Santa Clara County Supervisors Vote to Place Bond on November Ballot

“I will not be an outdoor person anymore”

Today, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to place an affordable housing bond on the November ballot, an important effort to drive new revenue for affordable housing across Santa Clara County. More than 200 homeless and housing advocates filled the Santa Clara County Supervisors chambers to urge passage of a $950 million bond that would house homeless and low-income veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and working families.

More than 70 speakers over three hours urged support. Dozens of homeless and formerly homeless people shared personal stories of being an “outdoor person” while trying to raise families, address medical issues, and return home from military service.

Several speakers thanked NPH members and affordable housing providers for helping them get off the streets and enjoy new security and opportunity. “I have a great apartment and I am living again. Let’s do this!” said a resident of First Community’s Japantown development.

Residents and staff from Charities Housing, EAH Housing, Eden Housing, First Community Housing, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, MidPen Housing and Santa Clara Housing Authority joined NPH and SV@Home to urge support.

If approved by 2/3 of voters this November, the program would provide:

– $700 million for extremely low-income and permanent supportive housing

– $100 million for homes affordable to very low-income families

– Up to $100 million for transit-oriented worker housing

– Up to $50 million for moderate income first-time homebuyer down payment assistance

NPH and SV@Home advocated for an allocation formula that reflected sustainability in long term operating costs and seizing opportunities to draw investment from state and federal sources.

Leslye Corsiglia, Executive Director of SV@Home, shared a coalition letter signed by 30 homeless and housing organizations. 

“Today’s vote is a step forward for NPH’s electoral strategy. We are working with community advocates, health care providers, and elected officials to pass and deliver the strongest program,” said Amie Fishman, Executive Director of NPH.

A working group of NPH and SV@Home members will form this summer to support the measure through fundraising, civic engagement, voter education and an ambassador program. For more information, click here or email political director Sharon Cornu at sharon@nonprofithousing.org.