In Southern California’s Inland Region (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties), many residents frequently struggle with housing issues, contributing to a lower quality of life and general economic instability. In the past year, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional economic and housing instability has worsened. These issues, which are echoed throughout many parts of California, are the mainstay of California’s housing crisis. During the Great Recession of the mid to late 2000s, the home building and development industry virtually collapsed, exacerbating a statewide shortage that had been building for decades. Even while the state and local governments have implemented policies and development goals to address housing issues, there is still a substantial shortage of housing across most, if not all, regions in California, leading to a widening affordability gap. A holistic rethinking of the core functions and practices of housing development in cities and counties is urgently needed.