 | “We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it.”
– Former President Barack Obama | | Dear Friends, Partners, and Allies, May is Affordable Housing Month – in more ways than one. We are proud to support our partners in the Bay Area as they hold events throughout the month, and we congratulate our very own board member and seasoned Residents United Network (RUN) leader Willie Stevens for being named an Affordable Housing Month honoree.
May is also when we find ourselves in the thick of a state legislative session that has a strong focus on housing and homelessness ‒ as priority bills like AB 71 (Rivas), AB 328 (Chiu), and AB 816 (Chiu) get heard at key committees, we and our partners advance bold budget asks, and the Governor releases his proposed budget today. (See our statement on the “May Revise”, and stay tuned for a Roadmap Home 2030 package to truly Invest in Our Values.)
And we won’t be slowing down in June as we sprint towards our virtual (Un)Conference (on June 22-24), train and mobilize RUN leaders and partners across the state, and build momentum around California’s Roadmap Home 2030.
While things are moving fast, we’re all in this for the long haul. We appreciate the ongoing support of co-conspirators like you that allows the Housing California team to do all we can to advance racial justice and create homes, health, and prosperity for all Californians in sustainable, thriving communities.
In solidarity, strength, and gratitude,
Lisa Hershey
Executive Director | |  | | | | | | | | | Housing California's Statement on Governor Newsom's Proposed Budget “Governor Gavin Newsom’s $100 billion California Comeback Plan aligns strongly with Housing California’s belief that this is our moment to think, act, and do business differently—to re-imagine our California where everyone thrives. This May Revise spotlights our opportunity to lead with equity and invest deeply in transformational change that will result in generational benefits for our neighbors struggling the most while creating more climate resilient, thriving communities that benefit everyone.” Click here to read our full statement. | | | | Support the Housing Justice Movement Together, we can create a California with homes, health, and prosperity for all in thriving communities. While Housing California has the knowledge and partnerships to effectively push for statewide legislation, we need your continued support to sustain our programs and grow our efforts. Will you help us by making a donation or joining as a member? Be our partner in the work. | | | | | | Register for Housing California’s Virtual Un-Conference! | | Help us transform California into a state where all people can achieve homes, health, and wealth, by attending this year’s Virtual (Un)Conference from June 22 - 24. We're thrilled to announce our (Un)Conference keynote speakers: Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs and How We Can Prosper Together; Michael Tubbs, former Mayor of Stockton and Special Advisor to Governor Newsom; and Dr. Tiffany Manuel, President and CEO of TheCaseMade. | |  | | | Roadmap Home 2030 Campaign Officially Launched | |  | The release of the Roadmap Home 2030 on March 25th and the kick-off of the campaign was a rousing success as the press conference and a public rally drew more than 800 participants while another 600 watched the recording. We are deeply grateful to our presenters: Cathy Albisa from Race Forward, Francisco Dueñas from Housing Now!, Gloria Bruce from EBHO, Dr. Margot Kushel from the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, Tom Collishaw from Self-Help Enterprises, Tomiquia Moss from All Home, Va Lecia Adams Kellum from St. Joseph Center, Zella Knight from RUN, and Tommy Newman from United Way of Greater LA. The Roadmap Home has received a lot of interest and support, including coverage on ABC, CBS, CalMatters, Fast Company, KQED (SF’s NPR affiliate), Mercury News and more. On Tuesday, April 27th, the Commonwealth Club hosted a live streamed event which featured an expert panel of speakers including Tomiquia Moss from All Home, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk from LA LISC, Ruby Bolaria-Shifrin from CZI, and Assemblymember David Chiu, with Molly Solomon of KQED serving as moderator. We were excited to see Roadmap Home introduced to some of the state and nation’s most influential policy advocates and lawmakers. Check out the recording! Visit the new website, endorse the Roadmap Home, and urge state legislators to join us as we work to create a future where all Californians have a place to call home. | | | | | | | | | | At Housing California, we push proposals that we know will provide greater access to homes and bring much-needed support to those struggling the most to keep a roof over their heads. One of these proposals is Assembly Bill 328, which would establish the Re-entry Housing Program by reallocating cost savings from recent and future prison closures towards housing and supportive services for formerly incarcerated people. When exiting the criminal system, most people have little to nothing in hand and are often stigmatized by society. Also, we know our criminal justice system disproportionately harms people of color. You can learn more in our op-ed published by Western Center on Poverty and Law. If we are serious about making equitable reforms, then we must help people get back on their feet after incarceration. We recently spoke with Residents United Network (RUN) leader Daphine Lamb-Perilliat, who has worked extensively with people exiting the prison system and has seen their struggles to find, secure and retain affordable housing. Read more. | | | | | | | | | | | | RUN members mobilized in support of AB 71 on April 19 at the Revenue and Tax Committee hearing and again on April 29 for the Housing and Community Development Committee hearing. At the first hearing, 26 RUN members testified, and we beat our own record the next week with 28 members, by far the highest number of testifiers for the bill of any other group. Over and over we heard callers say, “I’m with the Residents United Network,” representing residents of affordable housing and their allies from all over the state. RUN members are setting follow-up visits with legislators ahead of an Assembly floor vote next month. We debrief, analyze, and prepare for next steps at our Community Care calls each Wednesday at 1pm, which are interpreted in Spanish and are open to anyone. Here’s the link, and you can also dial in at 669 900 6833, meeting ID 977 6290 7497. | | | | | | This summer, we’ll host RUN Summer Marathoners, a homelessness advocacy training series to level up RUN leaders’ skills. To complete the “marathon,” leaders will attend one training in May, June, and July, building on the previous month’s themes. By August, certificate in hand, leaders will be ready to use their voice with a lot more confidence in future campaigns to end homelessness. The trainings are open to anyone in California, but people who live in affordable housing, people who have experienced homelessness, and people who have had a hard time paying rent will have priority registration. | | - Training #1, May 26 (English) and May 27 (Spanish): No Fear: combating stigma around homelessness
- Training #2, June 30 (English) and July 1 (Spanish): Find The Words: how to talk about homelessness in a powerful way
- Training #3, July 21 (English) and July 22 (Spanish): Tell Your Friends: growing our movement to get everyone housed
Register for the training series here. | | | |  |  | | | At the State Level California’s Surplus and Budget Planning California has an unexpected budget surplus this year that, combined with the $26 billion the State is receiving from the federal government, allows for flexibility and additional spending on resources, programs, and services. Given the tremendous opportunity to invest in our values, Housing California is co-leading three budget requests we know will make a significant impact in the lives of thousands of our neighbors struggling the most to find and keep a roof over their heads. Co-leading the Bring CA Home coalition, we are requesting $2.4 billion to be funded by a revenue source, specifically the Global Intangible Low-Tax Income (GILTI), a type of income earned abroad by U.S.-controlled foreign corporations, and use the ongoing revenue to create and fund the Bring CA Home program in AB 71 (Rivas). Additionally, the coalition is asking that resources that are invested in this year’s budget use the programmatic structure proposed in the consensus Bring California Home coalition proposal. We also have a request for $500 million to fund the preservation of homes occupied by low-income households as permanently affordable housing. This budget request also includes a set-aside of $800,000 to fund the Housing Acquisition Technical Assistance Program created by SB 490 (Caballero), a bill we are co-sponsoring. The coalition supporting AB 328 (Chiu) is requesting $100 million in ongoing funds to address the needs of formerly incarcerated people experiencing homelessness. These resources are realized through the closure of State prisons. Finally, we’re advancing a $3 billion request with our affordable housing partners to support 140 shovel-ready affordable housing developments to move immediately to construction. | | State Homelessness Council Approves Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
The Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) voted unanimously to approve the Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in California, the state’s first-ever long-term plan to address homelessness, which aims to coordinate state efforts and meet its Housing First mission. We are excited about the vision and framework to prevent and end homelessness in the HCFC Action Plan and its alignment with the Roadmap Home 2030. | | Assembly Bill 71 Faces a Key Vote in the Appropriations Committee
AB 71 made real progress again ‒ twice in just a few weeks! Passing through two very challenging committees, it continues to gain momentum as it offers a viable path toward reversing the cycle of homelessness in our state. By conforming to federal tax provisions in GILTI, which ensures corporations pay appropriate taxes on income ‒ instead of shifting profits overseas to avoid them ‒ we can generate the ongoing funding for local governments to combat homelessness. It’s a commonsense, pro-business approach that doesn't cost a dime for individuals or small businesses. | | | | AB 71 faces a critical moment as we work to move it from the suspense file in the Appropriations Committee. Next it is heading to the Assembly floor (where we’ll need a ⅔ vote), and we’ll need your support to make sure this essential part of the Roadmap Home gets passed and implemented across California. | | Schools & Communities First Coalition Shares Key Campaign Insights Housing California is proud to have actively supported the Schools and Communities First campaign. Working with our co-conspirators, we pushed hard for the structural solutions we know Californians need to realize a thriving and equitable recovery. We encourage you to check out their recently released report, “Breaking California’s Third Rail,” that covers the accomplishments, successes, and challenges of the Schools & Communities First Coalition while providing a path forward to continue fighting for progressive tax policy in California. | | | | | | | | Join the hoUSed campaign! The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) invited Housing California to serve as their California state partner on the recently launched federal advocacy campaign called HoUSed. This campaign aligns well with the Roadmap Home’s goals, framework, and several key policy solutions. The HoUSed Campaign sent a letter to Congressional leadership, urging them to support the campaign’s priorities. Take a moment to add your organization to the HoUSed campaign today! | | | | | | | | | | | | Housing California
1107 9th Street, Suite 560 | Sacramento, California 95814
916-447-0503 | staff@housingca.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
