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Amid soaring home prices in California—where the median home price exceeds $850,000, and $1,500 a month barely covers a 240-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles or San Francisco—Assembly Bill 1840 has sparked a heated debate. This bill, introduced by Assemblymember Arambula, proposes using California taxpayer dollars to assist illegal immigrants with down payments for their first homes.
The bill, initially named the "California Dream for All Program" and now called the Home Purchase Assistance Program: Eligibility, aims to create a revolving fund to offer up to $1 billion annually to first-time homebuyers. The goal is to expand homeownership opportunities and wealth accumulation, but it has drawn criticism for potentially prioritizing illegal immigrants over other struggling Californians, including veterans.
Senate Republicans argue that AB 1840 diverts funds from programs supporting veterans, who face high home prices while serving the country. Critics, including State Senator Brian Dahle, claim that the bill unfairly favors undocumented individuals at a time when California is grappling with a significant budget deficit and escalating housing affordability issues.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which sponsored the bill, has received over $44 million in government grants and contributions, however, they continue to advocate for taxpayer-funded housing assistance for illegal immigrants. This has led to questions about why CHIRLA, with substantial net assets, doesn’t use its funds for this purpose.