NPH’S Regional Strategy

NPH’s Regional Campaign Strategy includes growing public support to fund affordable homes across Bay Area counties.

NPH Executive Director Amie Fishman, was quoted in a recent Contra Costa times article describing how NPH’s regional campaign strategy urges communities and policy makers across Bay Area counties to invest valuable public resources into affordable homes in their communities.

“We’re in an extreme moment, and we need big game-changing solutions… now is the moment to move measures before voters, but we want to do it in a way that will work.”
– Amie Fishman

Formerly known as our Regional Quality of Life campaign, NPH explored placing a regional revenue measure before voters, and is closely engaged with partners in counties across the Bay Area to find accessible, flexible solutions that reflect local priorities and needs. Working with residents, advocates, developers and allies throughout the region, NPH is developing tools and practices to support communities in replacing redevelopment funds and meeting housing needs.

Why do we need local measures?

• State and federal funds for affordable housing are vanishing:
  • Prop 1C was passed in 2006 and funds have basically run out.
  • In 2011, California eliminated redevelopment agencies, resulting in a loss of over $1 billion annually in affordable housing funding statewide.
  • Since 2010, the federal government has significantly cut funding for housing programs like HOME, CDBG, and Section 8.
  • Talk of tax reform at the federal level is making the future of the Low Income Tax Credit program uncertain.
• The Bay Area has one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation:
  • Half of all Bay Area working households spend more than 30% of their income on rest.
  • Nearly one-third of Bay Area working household spend more than half of their income on rent.
• The most job growth is projected in the lowest income brackets – housing that the market has historically not provided for.
• Plan Bay Area – the Bay Area’s regional sustainable communities strategy – will fail if we do not build enough affordable housing near job centers. Failure means:
  • Continued long commute patterns that cause congestion and air pollution.
  • Perpetuated concentration of poverty and racial segregation.

How NPH can help:

• NPH has been the leader of the affordable housing field in the Bay Area for over three decades.Our membership includes organizations and individuals from all sectors involved in creating, preserving and operating affordable housing. Our most active members and our board represent the leaders of the affordable housing community.
• NPH has the right relationships. NPH was one of the first housing organizations to work strategically with environmental groups. We are one of the core founders of the Great Communities Collaborative (GCC), compromised of organizations representing sectors that care about equitable development — social justice, the environment, economic development, and transportation. The GCC is a key player in the rollout of Plan Bay Area.
• NPH has the right experience. NPH has played a key role in all of the statewide affordable housing campaigns so far, including:
  • Securing a $570 million general fund appropriation for affordable housing in 2000.
  • The success of Proposition 46 – $2.1 billion in housing bonds.
  • The success of Proposition 1C- $2.85 in housing bonds and related infrastructure.

To learn more about our Regional Campaigns Strategy, please contact Amie Fishman at AmieFishman@nonprofithousing.org.