  | | | Dear John, We know this has been a tough week for the affordable housing community. The President’s Executive Orders and the administration’s attempted, illegal funding freeze – which would have had dire consequences on affordable housing programs, among other critical community care – have caused grave concern, deep confusion, and genuine chaos. The federal administration’s Executive Orders are targeting immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, our lowest-income and other vulnerable community members. These efforts have direct impacts on our ability to advance affordable housing solutions and attack our vision for an equitable, inclusive, thriving future for all. National and legal networks are leading the charge in challenging these harmful actions in the courts – including this week’s challenge to the Office of Management and Budget’s funding freeze. And they have been successful so far: first, by securing a legal stay and then by getting the federal administration to rescind the funding freeze. Working on behalf of our community-centered values, we can stand our ground and persevere. NPH is ready and committed to serve our role in the Bay Area, working with our members and partners to identify the most meaningful strategies to defend our communities and continue expanding support and funding for critical affordable housing programs locally, regionally, and across California. Please see the two boxes below for resources and tools to stay informed, engaged, and support our communities through these challenging times. | | NPH remains committed to advancing our vision of homes for all. Alongside you, we’ll keep fighting for our neighbors and communities by staying rooted in our values and advancing smart, bold, collective strategy. | | In Solidarity,
Amie Fishman,
NPH Executive Director | | | | | | NPH Member Groups: Peer Learning and Collective Action We encourage members to join an upcoming working group to share and learn more about the challenges and opportunities we face for our shared goals into this year and beyond. NPH working groups offer critical member space to learn, digest, and plan together around federal response – as well as how we continue to prioritize local, regional and state opportunities to advance affordable housing solutions: - Legislative Issues Committee: housing policy, funding, and programs on the regional, state, and federal levels. (Next meeting: Thursday, February 6 @ 9:30AM)
- Strategic Communications Council - messaging challenges and opportunities, communications best practices, and communications trainings and resources. (Next meeting: Wednesday, February 19 @ 3PM)
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group - advance racial equity and inclusion across the NPH community and the affordable housing sector. Next meetings:
- Equity in Contracting: Monday, February 24 @ 4PM
- Equity in Lending: Monday, April 28 @ 4PM
- Equity in Hiring & Retention: TBD
- Permanent Supportive Housing Working Group - industry costs, best practices, and advocacy opportunities to improve the PSH ecosystem. Next meetings:
- PSH Advocacy: Friday, February 28 @ 11AM
- PSH Standards of Quality: Thursday, February 27 @ 2PM
- Resident Services Working Group - NPH is currently working to assess and relaunch a community practice of resident service providers, community engagement staff, and other practitioners in this field. Please indicate your interest by signing up.
| | | | Resources: Curated Information to Support Affordable Housing Now Drawing on our network of national partners and legal experts, NPH has developed a curated list of resources and information to support member needs now: Federal Funding Before this funding freeze from the Office of Management and Budget was set to go into effect on 1/28, a federal judge in DC placed a stay until Monday, February 3. The administration then rescinded their order but has advised that the administration’s priorities will be carried out through other mechanisms. Ongoing information can be found via the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). Immigration The recent immigration executive order has set both rumors and actual ICE actions into escalation. NPH has been responding to member concerns by providing resources for affordable housing developers and service providers: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The recent executive order on DEI has changed decades of precedent and practice on hiring for public and private entities. A number of private law firms have offered primers on what this EO could mean for your organization and how to respond. Other Resources | | | | | | | | | | | | Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH)
49 Stevenson Street Suite 500 | San Francisco, California 94105
415-989-8160 | [email protected] | | | | | | | | | |
