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Weekly Update
Sept. 25, 2013

 

In this Issue:

SHA_News

SHA News
Davis_Cannery
Open Letter to the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board: Davis' Cannery project falls short for low-income residents - it's not worthy of your approval
 

 

 

The following is a response to the Sacramento Bee's Editorial "Davis should approve worthy Cannery project"

 

By: Greg Sparks, Executive Director at the Sacramento Housing Alliance

 

Called "a model for developments" by the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board, the Cannery promises to be an environmentally-sustainable infill project that includes restaurants and work buildings among its 547 housing units. While the Cannery is innovative and exciting in many respects, including its community garden and options for net-zero living, it does not reflect a commitment to low-income residents, who largely support Davis' service economy. The Cannery is a project affected by recent changes made to the city's Affordable Housing Ordinance.

 

The City of Davis had a groundbreaking Affordable Housing Ordinance that required developers to include a percentage of affordable housing within new projects. This prevented segregation and opened up affordable housing options as the community grew. In July, this ordinance changed. Revisions approved by the City Council allowed developers to build unregulated accessory units, 400-600 foot spaces, as part of their affordable housing obligation. Called "affordable by design" by some, this label is misleading. The mere fact that these units are small does not guarantee that they will be affordable-especially in a new development. In addition to being potentially unaffordable, accessory units are not practical for low-income families, who simply cannot live comfortably in such a small space.  
 
Executive_Director_Job_Opening
SHA: Executive Director Job Opening

  

 

View the Executive Director Position Description

 

Affordable housing in Sacramento faces great challenges and opportunities. As the economic downturn caused home ownership to decline and rent prices to increase, working families struggled to stay afloat. The Sacramento Housing Alliance (SHA) seeks a visionary Executive Director with innovative solutions for this recovering housing environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong affordable housing policy background which will inform the way current challenges are addressed, as well as a solid commitment to the Sacramento community.

 

SHA, a 25 year-old organization with strong community partnerships, has been the Sacramento area's voice for affordable housing and regional equity in policy decisions and community planning. Future challenges include preserving the mixed income housing ordinances in both the city and county of Sacramento, helping to reshape the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency and building on the regional equity initiatives of the recent past. The organization is seeking a leader with a blend of political organizing and affordable housing policy knowledge to successfully address these challenges.

 

The Executive Director will play an inspirational role in the struggle not only for affordable housing, but also for healthy, environmentally sustainable communities. He or she will guide the Sacramento Housing Alliance, a long-established organization, into its next chapter of success with patience, dedication, a vision for productive change and strategic planning skills. SHA's diverse Board of Directors provides an exceptional support network for the Executive Director, offering expertise, guidance and collaboration.

 

Can you envision yourself in this important leadership role? Apply now.

 

  

 

After clicking the link above, please add a personal message to scroll to the "Executive Director Job Opening" section of this e-newsletter.  

BCLI_Public_Forum_2 
BCLI Public Forum Next Week: Affordable Housing in Crisis                   

 

Register Now

 

When: Wednesday, October 2, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Mercy Housing 7th & H
            720 7TH Street, Sacramento, 95814 

Increasingly, our neighbors, friends and loved ones are making decisions that no one should ever have to make to pay rent--like going without nutritious food and adequate child care. The crisis presented by the lack of affordable housing has far reaching consequences for the Sacramento region. The Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute public forum will gather regional leaders to discuss the crisis, its impact and what community leaders can do to solve this dire problem we face.

Join the conversation as a panel of experts in affordable housing in the region will discuss current issues, followed by an audience/panel discussion.Click here to register.

Panelists

Tyrone Buckley, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation

John Foley, Executive Director, Sacramento Self Help Housing

Chris Jensen, Advocate/Community Organizer, Resources for Independent Living

 

About BCLI Public Forums

Monthly from September through December, the BCLI cohort hosts a public forum on a current topic important to communities in the region. The event features a panel of speakers who discuss their relevant work, followed by an in-depth discussion with the audience. The forums provide an opportunity for the BCLI cohort to meet regional leaders working in various sectors, to provide education and an opportunity for discussion to the public in attendance.

 

Save the date for the following Public Forums:

November 6: Transportation for Everyone

December 4: Food Access

 

All forums will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Mercy Housing 7th & H (720 7th Street, Sacramento, 95814). 

 

localnews

Local News
K_Street 
Sacramento Bee Editorial: Give Youseffi, Miry a chance to revitalize K Street
          
  

The revitalization of K Street would include the development of much-needed affordable housing. After reading the Editorial Board's piece below, please write a letter of support for this project, addressed to the State Finance Department:

 

Michael Cohen, Finance Director

California Department of Finance
915 L Street
Sacramento CA 95814
 

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

"A project to revitalize the 700 block of K Street, a long-blighted area in downtown Sacramento, is ready to go after nearly a decade of fits and starts.

Two dynamic young Sacramento developers, Ali Youssefi of CFY Development and Bay Miry of D&S Development, won a competitive bid in July 2010 to take on the 700 block - with the goal of eliminating blight, rehabbing historic buildings, creating affordable housing and reactivating K Street.

The $48 million project got environmental and land-use approvals a year later. The city also signed a development agreement with Youssefi and Miry, making a $3.6 million loan commitment. The developers committed to buy the city-owned property; keep historic facades; add second-floor apartments above retail, restaurants and a music club; and build a six-story apartment building with 137 units, with a majority affordable for low- to moderate-income families."

 

Read the full editorial here. 

Mustard_Seed_Spin
Save the Date: Mustard Seed Spin
 

  

 

Register Now

 

The Mustard Seed Spin promotes total wellness for youth through safe cycling, while creating opportunities to help less fortunate children.


Who: Kids and families; kids less than 8 years old need an adult companion. Please no training wheels! (NEW) Children 4 and under in a Burley or an attached bike seat may accompany registered riders for free.


What: A fun bike ride by kids for kids, with 8, 20 and 40 kilometer options.


When: September 29, 2013. The park, helmet and bike check, booths, etc. will be open at 9:30. Riders will be staggered with 25 milers (40k) leaving the park starting at 10:15, 13 milers (20k) starting at 10:30 and 5 milers (8k) at 10:45.


Where: William B. Pond Recreation Area (at the south end of Arden Way)


Why: Fun, exercise and to help kids from the Mustard Seed School


Cost: Preregistration: $25 per rider, $20 per person for a family of three or more.
Day-of-event: $30 per rider, $25 per person for family of three or more.

  

About the Mustard Seed School

Mustard Seed is a free, private school for children 3-15 years old which provides a safe, nurturing and structured environment, a positive learning experience, happy memories, survival resources of food, clothing and shelter referrals, medical and dental screenings, immunization updates, counseling for children and their parents, and assistance entering or reentering public schools.

 

Mustard Seed School, a program of Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, was established in 1989 to help meet the needs of homeless children. Many school age children do not attend school because of their homelessness; some lack immunizations, birth certificates, or other documents, some are in transit, and almost all lack a support system. In spite of their situations these children are eager to learn and to be accepted.

statenews

State News
Housing_Bills
Important Housing Bills Need Your Support
 

SHA is a proud supporter of AB 325 and AB 1229, bills that further the mission of accountability for local jurisdictions to plan for an adequate affordable housing options. Please send the support letters below to Governor Brown as soon as possible, as the deadline for him to sign or veto bills is October 13. We thank you for your support!

 

AB 325 (Alejo) overturns the 2008 Pleasanton decision and allows private enforcement of housing-element law for up to two years after a locality adopts a deficient housing element. Housing California co-sponsored this measure. Take Action: Download Housing California's AB 325 SAMPLE LETTER and send it to Governor Brown.

 

AB 1229 (Atkins) overturns the Palmer decision and permits localities to adopt mixed-income housing ordinances. The San Diego Housing Federation and Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California co-sponsored it. Take Action: Download Housing California's AB 1229 SAMPLE LETTER and send it to Governor Brown.

LA_Times_Editorial 
LA Times Editorial: A housing fix for California Veterans
 
Lawmakers want to ask California voters to change the way the $900 million in Proposition 12 money is used to help veterans find homes. Above, members of the Marines Corps. wait at Camp Pendleton in August. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
   

"California voters approved Proposition 12 five years ago, authorizing a $900-million bond issue to help military veterans buy homes and farms. But while the number of returning vets is still high, their interest in buying houses with state-backed low-cost mortgages isn't.

 

Last week, lawmakers passed a bill that would let voters amend Proposition 12 to shift two-thirds of the bonds - none of which has been issued - to building affordable apartments for veterans, with an emphasis on projects that align rental housing with services for the homeless. The change would impose new costs on the state, but supporters argue that the expense would be more than offset by the revenue and savings generated when homeless vets return to productive lives. Gov. Jerry Brown should sign the bill."
 
National_News

National News
Hanford_Sentinel 
Hanford Sentinel: Valadao votes against GOP food stamp cuts 

    

"Bucking party trends, Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, voted Thursday against a Republican-sponsored bill that would have cut food stamp expenditures by $40 billion over the next 10 years.

 

Valadao was one of only 15 Republicans in the House to vote against HR 3102, The Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act, which narrowly passed 217-210 with no Democrats voting for it.

 

The measure will likely be a non-starter in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

 

Valadao argued that the bill would harm his San Joaquin Valley constituents by increasing work requirements at a time of high unemployment and scarce jobs.

 

"'Without this assistance, many in my district would be unable to feed their families,' Valadao said in a written statement. 'Portions of my district are suffering from more than 30 percent unemployment, making it nearly impossible for many to find work despite their best efforts. It's unfair to the American people for Congress to implement policies containing work requirements when our national economy is suffering.'"

 

Click here to read Seth Nidever's full article.

JOIN THE SACRAMENTO HOUSING ALLIANCE
 

 
Our mission is to work for safe, decent, accessible, affordable housing and healthy communities for homeless and low-income people through advocacy, education, leadership development and civic engagement.

Jessica Merrill

Communications Director

Sacramento Housing Alliance
1800 21st Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 455-4900 x302
jessica@sachousingalliance.org 
www.sachousingalliance.org

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