UnidosUS Lauds Ongoing Core Investments in State Budget, Urges Stronger Action on Housing, Health Care, and Early-Childhood Supports

The organization has issued the following statement urging Governor Newsom and the Legislature to address missed opportunities and act boldly on affordability and access.

UnidosUS deeply appreciates Governor Newsom’s efforts to protect essential services for Californians. The increase in revenue is good news for Californians. However, despite the increase, the 2026–27 state budget does not make the level of investment needed to address housing affordability or fully protect access to healthcare and education for all.

California continues to navigate a difficult economic environment with strength, balance, and resilience. Governor Newsom’s 2026 budget reflects the complex reality of governing during uncertain times. H.R. 1 stripped healthcare and food assistance from 1.3 million Californians on Medi-Cal and 336,000 receiving CalFresh, making the investments by the state more critical.

The May Revise provided additional mortgage relief through CalAssist to support LA wildfire victims; further assisting rebuild efforts. In addition, the Revise proposes statutory language to reduce the cost of construction; by limiting local governments’ ability to charge impact fees on state-funded affordable housing projects. While we support these efforts, ongoing targeted support for increased supply of all housing types are critical to addressing the state’s housing crisis.

“We’re doing our part by continuing to invest in homeownership initiatives for Californians, strengthening our network of affiliate community organizations across the state, and working to ensure that English learners and migrant families have equitable access to educational opportunities,” said UnidosUS California State Director Esmeralda Lopez. “We remain committed to working directly in response to the real challenges our communities face, especially as federal support recedes and the costs of inaction rise. We commend the governor for prioritizing core values amid necessary constraints.”

At UnidosUS, we understand these pressures because we see their impact every day in the Latino communities we serve. The California budget is more than a spending plan, it is a statement about values.

UnidosUS will continue to engage with the Legislature and the Governor’s Administration to build on this budget through strong partnerships, grounded advocacy, and a bold vision so that California remains not just a place of opportunity, but one of belonging and progress for all.

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About UnidosUS California

UnidosUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. With an office in Los Angeles and staff in Sacramento, our California-based affiliates include 76 community-based organizations that invest more than $1.9 billion and employ more than 17,000 staff to provide direct services to approximately 2.6 million Californians annually. Since 1968, we have challenged the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. We believe in an America where economic, political, and social progress is a reality for all Latinos and we collaborate across communities to achieve it. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Threads.