Inside Sacramento's 'outside-the-box' program turning illegal cannabis grow houses into family homes

The City of Sacramento and Habitat for Humanity are working to address the region’s affordable housing crisis in a unique way: transforming former illegal cannabis grow houses into family homes. Through the Justice for Neighbors program, which is run through the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office, property owners who get cited for illegally growing cannabis can choose to donate their property directly Habitat for Humanity instead of paying administrative penalties. The home is then remodeled, and a family in need of affordable housing can purchase it with a 30-year fixed-rate at 0% interest mortgage. "This program is a great example of the city thinking outside the box,” City of Sacramento Senior Deputy City Attorney Emilio Camacho said.