A message from Generation Housing Executive Director |
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Dear Gen H Family:
As we wrap up our first two years, I want to start with gratitude for the support and engagement that has helped Generation Housing:
Secure millions more in funding for affordable housing and climate-smart housing development in Sonoma County
Help move more than 4,000 housing units through the entitlement process through endorsement and advocacy
Publish research to support evidenced-based housing decisions
Join in the effort to get a comprehensive package of pro-housing legislation passed at the state level
Educate local residents and decision makers about the importance of housing and intersection of housing and health, education, the environment, and our economy
Build a pro-housing Gen H Action team made up of a diverse group from Youth Promotores, to community health, education, environmental, social services, and business leaders, to passionate, community-minded community members
We’ve got lots of work ahead of us. Stay tuned in the first part of the year for the release of the State of Housing in Sonoma County report in January and an associated event in February; education and engagement in supporting our local jurisdictions in their efforts to earn the state “Pro-housing Designation;” an educational event around climate action and environmental and housing justice; an educational event about how homeowners can help make a dent in our housing needs and maximize their property values through lot splits and duplexes; and of course we’ll continue to advocate for local policy designed to increase the pace of local housing production and support good housing projects.
One project that is in jeopardy and needs our strong support at the very start of the new year is the Alexander Valley Apartments in Cloverdale. You can read more about it below and sign a petition showing your support here.
Finally, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season with loved ones, whether in person or on Zoom, and hope that you can find many moments of joy, gratitude, and peace during what continues to be a challenging and unsettling time.
Looking forward to working together in the 2022.
Jen
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Sign up for ACTION ALERTS! |
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Alexander Valley Apartments…
a housing development that deserves and needs your support:
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The Alexander Valley Apartments is a 75-unit, all affordable housing project located on the periphery of Cloverdale’s downtown core. This project is especially valuable because of the 35 units earmarked for farmworker families. Agriculture is the economic engine of our regional economy, and farmworkers power that engine. Still, it has garnered considerable and surprising opposition from Cloverdale Unified School District, Alexander Valley Healthcare, and members of the public.
This project is in jeopardy and Generation Housing has taken a strong stance in support of the project. Watching the hearings on this project, we’ve observed unconscious bias, and implicit and explicit racist comments and reasoning in some of the opposition. In response to this, Generation Housing has generated a coalitional letter that outlines the primary concerns stated by those in opposition and our corresponding responses that are based on available evidence. This letter will be delivered to Cloverdale Planning Commissioners with one clear message: this is a by-right project and they need to objectively review and move this project forward.
The temperature of any debate is significantly dialed up anytime an accusation of racism is made, and it will not surprise us if our position angers some. But Generation Housing is committed to walking our equity talk, even if that is unpopular with some.
Inequitable housing policy has been and continues to be a primary driver of income inequality, segregation, and disparities in health and educational outcomes. We’re working to change that here in our community and we can’t do that without your engagement.* We welcome public comments in support of this project at the next Cloverdale Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, January 4th. More importantly, please consider signing our petition! Together we can move this project forward and create more affordable housing options for Cloverdale families and workforce members.
*If you have some extra time over the holidays, this radio show does a good job of explaining the impact housing policy has had and continues to have on our communities of color.
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Policy & Advocacy Update: Things to Celebrate
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It might be the end of 2021, but our planning for 2022 is already well underway. So what’s on the immediate horizon for Generation Housing? Well, as it turns out, quite a few things. Here’s what you need to know: |
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New Year, New Bills:
The second year of the California State Legislature 2021-22 session kicks off in the New Year. While we have yet to identify significant bills of consequence at the moment that this content is being written, we expect more and more legislation to emerge in the coming weeks. So stay tuned, and feel free to contact us should you have any questions about the upcoming session and/or our policy priorities.
Housing Elements…we NEED YOUR SUPPORT:We have a once-in-8-years opportunity to dramatically reform housing policies in Sonoma County through the Housing Element process. We’ll be honest, it’s complicated and requires ALL hands on deck. In partnership with the Campaign for Fair Housing Elements, a statewide coalition of housing organizations working to ensure our local Housing Elements are equitable, inclusive, and diverse, we have developed a massive trove of useful resources that can help you become an expert on Housing Elements in short order. Because let’s be clear, we can’t do this alone. As the saying goes, “...it takes a village.” And our village is large and complex. That’s why we are calling upon our membership to sign up via our website to learn more and help transform our communities in a manner that helps realize our vision for a more sustainable Sonoma County.
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Branden
Branden went to Sonoma State and graduated in 2012, immediately working as an electrical engineer in Rohnert Park. He was able to rent from a friend for a low price for 6 years, until his friend unfortunately had to relocate. Branden then moved to downtown Petaluma and rented an apartment that was over three times the price of his previous place. Shocked by the monthly expenses, Branden began to look into options to buy, so that he could build equity, especially as he advanced in his career. He looked all over Sonoma County for months, but struggled to find a single family home for under $450K that wasn’t in the WUI.
When COVID-19 hit, and he started working from home, he was given much more freedom in his living location. After months of searching in Sonoma County, Branden reached out to a realtor friend in Sacramento and was able to find something in less than four months.
Branden blames the lack of housing supply which pushes pricing higher, making home-owning so challenging in Sonoma County. He would have loved to stay in Petaluma and make a home there, “I wanted to stay in Sonoma County, buy a house, settle down, but the pricing was prohibitive. In the end, I decided to buy a house in Sacramento as I was able to find something within my budget.”.
Help Generation Housing ensure housing availability for people like Branden by joining #WeAreGenH now!
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We are teachers, first responders, farm workers. We are grocers, we are artists. |
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Together, each of you, all of us, and all residents of Sonoma County. We Are Gen H, and we all need affordable places to live.
The “We Are Gen H” pro-housing campaign lifts up the experiences of workers, artists, and students in the community and organizes community members to take action and show support for more construction of more types of housing in Sonoma County.
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2149 W. Hearn Avenue, “Hearn Veterans Village” | Santa Rosa |
Proposed by Community Housing Sonoma County, 2149 W. Hearn Avenue, or “Hearn Veterans Village” is an affordable, permanent supportive housing infill project designed to help an oft underserved population in our country, our veterans. With 31-units of studio/efficiency bedrooms and accessory dwelling units (ADU’s), as well as critical amenities, such as gardening and open space, this project promotes the best opportunities for healing. Generation Housing welcomes and strongly endorses this project as it offers ample opportunities for veterans to live safe, healthy, and productive lives. |
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Sign up to volunteer at community events to meet people, talk housing, and engage them in our work. |
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Generation Housing Members' Monthly House Party | January 20th 4:30 - 5:30PM, Virtual |
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Being a Generation Housing member comes with its perks, and one of them is free admission to members-only educational, networking, and advocacy events.
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Sonoma County Housing News Digest
In case you missed some of the key news items of the last few weeks on local housing, Generation Housing has procured a bevy of news articles from around Sonoma County.
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"Enter Generation Housing, which launched in early 2020 with the goal of convincing officials, business interests and residents that more housing, even in their own backyards, is in everyone’s best interest. The group’s executive director, Jen Klose, an attorney and former Santa Rosa School Board president, has led the group’s efforts to endorse residential projects, create marketing campaigns in support of growth and help local officials seek public grants affordable housing."
Cloverdale city, school district officials at odds over developer obligations to schools | The Press Democrat
“The district is trying to push an anti-housing agenda,” Bagby said. “But it’s strange that they bought a piece of property in the town, built a new gym and refurbished a football field so they’ve maxed out their bond money. ... I don’t they have their priorities set right. I think they are trying to cover up for their own mistakes.”
“The Millbrae City Council last week adopted an emergency ordinance aimed at restricting housing developments expected as a result of a controversial state law that will take effect beginning next year. The city’s new ordinance adds affordability requirements to the state law, Senate Bill 9, which will soon allow for up to four units on formerly single-family only lots. With the city’s emergency rules, at least one of the four units will need to be made affordable to residents who earn 80% or less of the county’s median income."
Blue States, You’re the Problem: Why do states with Democratic majorities fail to live up to their values? | New York Times
Why do states with Democratic majorities fail to live up to their values? To fight for our shared values, especially affordable housing?
California housing crisis both wide and deep|Cal Matters
As Dan Walters says, high housing costs are the major reason California has the nation’s highest rate of functional poverty and the second lowest rate of home ownership.
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Demystifying Housing Policy:
Five Housing Terms Everyone Should Know
Housing affects all of us, yet the terminology used to discuss housing can be fraught with insider lingo and it can be difficult to fully grasp. So we’ve compiled a brief list of some of the most common terms used in the housing policy world to help everyone better understand and engage in the housing conversation.
LOW INCOME PERSON OR HOUSEHOLD
As widely defined by governmental and nonprofit organizations, person or household with
gross household income below 60% Area Median Income, often including receptionists,
preschool teachers and security guards, or 80% Area Median Income, often including
construction workers, firefighters, and teachers in the Bay Area (depending on program
eligibility requirements) adjusted for household size.
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
A building or group of buildings that combines multiple revenue producing uses in an
integrated and coherent plan. As an example, a mixed-use development might include retail
space on the ground floor, offices on the middle floor, condominiums on the top floors and a
garage on the lower level.
NIMBY: NOT IN MY BACK YARD
Neighborhood opposition to housing development built near their own homes.
PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS
Areas designated by cities and approved by the Association of Bay Area Government, as places where new growth (housing, jobs) should be concentrated. PDAs must meet certain requirements, including location close to transit. PDAs are supposed to be “complete communities” with housing, shopping and services accessible by bike and walking and homes for a range of economic levels. Plan Bay Area is based on concentrating growth in these PDAs.
SPECIFIC PLANS
Plans prepared by city government to attract, stimulate and guide development in a particular neighborhood. Often specific plans streamline certain requirements to make it easier for developers to get approvals to build projects.
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