Council Approves $9 Million in Federal Funding for Housing, Homelessness and Health
Nonprofit leaders and service providers testified Tuesday that HUD entitlement funding keeps critical programs running as federal support shrinks.
Housing
Latest
City Pursues $8.4M State Grant to Address Magnolia Avenue Homeless Encampments
Council authorizes application for three-year outreach and housing program targeting corridor between Central and La Sierra.
Planning Commission Approves 300-Unit Housing Project on Former Scrap Metal Site
The project would preserve the historic Barley Mills Building and redevelop a contaminated Commerce Street site that operated as a scrap yard for more than 45 years.
City Moves to Require Advance Notice for Unhoused Drop-Offs
A proposed ordinance would require agencies and organizations to notify the city 24 hours before transporting unhoused individuals into Riverside.
Civil Rights Agency is Investigating Riverside Over Rejected Permanent Supportive Housing Project
State investigators will look into whether council members broke fair housing law when they turned down $20.1 million for the University Terrace Project.
City Has 401 Affordable Units in Development, but Homelessness Count Ticks Up
City staff reported 401 affordable units in development at Monday's Housing and Homelessness Committee meeting, as advocates pressed officials to move faster.
City Council Approves $3 Million in Loans to Keep Mulberry Gardens on Track
Loans will help cover construction delays at the 25-unit senior and 9-unit family affordable housing project on Mulberry Street.
Council Approves Pilot Program to Redistribute Unused Housing Capacity Along University Avenue
The University Avenue Density Transfer Pilot Program lets developers move unused residential capacity between parcels — without increasing the corridor's overall housing limit.
Riverside Awarded $20.4 Million to Fund Homelessness Programs as Housing Concerns Grow
The state HHAP grant arrives as the city continues to fall short on affordable housing targets and faces fallout from its January rejection of a $20.1 million Homekey+ award.
Council Applies for $1.44 Million Pro-Housing Grant Amid State Scrutiny
The City Council voted to approve a grant application for affordable housing funding as state regulators raise questions about Riverside's commitment to its housing targets.
City Libraries Double as Social Service Hubs as Homeless Outreach Program Eyes Expansion
Library-based social work program served 329 people last year and is seeking two more years of funding.
City Falls Far Short of State Housing Mandate, Report Shows
Five years into an eight-year housing plan, the City has permitted no new very low-income housing since 2021 and faces a state investigation over a rejected grant.
In Case You Missed It
Riverside Considers Expanding Backyard Housing Options, Separate ADU Sales
Proposals could allow more homes on smaller lots and give homeowners the option to sell accessory dwelling units separately.
Noteworthy
A UCR public policy expert argues that the City Council's 4-3 vote to reject $20 million in state homeless housing funding was emblematic of local governments prioritizing NIMBY pressure over a county homelessness crisis affecting an estimated 4,200 people.
Rental assistance during the pandemic significantly improved mental health for recipients, according to UCR research analyzing California's $5.2 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program—with recipients reporting reduced psychological distress equivalent to moving from "fair" to "good" mental health and showing lower rates of depression and anxiety compared to non-recipients.
A UCR Center for Community Solutions report identifies clusters of tax-defaulted properties across Riverside and San Bernardino counties—including Lake Elsinore (18% delinquency rate) and Lake Arrowhead (15%)—as potential land banking opportunities for affordable housing despite infrastructure and environmental challenges.