Meet Our Awardees
NPH is proud to recognize these awardees for their outstanding contributions to our affordable housing movement and industry. They embody NPH’s multi-year theme “Grow Power, Secure Justice”, uplift our collective value of homes for all, and actively work toward housing and racial justice all over the Bay Area region and beyond. Register today to celebrate these housers on Wednesday, April 30 at 5:30PM PT in San Francisco or sponsor to show your support!
This year we honor:
Doug Shoemaker
Mercy Housing
Inspirational Non-Profit Leader Award
Doug Shoemaker has been a transformative force in affordable housing for three decades, shaping the landscape of equitable housing development and policy across the Bay Area and California. Under his leadership as President of Mercy Housing California for 13 years, the nonprofit organization built over 6,000 affordable homes and entitled another 3500 homes that are in development. Prior to Mercy Housing, Doug served as the Director at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, where he helped finance thousands of affordable homes and revitalize public housing through the groundbreaking HOPE SF initiative. Doug served previously for 5 years as Deputy Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH). A dedicated mentor, advocate, and innovator, Doug’s legacy extends far beyond the buildings he’s helped create—he has lifted up the people and communities who call them home.
Judith Bell
San Francisco Foundation
Philanthropic Leader Award
As San Francisco Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer, Judith Bell brings extensive experience in policy and systems change, working in partnership with movement and power-building efforts, to achieve greater racial equity and economic inclusion. She leads the Foundation’s community impact efforts across the Bay Area focusing on the people, places, and power that can advance the Foundation’s equity agenda. She has worked extensively on housing issues in coalition with groups at the local, regional and statewide levels, seeking to expand the production and preservation of affordable housing and to prevent homelessness. Prior to joining San Francisco Foundation, Judith was the President of PolicyLink, where she had been since its inception, becoming President in 2004. Her leadership helped ignite a new national narrative and action around racial equity, inclusion, and opportunity for communities of color with a focus on creating more equitable economies in communities, cities, regions, states, and across the nation. She was instrumental in advancing several efforts with the Obama administration, including Promise Neighborhoods, to improve the lives of children from cradle to career and the national Healthy Food Financing Initiative which unlocked billions of dollars to improve access to healthy food in communities across the country.
Million Voters Project
Power Building Award
The Million Voters Project (MVP) has been collaborating with NPH and our housing coalitions to bring unprecedented organizing power into the affordable housing world. Through their on-the-ground model, their network of multi-racial, multi-generational partners are reaching directly into communities most impacted by economic and social inequality across the state. MVP’s deep commitment to racial and economic justice is embedded in their work, ensuring that housing justice remains a central issue in civic engagement and policymaking. Most recently, their leadership and partnership during the Prop 5 campaign mobilized 85 organizations, 1,500 grassroots leaders, and 350,000 low- and moderate-propensity voters across six languages. Their commitment and deep partnership are building a stronger future for our shared long-term strategy to strengthen California communities and advance affordable housing solutions and housing justice for all our neighbors.
