NOW IS THE TIME FOR BOLD ACTION IN SAN MATEO COUNTY

“People are counting on us to get this right”

San Mateo County Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize staff to begin work on a 20-year extension of Measure A, increasing the County’s multi-million dollar annual commitment to affordable homes to reflect the crisis seniors, veterans, families and people with disabilities are feeling today.

NPH and Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo (HLC) highlighted top Task Force concerns as well as polling data showing San Mateo residents are asking for the County to play a leadership role in addressing the number one crisis today: affordability. Voters are clear – they are prepared to invest in a more affordable future, and people across San Mateo County are counting on us to get this right.

San Mateo residents spoke in support of a revenue measure due to the social benefits provided by non-profit housing developers in addition to the housing itself. Evvy Stivers, Executive Director of HLC, organized the affordable homes community turnout, which included NPH members EAH Housing, Eden Housing and MidPen Housing. Nathan Ho of Eden Housing noted the overwhelming need for our work, using the 20,000 names on Eden’s housing waitlist as an example, while MidPen President Matt Franklin highlighted the ability of the non-profit developers, stating, “With the experience and capacity in this room, we can put these funds to use quickly.”

NPH policy director Michael Lane added a personal appeal and sense of urgency to the question, reminding Supervisors that, “People are counting on us to get this right. Now is the time for bold action.”

The Supervisors voted unanimously for County Counsel to bring back a resolution July 26 calling for an Extension of Measure A for twenty years to support ongoing County services and increase investment in affordable homes. Supervisor Adrienne Tissier made the motion and commented on the presence and persuasiveness of housing advocates. Supervisors Don Horsley and Warren Slocum, who co-chaired the Jobs/Housing Task Force, will finalize language before the next vote.

Please use these next two weeks to call, email and tweet at your San Mateo County Supervisors to let them know you support an Extension of Measure A and thank them for their leadership. Please plan to join us at the next County Supervisors Meeting, Tuesday July 26th to voice your support! Contact Sharon@nonprofithousing.org with questions.

For media coverage on the July 12th meeting, including a quote by NPH’s Policy Director Michael Lane, click here.