California’s housing crisis impacts everyone, from skyrocketing rents and long commutes to rising homelessness. In this episode, Assemblymember David Alvarez sits down with Shane Phillips, housing policy expert and author of The Affordable City, to break down the “Three S’s” every community needs for real solutions: supply, stability, and subsidy. They discuss why building more homes isn’t enough, the importance of protecting existing residents, and how targeted subsidies can bridge the gap. Drawing on personal experiences and real-world policy challenges, David and Shane explore what it will take to make housing affordable and sustainable for future generations.

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Key moments from this episode:
00:00:00 - Welcome and why housing matters
00:01:21 - Shane Phillips’ journey into housing policy
00:03:22 - Personal housing experiences
00:07:11 - What communities are saying
00:11:27 - The Three S’s explained
00:15:55 - Balancing supply, stability, and subsidy
00:19:26 - Zoning, equity, and displacement
00:21:13 - The “community character” debate
00:31:26 - State vs. local action
00:38:34 - Final thoughts and takeaways

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