The Policy Pipeline: Jul 6, 2021

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Coming down the pipeline in this month’s edition:

1. Final State Budget Makes Robust Investments In Housing, Homelessness Solutions
2. A Victory for BAHFA: Policymakers Approve Funding for Regional Housing Authority
3. The State Evictions Moratorium is Extended
4. Legislative Priorities Advance Forward!
5. On The Federal Level: The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act Continues to Build Momentum
6. Announcement: After 5 Years, NPH Policy Director Pedro Galvao Is Moving On

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Final State Budget Makes Robust Investments In Housing, Homelessness Solutions

Last week, the State Legislature sent to Governor Gavin Newsom a final 2021-22 state budget, which includes substantial investments in programs to address affordable housing shortfalls and homelessness throughout the state. 

NPH released our analysis of the key affordable housing and homelessness solutions contained in the deal. 

The budget’s bold investments demonstrate that housing is the foundation for strong, thriving, and equitable communities in California. These critical investments will allow for key steps toward achieving a future where all state residents have a stable, safe, and affordable place to call home in California.

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A Victory for BAHFA: Policymakers Approve Funding for Regional Housing Authority

NPH is excited to share that the final 2021-22 state budget includes a one-time allocation of $20 million in funding for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), the Bay Area’s newly created regional housing agency. This regional housing infrastructure is designed to address the region’s housing crisis through several key interventions, including creating a regional housing portal, securing funding for affordable housing preservation and production, and more. 

The state budget’s investment in BAHFA will fund five pilot programs that will enable the Bay Area to address urgent housing challenges facing residents, such as the risks of displacement due to rent increases, while helping to ready the region to effectively and equitably deploy significant affordable housing funding that could be raised by a future regional ballot measure. 

NPH is encouraged by this investment from the state and grateful for the support from local policymakers and Governor Newsom. NPH will continue to lead the BAHFA coalition to ensure that we seize this critical moment to identify additional funding opportunities for BAHFA. 

Thank you to the many advocates who voiced their support for BAHFA and continue to advocate for regional solutions.

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The State Evictions Moratorium is Extended

Last week Governor Newsom signed into law AB 832, which will extend the evictions moratorium for renters to September 30th. The bill also allows income-eligible tenants to have up to 100% of their rent owed (up from 80% originally) forgiven, including prospective rent as well as utilities bills.

NPH is pleased to see the Governor and the Legislature move forward on this critically needed support for state residents who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including families, workers with low wages, elderly residents, and others. 

NPH will continue to advocate that eligible tenants and landlords receive the funding in a timely way before the moratorium expires.

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Legislative Priorities Advance Forward!

NPH is excited to share that the following NPH-supported bills have advanced:

• AB 989 (Gabriel): This bill would create a state Housing Accountability Committee to adjudicate violations of the Housing Accountability Act. This would provide a quicker, less expensive, less confrontational, and more consistent alternative to enforcing state housing laws in court. AB 989 has passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee and heads to the Senate Housing Committee.

• AB 1423 (Daly): This bill would significantly reduce construction period interest expenses by allowing developers to receive Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) loan funds during the construction period. There would still be a private construction loan, albeit significantly smaller, and the private construction lender would continue to monitor construction progress and approve draws so as not to increase HCD workload. This bill will next be heard in the Senate Housing Committee. 

• SB 8 (Skinner): This bill would extend the protections of SB 330, which requires local governments to not change the rules once a housing development has been approved and limits the number of hearings a housing development can have, advanced out of Assembly Local Government. This bill is headed to Assembly Appropriations.

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On The Federal Level: The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act Continues to Build Momentum

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act continues to pick up additional Congressional supporters! If passed, the bill would add an additional 360,600 new homes to California’s affordable housing supply over the next decade. NPH is meeting with members of California’s Republican Congressional Delegation to ask for their support, as a number of Republicans have signed on. If you are interested in learning more about NPH’s federal advocacy please contact Amie Fishman at amiefishman@nonprofithousing.org.

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Announcement: After 5 Years, NPH Policy Director Pedro Galvao Is Moving On

Dear Fellow Housing Advocates,

After 5 wonderful years at NPH, July 12th will be my last day as Policy Director. I will be leaving for a new senior-level opportunity in the public sector. I have been proud to represent your perspectives at the Legislature and with our state agency partners.

Being at NPH has truly been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. I have tremendously appreciated, learned from, and grown because of our community’s robust participation in NPH’s work and the deep commitment we all bring to the cause of affordable housing.

The NPH community has been one of the greatest highlights of working here as I never felt alone and, because of your participation, I could be sure I was representing your perspectives. I have learned and grown so much as a professional and as an individual. From working on Plan Bay Area, CASA and the 3Ps, to helping to pass the surplus lands act and winning affordable housing resources for the Bay Area, being part of NPH has been fantastic.

Deciding to leave NPH was not an easy decision to make, and while I leave this role, I will certainly not be leaving the affordable housing community. I fully expect to continue to rely on you for guidance, advice, and expertise professionally and personally. And someday soon I hope to see you in person again.

The work that you do in building, operating, and advocating for affordable homes for our seniors, people with disabilities, transitional aged youth, and families is transformative. Thank you for letting me be a small part of it.

All the best,
Pedro

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