Why Some New Affordable Housing in California Sits Empty

Siyamak Khorrami

Siyamak Khorrami has been the general manager and chief editor of the Southern California edition of The Epoch Times since 2017. He is also the host of the “California Insider” show, which showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues in California.

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August 15, 2026Updated: August 19, 2026

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For families struggling to find a home they can afford, an open affordable unit can mean stability after months or even years of waiting. Yet in parts of California’s affordable housing system, some units are sitting empty while the need stays high.

That gap affects more than housing statistics. It reaches the families still waiting and puts focus on a harder issue: what happens after affordable housing is built, but some of those homes remain open?

In this episode, Tia Boatman Patterson, President and CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, and Jim Righeimer, Chief Executive Officer at Arbor Capital Partners, examine what they are seeing in California’s affordable housing system and what may be happening between an open unit and the person waiting for a home.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the California Insider Show.

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