RELEASE: Two New Bay Area Housing Reports Demonstrate that Significant Revenue Measure May Be Pathway for Bay Area Region

Two New Bay Area Housing Reports Demonstrate that Significant Revenue Measure May Be Pathway for Bay Area Region

(San Francisco Bay Area) Two new housing reports released today by California Housing Partnership and the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California offer a strong case for Bay Area regional entities the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and Metropolitan Transportation Committee (MTC) to move forward a regional affordable housing measure, as authorized under newly-passed statewide legislation Assembly Bill 1487.

“The Bay Area’s Housing Emergency Update” from the California Housing Partnership establishes how and when the Bay Area lost significant housing production and preservation funds, and demonstrates the impact that revenue loss has had in making the Bay Area housing market’s inaccessible to many critical community members. The report also offers recommended solutions, including encouraging Bay Area regional entities to pursue regional revenue to make up for the lost state and federal revenue over the past decade.

The second report released today by the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California demonstrates what may be the pathway to the solution identified in the CHP report. A polling memo summarizing the findings spanning two regional polls conducted by EMC Research in April and November of 2019 show that support has grown for a regional revenue measure, and that voters overwhelmingly agree that the region should
embrace a comprehensive regional approach to housing solutions.

“The data lays clear that our community members are suffering, and that California is still substantially under-investing in affordable housing production,” said Matt Schwartz, California Housing Partnership CEO and President. “AB 1487’s opportunity afforded the Bay Area the ability to raise more funds regionally through a variety of types of measures and has the potential to make a big difference — but only if Bay Area leaders and voters choose to use it.”

“There is a pathway forward to create a thriving, diverse Bay Area that works for all of our neighbors, no matter their race or income,” said Amie Fishman, NPH Executive Director. “Voters are ready for solutions and our elected leaders are poised for action. We look forward to working with MTC and ABAG to make sure voters have the opportunity in 2020 to say yes to big, bold, meaningful change!”