CHC's Industry Insight
A Note from our Executive Director

As 2016 draws to a close, I want to thank you each for your engagement with CHC over the past year and your ongoing commitment to make affordable homes available to all Californians.
 
It's hard to look ahead to 2017 without feeling somewhat uneasy. The investment markets are uncertain, the political situation in Washington is unsettled, and the implications for California's policy environment are unclear.  Yet our mission is more urgent and vital than ever; the deaths of 36 people in an Oakland warehouse converted to makeshift housing underscore the unprecedented crisis facing our state and the need for CHC to lead with policy solutions.
 
With this tragedy fresh in our minds, I joined hundreds of leaders from a broad range of industries last week for the California Economic Summit convened by California Forward.  As co-chair of the Summit's Housing Action Team, I left encouraged by the growing recognition that housing is the foundation for all other success in our state and by the energy around our shared goal of one million more homes for Californians. 
 
In just two weeks, the legislative session will kick off in earnest, and I look forward to working with you to keep affordable housing high on the priority list of lawmakers and the Administration.  CHC is proud to lead on your California agenda, including:
  • Securing state affordable home investment by supporting SB 2, 3 and AB 71 
  • Ensuring local governments support California's economic success by planning and achieving affordable homes for a competitive workforce
  • Breaking down barriers to affordable development 
Against the backdrop of uncertainty from Washington, we know for certain that housing has a unique and vital role in lifting families out of poverty and supporting job creation, education, and health in our state.  Together, we can create the safe and affordable homes that represent hope, both for families struggling to make ends meet and for California's future.

  Sincerely,
  





  Ray Pearl 
  CHC Executive Director 
CHC Policy Event with The Terner Center for Housing Innovation
CHC & The Terner Center for Housing Innovation partner to bring you: Federal Policy Outlook 2017 and Beyond
 
Join the California Housing Consortium & the Terner Center for Housing Innovation on January 10, 2017 in Oakland for a panel discussion on the changing federal landscape and its effects on affordable housing.

Featured Panelists:
  • Carol Galante, Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley
  • Chris Gouig, Housing Authority of Alameda County
  • Mike Novogradac, Novogradac & Co LLP
  • Matt Schwartz, California Housing Partnership
*Moderated by Marina Wiant, Policy Director, CHC 

The event will take place in Oakland at the Conference Center at The East Bay Community Foundation (Plaza Room A) from 8:30 am - 10:30 am.

Attendance fee is $40 and space for this event is limited, please register today!
 

In Case You Missed It...

  • The CA legislature convened on December 5 to swear in 29 new members. There are nine new Senators, six of whom have previously served in the Assembly and 20 new members in Assembly, three of whom have previously served in the Assembly. The Senate returned with a renewed focus on the infrastructure needs in our state. A package of 4 infrastructure bills was introduced, including SB 2 (Atkins), which would create a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing, and SB 3 (Beall), which would authorize a $3 billion statewide housing bond. Read the press release from the Senate: California Rebuild.
  • Assemblymember David Chiu joined his colleagues on Dec 19th to announce a package of bills to address the affordable housing crisis. These bills will fund production of housing for low-income families, incentivize local governments to complete upfront planning and environmental review and approve housing permits to increase the supply of housing overall, fund enforcement of existing state housing law through the Attorney General, and provide rental assistance to homeless Medi-Cal recipients.  Read the p ress release about the Assembly bill package here: Bring CA Home .
  • AB 71 (Chiu; Co-authors: Ting and Mullin) Bring California Home Act  ( CHC Sponsored)
  • AB 72 (Santiago; Joint author: Chiu; Co-author: Mullin) Increased Enforcement of Existing State Housing Laws (CHC Sponsored)
  • AB 73 (Chiu; Joint author: Caballero; Co-authors: Mullin, Ting, and Santiago) - Housing Sustainability Districts
  • AB 74 (Chiu; Joint author: Santiago; Co-author: Mullin) Housing for a Healthy California 
  • The 2016 California Economic Summit took place in Sacramento on December 13-14, marking the fifth annual gathering of private, public and civic leaders from across California's diverse regions.  At the Summit, the Housing Action team, co-lead by CHC Executive Director Ray Pearl, sharpened a comprehensive strategy for 2017, which addresses the challenge of building 1 million more homes. To read more about this strategy see the framework on pages 10-11 in the 2016 Summit Playbook.
Federal Update
 
On December 10th, before leaving town for the remainder of the year, Congress reached an agreement on the must-pass continuing resolution to fund the federal government.  The measure provides funding through April 28, 2017, which will give the Senate time to begin processing President-elect Trump's nominations and to give his Administration the opportunity to provide input on spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2017.
 
The prospects for significant tax reform in 2017 increased dramatically as a result of the election. If substantial tax reform is enacted, it will undoubtedly result in lower corporate rates, which in turn reduces the value of some tax benefits. Because of this distinct possibility, some low-income housing tax credit investors have paused activity, and others are making decisions based on less equity per dollar of credit. Join CHC at our event on January 10th event to learn more about the impacts of the election on federal housing policy.
 
CHC joined others in the industry as one of 2000 signatories on the ACTION Campaign letter to the incoming Congress and Administration.  The letter urges them to prioritize the LIHTC as they consider tax reform and investments in the nation's infrastructure.  Many of you answered the call to action and also signed the letter.  We thank you for that commitment, and encourage you to share the letter with your elected officials as you make contact with them in the new year.
 
CHC will head to Washington in late winter/early spring 2017 to advocate for the preservation of the low income housing tax credit and funding for critical HUD programs.
Affordable Housing in the News 
 
The Los Angeles Times outlines the housing funding and bond proposals introduced by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose) and the politics surrounding housing legislation as a new legislative session gets underway.  Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle spotlights the tension local governments face in the aftermath of the Ghost Ship Fire which claimed the lives of 36 people in Oakland last month.  Jurisdictions are under pressure to step up enforcement measures, even as enacting them could add to their cities' homelessness populations. In an Op-Ed published by The Sacramento Bee, Paavo Monkkonen, an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA's Luskin school of Public Affairs, advises lawmakers to take action on a number of fronts to ease the housing crunch, including streamlining development.
Thank You to CHC Members!

Each and every year, CHC's work is made possible thanks to the support, dedication, and hard work of our members. None of our efforts can succeed without their partnership and insight! When leading together, we are a powerful force for good, advancing policies that promote and preserve much needed affordable housing.
 
Thank you to our membership. We look forward to an even more productive and effective 2017! 
If you are not yet a member, please consider  joining  CHC today.

Is your CHC membership current? If you would like to join CHC or have questions on your membership, please contact Nancy Martin.  

STAY CONNECTED:
CHC is a non-partisan advocate for the production and preservation of housing affordable to low- and moderate-income Californians. We represent the development, building, financial, and public sectors united in their goal that every Californian has a safe, affordable place to call home.