Good News for Housing Before Bill Deadline in Sacramento (NPH E-News)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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Wednesday, May 29

GOOD NEWS FOR HOUSING BEFORE BIG SACRAMENTO DEADLINE

Friday, May 31, is the deadline for the California State Legislature’s bills to pass out of their house of origin, and we’re so delighted to bring you good news. Our affordable housing community has fought hard for our communities and we’re proud to report our progress. 

• A Story of Success: Several of NPH’s priority bills have already passed off their floor of origin with successful vote counts, including AB 10, AB 1487, and SB 9! AB 1487, which offers Bay Area-specific funding for our Bay Area housing affordability needs, was an especially exciting vote to watch thanks to critical last-minute commentary from Bay Area constituents driving support in our region. Thank you to our members and supporters who heeded the call when we reached out with our action alert — by Friday’s floor vote, not one Bay Area lawmaker opposed the bill!

• Anticipated Vote: Our insider scoop tells us that AB 1486 is on its way to a floor vote tomorrow, Thursday, just in time before the bill deadline. AB 1486 would strengthen our Surplus Land Act to transform unused public land into a public good, making more public land available for affordable homes and open spaces that benefit our communities across racial and economic lines.

• Continuing to Fight: While we were extremely disappointed that SB 50  — which would create more options for California families to find safe, stable, affordable homes while also protecting longtime residents and their communities — was turned into a two year bill, NPH has vowed to keep fighting. "We know that there can be a California future where our seniors, students, families, workers, and all of us have access to safe, stable, affordable homes. That will take bold vision and strong leadership," NPH Executive Director Amie Fishman said shortly before sending a letter to Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, urging the Senate to give the bill a vote this year.   

• Three Ps solutions framework moves forward: The Bay Area CASA recommendations taken up by our legislators in Sacramento resulted in more than a dozen proposals reflecting the 3Ps framework of production, preservation and tenant protections. This 3-pronged approach to housing solutions has picked up support from a multi-sector coalition of labor, business, housing and economic justice advocates. NPH is proud to play a leadership role in this coalition. More than half a dozen 3Ps bills have successfully passed out of committee or are pending — including our three sponsored bills shared above — progressing the holistic approach we will need to bring relief to California families and workers.

• Constitutional Amendments: Lastly, some keen observers may notice that there are NPH priority bills on our Action Center that haven’t been reflected above. ACA 1 — which will empower local governments and voters to do what is best for our families and neighbors by changing a restrictive threshold that limits voters’ say in our communities — is a constitutional amendment and not subject to the May 31 deadline. NPH is also working on SCA 1, another constitutional amendment not subject to the May 31 deadline, which would repeal Article 34 of the California Constitution, which currently requires a local vote when public financing is used to construct affordable housing.

WORKING GROUPS

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OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE

Want more information, insider scoop, and opportunities to take action on those opportunities in Sacramento? Consider joining the NPH Legislative Issues Committee Working Group. The group meets the first Thursday of every month to discuss proposals, opportunities, ideas, and strategies. Click here for more information. 

Have you been following #AffordableHousingMonth efforts and wanting to engage more directly? Consider joining the NPH Strategic Communications Council. The group meets quarterly to discuss relevant communications topics, share best practices, and identify opportunities for aligned communication campaigns to build public will for our movement. Click here for more information.

Please note: NPH working groups are for members only. To join or check your membership status, please email Emmanuel Escamilla

ENGAGE

Submit a workshop proposal…

NOW ACCEPTING WORKSHOP PROPOSALS

NPH invites you to help shape our 40th Annual Affordable Housing Conference, the Bay Area’s premier conference devoted to affordable housing. The conference connects over 1,000 attendees from all sectors across the affordable housing industry and movement.

This year’s conference is September 20 at the San Francisco Marriott.
Save the date on your calendars now!

Submit a workshop proposal by Friday, June 7! We’re looking for proposals that demonstrates the value and importance of collaboration in strengthening Our Movement, Our Future. Workshop tracks include: Policy, affordable housing finance and development, equity and inclusion, advocacy, strategic communications, and more. Click here for our workshop RFP for more information and helpful tips on how to craft a successful proposal.

Please note: You must be a current NPH member to submit a workshop proposal!

6/1: Homeownership SF’s Annual Housing Resource Expo. Offering support for renters, first time homebuyers, and current home owners, this free event hosted by Homeownership SF will help connect community members with free and low-cost housing resources via workshops, individual counseling, and on-site housing information.

Register

6/2 – 6/3: California Housing Partnership’s "What’s your Story, Bay Area." Join CHP for a night of music and storytelling as local songwriters bring to life real stories of inspiring Community Housing Partnership staff and residents who’ve overcome adversity or homelessness.

Get tickets

6/3 RCD Sparkling Connections. Please join Resources for Community Development in their 35th year and honor residents with a joyous evening of celebration and connection, plus great food, drink, entertainment, and a silent auction.

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6/6 HIP Housing Annual Luncheon. Join HIP Housing’s Annual Luncheon at the SFO Marriott in Burlingame, featuring Special Guest Speaker, Father Gregory Boyle from Homeboy Industries and author of the New York Times bestseller "Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion." HIP Housing will also be celebrating the Home Sharing Program’s 40th anniversary of providing an affordable housing option in San Mateo County.

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COALITION CORNER: 6/13 Eviction Defense Collaboration "40 Years of Rent Control" Panel and Presentation. Join the Eviction Defense Collaborative to mark the 40th anniversary of the passage of San Francisco’s Rent Ordinance. Panelists will discuss the history of rent control in SF; its impact on the city and region; and what’s ahead for San Francisco and California. Speakers include organizer and author Cleve Jones; former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim; Deepa Varma, San Francisco Tenants Union; Leah Simon-Weisberg, Centro Legal de La Raza; Lupe Arreola, Tenants Together; and Polly Marshall, one of the original drafters of the Rent Ordinance. 

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8/13 NOFA application deadline: HCD amended the Housing for a Healthy California (HHC) Program Final Guidelines and is concurrently releasing the two separate Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA). 

• NOFA for Article I (National Housing Trust Fund allocation) totals approx. $33 million. HCD will allocate funds competitively to developers for operating reserve grants and capital loans.

• NOFA for Article II (Building Homes and Jobs Act allocation) totals approx. $60 million. HCD will allocate funds competitively to counties for acquisition, new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, administrative costs, capitalized operating subsidy reserves, rental subsidies, and rental assistance for existing and new supportive housing opportunities to assist the HHC program’s Target Population.

Learn more and register for a NOFA workshop/webinar here