Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom released his 2024-25 budget proposal, which includes an estimated $37.9 billion shortfall (nearly twice the shortfall we faced at this time last year).

🔑 The Key Takeaway Our state’s fiscal reality reinforces the need for longer-term solutions outside of the state budget process, solutions capable of embracing the structural shifts needed to bring housing solutions, at scale, to all California neighborhoods and communities.

👟 Next Steps NPH and our allies will work closely with lawmakers, the Governor’s office, and advocates to maintain the affordable housing and homelessness solutions in the current budget proposal and also advocate for additional investments to be included in the May Revise.

🛣️ Looking Ahead NPH has been spearheading two 2024 ballot measure campaigns with our members for several years designed to broaden and deepen public support for affordable housing solutions; pass structural reforms so communities can meet their housing needs; and win region-wide funding for affordable housing at scale.

Promising news on the federal front! The House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Missouri, and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, recently announced a bipartisan tax bill that includes restoring the 12.5% increase in annual 9% low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) allocation for 2023-2025 and, most importantly, a reduction of the 50% test to 30% for 2024-25, potentially freeing up funding for 10,000 more affordable homes in California.

This bill still needs to go through the legislative process but we are very encouraged to see these updates. This was only possible because of the incredible amount of outreach from the affordable housing industry across the country, so thank you to the members who did specific outreach to your members of Congress! There is still much work to be done to get this signed into law but this is a major step forward.

Get your year started off right by getting involved with NPH’s upcoming programmatic efforts! See below for two upcoming ways you can get involved:

BAHIP: Help a Bay Area Housing Internship Program (BAHIP) intern thrive by serving as a host agency. Don’t waste any time because the deadline is next Wednesday!

Application deadline: Wednesday, January 31 @ 5PM PT.
If you have already hosted an intern before, please use this form instead.

NPH Leadership Awards: The 28th Annual Affordable Housing Leadership Awards is happening Thursday, May 2 and it’s time to help honor our community by submitting your nomination for the Awards. Who is that extra special houser that deserves kudos? Who went above and beyond in 2023? Who is innovative, pushing our industry forward? Let us know!

Submission deadline: Monday, February 12 @ 12pm
Word version for submissions

Join us in welcoming our newest staff member, Senior Programs & Events Manager Karin Buckner, to the team!

Karin Buckner (she/her) joins NPH with over 15 years of project management experience. Before NPH, Karin directed a team at California School Employees Association (CSEA), providing a wide range of events, programs, and services to over a quarter of a million union members throughout the state.

In her free time, Karin enjoys macrame, weaving, and other fiber arts. She is a mother of three girls and together they love to bake, hike with their dog, go on family bicycle rides, and volunteer with their local Girl Scout service unit.

Read more about Karin and learn about the entire NPH board and staff!

1/25, EBHO: Virtual Lunch & Learn East Bay Housing Organizations is launching a monthly virtual Lunch & Learn series for their 40th anniversary! Join them this Thursday 1/25 for their first event, Intro to EBHO to learn about their 2024 work and how you can get involved this year and in the years to come!

1/30, Bay Rising: Moving Beyond Representation - Championing Progressive Policies in the Bay Area: Join the Bay Area Equity Atlas, Bay Rising, and Urban Habitat for a webinar exploring updated research on the diversity of electeds and a new case study on the elected officials who hold real estate interests in their jurisdictions. Speakers from a rich variety of backgrounds will discuss efforts to remove the barriers that keep people from underrepresented communities from