RELEASE: Bay Area Explores Housing Opportunities, Solutions during Affordable Housing Month

After November measures, advocates look to community to build on momentum

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2019                                                                               
Media Contact: Alina Harway, alina@nonprofithousing.org (415-989-8160×36)

San Francisco Bay Area, California – After the success of last November’s State and Bay Area affordable housing revenue measures, Bay Area communities are working to mobilize and deepen engagement around affordable housing opportunities and solutions.

During the month of May, advocacy leaders in five Bay Area Counties will convene Affordable Housing Month events and activities to engage local communities with a number of fun, informative events designed to build momentum off last fall’s affordable housing ballot measures and support next steps.

“Bay Area residents are ready for action across local, regional, and state levels to support inclusive, thriving communities. We’re particularly excited about the momentum we’re seeing in Sacramento, as lawmakers take on policies that touch on all three “Ps” of good housing policy – production, preservation, and tenant protections – to create more affordable options for our communities,” said Amie Fishman, NPH Executive Director.

Events include the release of new Housing Needs Assessment data for seven Bay Area Counties, movie screenings, panels and presentations, and a series of Grand Openings for new affordable housing communities. Affordable Housing Month is designed to lift public awareness about affordable housing challenges and solutions, and provide opportunities for the community to engage around and support additional housing solutions.

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What: Bay Area Affordable Housing Month, providing organized events and opportunities for Bay Area residents to discuss, explore, and support affordable housing solutions.

Who: State and local lawmakers, including Senator Scott Wiener, San Mateo County Supervisor Canepa, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín, Emeryville Mayor John Bauters; affordable housing advocacy groups CCHO, EBHO, HLC, NPH, and SV@Home; community leaders, affordable housing supporters, and thousands of members of the general public.

Where: Participating Counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

When: The month of May. Each participating County hosts events during its own designated week, spanning May 2 – May 18. Visit www.affordablehousingmonth.org for Top Events and links to each county’s affordable housing week event calendar.

Affordable Housing Month Event Highlights

>> May 2, 2019: NPH Annual Leadership Awards. (5pm, San Francisco.) Kicking off Affordable Housing Month, NPH’s 40^th Anniversary Affordable Housing Leadership Award Gala will honor Affordable Housing Leaders: 2018 Local Campaign Champions; NPH Founders, Movement Trailblazers; and the Lifetime Achievement Award to Kevin Knudtson, formerly of Community Economics. With live musical entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, and our signature cocktail, join with hundreds of affordable housing supporters to honor this year’s awardees. Click here for more information.

>> May 3, 2019: SV@Home Policy Luncheon. (11:30am, Mountain View.) Join SV@Home for a Santa Clara County luncheon featuring a lively discussion outlining the impact that housing affordability crisis has had on innovation, highlighting commitments that have been made, sharing ideas for how companies of all sizes can play a transformative role, and engaging new perspectives on which policies or programs are working (and which aren’t) to better unleash the creative energy of Silicon Valley in addressing our shared responsibility to our communities. Click here for more information.

>> May 3, 2019: San Francisco Housing Happy Hour (5:30pm, San Francisco.) Join CCHO in San Francisco to celebrate a long history of activism, collective work, and the movement’s future! The event offers an evening of food, camaraderie, history, and the CCHO Housing Awards honoring allies in the fight for a City for All. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.

>> May 6, 2019: CHPC Data Release. The latest release of the California Housing Partnership’s Housing Assessment Needs data provides the current snapshot of affordable housing in Bay Area Counties and allows advocates, policymakers, and supporters to monitor trends in our region’s affordable housing needs. The 2019 reports will be released on May 7. Contact alina@nonprofithousing.org for more information.

>> May 7, 2019: MidPen Housing’s Arroyo Green Apartments Groundbreaking Celebration. (11am, Redwood City.) Come celebrate the groundbreaking for Arroyo Green Apartments, 117 affordable apartments for seniors, with open space and a child care center, in downtown Redwood City. Arroyo Green Apartments is the result of the visionary partnership between MidPen Housing, the City of Redwood City, the County of San Mateo and community stakeholders. Click here for more information.

>> May 8, 2019: EBHO 35^th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration. (6pm, Oakland.) Join EBHO as Alameda and Contra Costa Counties’ Affordable Housing Week kicks off, to enjoy an evening of unbeatable fun, delicious food, festive music, and a celebration of our collective work for affordable homes! Click here for more information.

 >> May 10, 2019: Housing Leadership Council Policy Breakfast. (7:30am, Burlingame.) Join Housing Leadership Council in San Mateo County to eat, drink, network, and discuss opportunities to mobilize our communities to be champions for housing. Reflect on work already being undertaken on the Peninsula and explore opportunities for next steps. Click here for more information.

>> May 13, 2019: Miraflores Grand Opening Celebration. (11:30am, El Cerrito.) The city of El Cerrito and Eden Housing are proud to partner on Hana Gardens, 62 new affordable housing for seniors in El Cerrito. Along with brand new housing, the development also honors the Japanese who were interned during World War II by preserving the character of the Contra Costa Florist building, providing interpretive panels in a beautiful Japanese Heritage Plaza. Click here for more information. 

>> May 16, 2019: Housing Huddle Summit. (6pm, San Jose.) Over the past year, SV@Home has been convening Housing Huddles to learn from a diverse group of community members how housing issues are impacting people from all walks of life across our County. Join with peers and representatives from different backgrounds and sectors for the first Housing Huddle Summit, to share your own ideas and meet new partners. Community members will help set the agenda and contribute to the discussions based on your own experiences. Click here for more information.
  

>> May 16, 2019: “How Local Government and the Private Sector are Tackling the Displacement of Low Income Residents” Panel. (10am, Oakland.) Learn about efforts underway in the City of Oakland and Alameda County to address displacement of low income tenants and homeowners through provision of legal services and financial assistance. Program models will be presented, early-stage outcomes and lessons learned will be discussed. Click here for more information.