Last week, the National Low Income Housing Coalition released its Out of Reach 2025 report, which highlights that low-wage workers and other renters with low incomes continue to struggle with the cost of rent. According to the new report, if you make the minimum wage in California, you have to work 98 hours per week just to afford the rent and utilities for a modest one-bedroom apartment.

Homelessness is on the rise, given the inadequate housing safety net and increasingly unaffordable rents, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Addressing these challenges requires long-term federal investments in affordable housing and the “Housing First” model for ending homelessness.

Don’t miss these upcoming learning and networking opportunities from the Emerging Leaders Peer Network (ELPN):

• Construction Closing Process in Affordable Housing, Tuesday, August 19 from 1-2:30PM Join us remotely for a training that will bring together insights from a financial consultant, lender, LIHTC attorney, and title and escrow officer. Whether you’re preparing for your first closing or need a refresher, this session will give you the tools and confidence to navigate this critical phase and move your project successfully toward groundbreaking.
   
• 2025 ELPN Mid-Year Party, Thursday, August 21, 5:30-8:30PM Join your fellow affordable housing emerging leaders for a walking tour and happy hour! We will begin with a Mission District Walking Tour, led by NPH partner, MEDA. Following the Walking Tour, ELPN will host a Happy Hour at Teeth Bar’s back patio in the Mission. Drinks and bites provided!

EAH Housing invites you to celebrate the Distel Circle Groundbreaking, the very first 100% affordable housing community in the City of Los Altos, on Thursday, August 28 from 1-3PM. This development will offer quality housing to Santa Clara County.

Distel Circle is a powerful example of what’s possible when public commitment meets community need. Distel Circle will bring 90 brand-new affordable homes to Los Altos. This project, primarily funded by the $950 million Measure A Affordable Housing Bond, would not have been possible without the voters of Santa Clara County, who approved Measure A in 2016.

The NPH Board plays a vital role in helping to move our collective work forward and deserves a moment in the spotlight! Join us in celebrating Cindy Wu, Chief Executive Officer at Our Neighborhoods Capital Fund and current NPH Board Secretary!

Cindy is equal parts grassroots activist and pragmatic problem-solver. The common thread through all her years of work has been a deep commitment to community engagement and decision-making by residents to determine the fate of their own neighborhoods. Cindy has also been a member of the San Francisco Planning Commission, including a term serving as its president. She holds a Master's in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from UC Berkeley.

“I love being on a board with community leaders who are so passionate about affordable housing and are all practitioners,” Cindy shared when asked what she enjoys most about being on the NPH Board. “It's really special to have a board with such deep expertise, knowledge and passion.”

Thank you Cindy for your work as an NPH Board Member!

8/14, The Partnership - Affordable Housing Electrification 101: Policy, Programs, and Technology Join California Housing Partnership this August for their Annual Electrification Training Series for rehab and new construction developments. This year they are offering two deep dive sessions for affordable housing developers, owners, and operators. The 101 session will offer a comprehensive overview of state and federal policies relevant to decarbonization work.

8/21, The Partnership - Affordable Housing Electrification 201: Planning, Operations, and Maintenance California Housing Partnership’s 201 session will focus on practical planning for decarbonization of affordable housing properties. We will feature case studies, developer experiences and energy analysis. This session will also discuss post-construction considerations for operations and maintenance of new all-electric technologies.