A Democratic legislator from California envisions the solution to the state’s persistent housing crisis coming from the assembly line.

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks argues that addressing California’s housing shortage—an issue the state has grappled with for years—requires exploring multiple avenues.

Wicks advocates for factory-built homes as a pivotal innovation to tackle the housing dilemma.

“California has always been at the forefront of innovation. It’s imperative we channel that spirit to address our housing challenges,” Wicks stated, unveiling what she described as “research-backed strategies” to bolster their housing goals.

Boxabl, a company pioneering factory-built housing, exemplifies this approach. Known for clients like tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, Boxabl constructs homes on-site following online orders, offering models that range from studios to two-bedroom homes.

“Our current home-building techniques haven’t changed much over the past century, and they’re insufficient for today’s housing demands. Embracing innovative construction can significantly contribute to alleviating the crisis. While not a standalone solution, it’s a vital component in expanding California’s housing capacity,” she elaborated.

Wicks formed the Assembly Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation recently to explore “modern, cost-efficient, climate-smart approaches to building new homes in California.”

What are the houses made of? Concrete, steel, and a substance called expanded polystyrene foam, the company said. “These are building materials that don’t degrade and will last a lifetime,” they said.

Expanded polystyrene foam is a lightweight and cost-effective material that serves as an insulator.

California recently approved the company’s 2-bedroom Casita model. Boxabl’s CFO, Martin Costas, called it a “pivotal moment for Boxabl and California’s housing industry.”

“With housing costs burdening 66.6 million U.S. households who are consequently unable to afford $250,000 homes — and California leading the crisis — larger modular ADUs like our 2-Bedroom Casita are not just innovative — they’re essential,” Costas said of the Boxabls.

Dan Dunmoyer,  president and CEO of the California Building Industry Association, told Capitol Weekly that there are concerns about months of inactivity in housing factories when they have no work.

“[If] you were to tell any car company we might need some cars in January and February but not in March and April, well what do I do with my workers doing this two months? … Manufacturing any product requires a steady stream of need,” Dunmoyer said.

Republican Assemblymember Heather Hadwick believes the factory housing idea could be beneficial.

“I think it could be a huge win especially for my district. I mean, we have the timber, we have the natural resources that we need to build more houses,” she told Capitol Weekly in an interview.

“I also was pleasantly surprised that they were starting out at like $24 an hour, $25 an hour. … I think $24 to $25 would be a good competitive wage that we could actually make work in Northern California. And so I’m really hopeful.”

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