Small Housing Wrapped: 2022 Wins for Homeowners, the Industry, and Casita Coalition

As 2022 comes to a close, we look back in gratitude to all the changes that have come to the world of small housing, and all the work we have accomplished at Casita Coalition. This year saw big wins for small housing advocates all over California, including new ADU bills signed into law, $50 million in additional funds added to the State budget for ADU grants to homeowners, and three small-housing-friendly energy code updates that will make it easier to build ADUs (effective January 1, 2023). 

It’s been a true privilege to work alongside our members, donors, sponsors and mission-aligned partners on our efforts to improve housing variety and choice in California. The message is clearly getting through—small homes help our communities and our state become more sustainable, inclusive and resilient. 76 new members joined our ranks this year, and thanks to all of you, we have kept up the momentum and expanded our work in policy, education, finance, and sector development.

Here are the highlights of what we’ve been able to accomplish in 2022:

We helped more homeowners get ADUs built by…

… hosting in-person ADU fairs for homeowners in the Bay Area and Los Angeles - our first big events since COVID!

…producing 11 hot topics webinars about ADUs and small housing, which are now available to watch on our YouTube channel! Topic highlights include Garage Conversions, ADUs and Equity, Community Land Trusts, and more.

…releasing five technical assistance guidebooks for homeowners and ADU professionals: Garage Conversions, ADU Finance, ADU Best Practices, Multifamily ADUs, and SB 9 Guidance for Professionals. These can be downloaded from our website for free.

…producing 12 videos sharing the real stories of homeowners who have built ADUs - also available to watch on our YouTube channel!

…adding 60 completed ADU projects to our online ADU Gallery, helping homeowners to browse options and learn more about different kinds of ADUs.

We helped ADU professionals with resources to make the industry stronger by…

…organizing five in-person small housing industry mixers statewide from Oakland to San Diego.

…hosting six peer-to-peer business member roundtable virtual discussion events.

…providing more opportunities for industry professionals to connect directly with homeowners.

…sharing challenges and ideas from our members in the field with policymakers who have the power to improve ADU implementation.

We shared the benefits of ADUs and small housing with the public, legislators and public agencies by…

…speaking at national events, including the White House panel on ADUs.

…sending our board, staff, and executive team to present at eight different housing seminars.

…producing guidelines that were cited eight times in various housing think tank studies and posted on the CA HCD online resource page.

…mentoring States and Cities interested in passing laws that encourage ADUs and other forms of small housing.

…providing recommendations to State and Federal finance agencies to improve ADU grant and loan programs.

…working with our small housing allies to get important housing legislation signed into law, including AB 2011, SB 897, and AB 2221. These new laws will improve ADU permitting, reduce costs and give homeowners more options to build ADUs to better serve their family needs.

As we look back on all the work we have done this year, we can’t help but remind ourselves how much the small industry has changed in such a short time. In 2013, just 800 ADUs were permitted in the entire state - and in 2021, that number skyrocketed to 20,000. More than 63,000 ADUs have been permitted statewide, and ADUs consistently feature in national conversations as a critical tool to address the housing crisis.. Missing middle housing helps us protect and provide for our families and communities, ensuring that the agency, vibrancy, and care with which we live continues to exist in the places we call home. We’re so glad to be on this journey in coalition - now, onward, to 2023!

To join Casita Coalition, click here.