By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde
UCLA Luskin student writer 

Urban Planning alumna Jeree Glasser-Hedrick (MAUP ‘00) has recently been appointed as Executive Director of the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee by the California State Treasurer, John Chiang. Glasser-Hedrick will be responsible for programs that assist first-time homebuyers and for encouraging the development of affordable rental properties.

Currently, more than 34 percent of working renters pay more than 50 percent of their income toward housing, and the state’s Department of Housing estimates that California needs to build 220,000 new homes a year to keep up with population growth, a statement from the California State Treasurer’s Office said. Chiang is responding to this affordable housing crisis by leading a six-month engagement with housing leaders and stakeholders. Glasser-Hedrick is one of two key members who will aid Chiang in his plan and lead efforts to expand affordable housing in California.

“California has under-produced housing every single year since 1989,” Chiang said in the news release. “This shortage hinders companies’ ability to attract and retain employees, but also has repercussions for the health and education of our children, the environment, and our overall quality of life. The new housing team will help me tackle these issues and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Glasser-Hedrick worked as a principal at JLG consulting for nearly two years. Prior to that, she served as program manager for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, and held the position of finance analyst at US Property Fund. In addition, she was a Presidential Management Fellow at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Glasser-Hedrick and the rest of Chiang’s housing team will begin meeting with local government officials, developers, financing experts and other stakeholders and leaders, including business sectors that have been impacted by California’s housing shortage, according to the news release.