Gov. Jerry Brown met with local and state officials last week in DTLA to discuss a topic under much debate: affordable housing statewide.

The state is in an affordable housing crisis with current building meeting less than half of what is needed to address demand.

New affordable housing projects are 12% more expensive and can take more time, around 30% longer, to approve due to required local approvals.

LA Councilman Gil Cedillo, state director of Housing and Community Development Ben Metcalf, Southern California Association of Governments executive director Hasan Ikhrata and Abode Communities Robin Huges were all in attendance.

Gov. Brown is proposing bypassing local approvals and allowing by-right development that would include 20% affordable housing units being set aside in new projects, according to Urbanize LA.

The plan includes $400M in funding for affordable housing.

It could also be eligible for a 2-to-1 federal fund match. [ULA]