June 7, 2021

Reasons to be Cheerful: Churches Are Becoming Players in Making Cities More Affordable

Bishop Matthews, head of East Oakland, California’s Genesis Worship Center, has long appreciated the idea of home as instrumental to his spiritual mission. He mortgaged his own home twice to afford his congregation’s current home on Ritchie Street, a complex that included a parking lot, sanctuary and classroom, all to support his congregant’s various ministries and community efforts. Matthews’s successful effort to build affordable housing on church grounds is an early example of a wave of similar projects breaking ground at…
June 16, 2021

CalMatters: Is union labor requirement in the way of easing California’s affordable housing crisis?

California lawmakers introduced several bills this year that would rezone empty strip malls and big box stores across the state to allow for new housing development without undergoing lengthy and costly local approvals. Two are sailing through the Legislature. The other died early on. A key difference? The successful bills had the support of arguably the most powerful entity in the Capitol on housing issues, the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The other faced its vehement opposition. The dealbreaker…
June 29, 2021

Final State Budget Makes Robust Investments in Housing, Homelessness Solutions

Yesterday, the State Legislature passed and Governor Gavin Newsom is soon expected to sign the 2021-22 state budget deal, which contains significant investments to address affordable housing shortfalls and homelessness throughout the state.  This budget offers a bold statement about the foundational role housing plays for a strong, equitable, thriving California, by anchoring housing solutions in lawmakers’ vision for our future. The budget includes critical investments to take steps toward achieving a future where all state residents have a stable,…
July 2, 2021

The Policy Pipeline: Jul 6, 2021

To stay on top of all of our legislative updates, sign up for The Policy Pipeline newsletter today! Coming down the pipeline in this month’s edition: Final State Budget Makes Robust Investments In Housing, Homelessness Solutions Last week, the State Legislature sent to Governor Gavin Newsom a final 2021-22 state budget, which includes substantial investments in programs to address affordable housing shortfalls and homelessness throughout the state.  NPH released our analysis of the key affordable housing and homelessness solutions contained…