Redlands joins regional housing trust to boost affordable housing efforts

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands City Council unanimously approved joining a new regional housing initiative this week, authorizing participation in the San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust.

Why it matters: Redlands, like much of California, is facing mounting pressure from rising housing costs, limited supply and increasing homelessness. Through joining the regional trust, Redlands can access new funding and work collaboratively with other cities to build more affordable housing.

Details: The council adopted Resolution No. 8766, formally entering the city into a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that will govern the San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust.

The trust will bring cities and agencies together to pool money and support affordable housing projects, including building new units, preserving existing housing and rehabilitation.

It will also allow member agencies to jointly apply for state, federal and private funding opportunities — resources that can be harder to secure alone.

Under the agreement, which has been in development since 2021, Redlands will have a seat on a governing board made up of local leaders and housing policy experts. The board will oversee funding decisions, budgets and policy direction.

The JPA can apply for grants, issue bonds, and provide loans, but it doesn’t have authority over local land use decisions. Cities retain full control over zoning and housing development within their jurisdictions.

Participation will cost Redlands an estimated $31,000 to $55,000 annually once the program is fully operational. Costs can potentially decrease if more agencies join.

What they’re saying: Mayor Mario Saucedo called the move a “worthwhile investment,” adding that addressing affordable housing remains a top priority for the city.

Resident Bruce Laycook also voiced strong support for the trust.

“This is a great idea. The number one priority for state, local and federal government needs to be to find a way to produce the largest number of affordable units for the lowest possible cost per unit,” Laycook said. “This cooperative effort…sounds like it could be a very, very beneficial way to do that.”

Moving forward: The housing trust is still in its early stages, and key decisions about how it will operate are continuing to take shape.

Redlands retains the option to withdraw from the agreement in the future if needed, but for now, city leaders are positioning the move as a step toward addressing one of the region’s most pressing challenges.