap, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently awarded $16 million in grants to increase homeownership for the state's farmworkers. The grants will support five programs to build or purchase homes for lower-income farmworkers and advance programs that help them become or remain homeowners through mortgage assistance, according to a news release.

What’s more, San Mateo County will receive $5 million to purchase homes for survivors of a January shooting at farms in Half Moon Bay.

“California isn’t California without our farmworkers — not only are they our state’s economic backbone, but they help us produce over a third of our country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts. Our farmworkers have our backs — now it’s time we have theirs,” Newsom said in the release.

Newsom said the grants will help make the California dream a reality for many of farmworkers by helping them become homeowners — and help them lay a foundation for future generations.

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“We are so grateful to Governor Newsom and the state of California for this vital influx of resources in support of our efforts to ensure that every farm working family in Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County is living with dignity in safe, healthy and affordable housing,” San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller said in the release.

The Department of Housing and Community Development awarded today’s grants through the Joe Serna, Jr. Housing Grant program.

The grant programs to advance homeownership include:

• Development projects.

• Self-help technical assistance projects.

• Mortgage assistance programs.

• Programs for the acquisition of manufactured housing for agricultural workers.

“Agricultural workers are integral to the vitality of California and its economy, yet too often they face housing insecurity that can increase the likelihood of job loss,” Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez said in the release. “These awards will create homeownership opportunities, which leads to greater housing and economic stability for these essential workers — strengthening ties to their local communities and allowing their families to create generational wealth.”

Farmworker homeownership grants awarded by region  

• Half Moon Bay — San Mateo County: $5,000,000.

• Fresno County — California Center for Cooperative Development: $5,000,000.

• Santa Maria — People’s Self-Help Housing: $4,004,000.

• Watsonville — Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay: $1,202,500.

• Kern, Madera, Merced — Self-Help Enterprises: $999,370.