CHC 2005 SUMMARY

CALIFORNIA HOUSING CONSORTIUM/CHC INSTITUTE

California is at a pivotal crossroads in 2005 – to address the state’s critical housing needs in a time of soaring real estate costs, chronic budgetary constraints, and an often divisive political climate, the need has never been greater for strong collaborative efforts.

As an affiliate of the National Housing Conference and the state’s only “big tent” affordable housing association, CHC is unique in the wide range of players we bring to the table, including public agencies, for-profit and non-profit developers, a wide variety of consultants and service providers, and leading lenders and investors in affordable housing throughout the state.

CHC is actively involved in those key policy areas which effect the on-going production of quality affordable housing, including the creation of a permanent source of state funding to leverage critical private lending and investment. Three years ago, CHC provided crucial funding and support for the passage of Proposition 46, the state’s historic $2.1 billion affordable housing bond. Today CHC is playing a central role in formulating a legislative initiative for a permanent State Housing Trust Fund.

Our 20-member Board of Directors includes developers, property managers, lenders, investors, consultants, housing advocates and public officials (including the heads of TCAC, CDLAC and CalHFA, all of whom actively participate). In addition, a 40-member Board of Governors expands on the diversity and leadership of the Board of Directors and includes representation from the legal, accounting, real estate transaction, design, and construction sectors. Together, members of both the Board of Directors and the Board of Governors serve on a Policy & Advocacy Committee, a Resources Development Committee, and a Forum Events Committee that coordinates semi-annual convocations, legislative advocacy visits in Sacramento, and lobby days on matters of critical interest to affordable housing proponents.

You can play a critical part in building consensus for enhancing the delivery of more affordable housing in California by becoming a Member of CHC. Thank you!

Please note that in 2005 we have relocated the Consortium offices: California Housing Consortium/CHC Institute – 369 Pine Street, Suite 310, San Francisco, CA 94104 – Jeff Loustau, Executive Director; Adam Eisendrath, Administrative Assistant; Phone: 415.677.4436; Fax: 415.677.4384; E-mail:

jloustau@calhsng.org; 

aeisendrath@calhsng.org.

CHC Events 2005

In an effort to keep members informed of the important affordable housing issues of the day, CHC hosts day-long workshops and conferences in both Northern and Southern California. Typically the events are held in the spring and the fall and are organized in a forum arrangement where in addition to hearing from key players and political representatives, CHC members have the opportunity to engage in dialogue in an effort to build a consensus of understanding around critical affordable housing issues.

Fall Issues Forum Event

CHC 2005 Fall Forum – “State Housing Trust Fund: What’s It Going to Take?”

CHC hosted its 2005 Fall Forum in Los Angeles on October 11. Dedicated to the critical preservation of catalytic state funding for affordable housing development, the event featured a diverse set of panelists and moderators. In addition to keeping the affordable housing community informed of the status of sustaining housing funding in the short-term, the forum provided an opportunity to lay out the challenges and opportunities in achieving a permanent housing trust fund over the long-term.

(Please see the CHC Events page for more details! Thank you!)

Welfare Tax Exemption Forum

In an effort to help facilitate constructive dialogue on the proposed rules and regulations under consideration by the State Board of Equalization (BOE), CHC convened a forum in Sacramento on April 20, 2005. Facilitated by Darrell Steinberg, former State Assemblyman now working with Hanson Bridgett’s Government Ethics and Government Relations practice groups, the forum provided constituent groups a unique opportunity to raise ideas and express concerns relative to the criteria necessary to ensuring that the property tax exemption – a pivotal element to maintaining housing affordability for low-and-moderate income households – does not fall victim to abuse.

Representative from for-profit and non-profit development organizations, lenders, investors, and the public sector listened to arguments from various points of view, broke out into working groups, and then generated a cogent and constructive series of recommendations for BOE staff to consider in preparing the proposed tax-exemption rules for the consideration of the Board of Equalization.

CHC can be uniquely effective in convening such events among its diverse membership in order to openly consider the challenges and opportunities endemic to many of the major policy issues facing the affordable housing industry.

Spring Board of Directors/Board of Governors Issues Forum

On Wednesday, June 1, CHC hosted a day-long Issues Forum for its Board of Directors and Board of Governors. Held at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in Sacramento, the interactive forum featured panels covering the range of housing issues, including:

• State Budget (Mary Ellen Shay, Chair; Panelists – Jean Ross, Christine Minnehan)
• Housing Trust Fund (Dianne Spaulding, Chair; Panelists – Julie Spezia, Fran Wagstaff, Tim O’Connell)
• Prevailing Wage (Lynn Hutchins, Chair; Panelists – Geoff Brown, Peter Carey)
• Welfare Tax Exemption (Jeff Loustau, Chair; Panelists – Carol Galante, Terry Freeman, Ronne Thielen)
• Federal Update (Janet Falk, Chair; Panelists – Betsy Morris, Ted Chandler, Mary Ellen Shay)

Major Policy Issues and Initiatives

Among CHC’s roles is working to clarify and resolve the key housing issues of the day including prevailing wage, responsible enforcement of the welfare tax exemption, and evolving federal policy such as Sec. 8 vouchers and continued block grant funding.

Our primary focus today is effectively promoting and securing a State Housing Trust Fund. California needs a robust and predictable annual funding source with which to leverage other private and public resources in order to address the critical demand for affordable housing across the low-to-moderate income spectrum. Together with our partners at Housing California, CHC is committed to earnestly moving forward the Homes 4 California campaign. We encourage you to learn more about the campaign by visiting the website at www.homes4ca.org.

Enhanced Fundraising

CHC Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and contributions made to CHC Institute may be fully tax-deductible. With your financial support and the leadership of our Boards of Directors and Governors, CHC will play an ever greater role in championing affordable housing in California.

Together with Carol Galante, Chair of CHC’s Resource Development Committee and Jack Gardner, CHC’s Treasurer, we have set a goal this year of increasing our funding from membership dues by 50% and our One-Step Underwriting Grant proceeds by 15%. We very much appreciate your efforts to expand our membership among your colleagues, consultants, and clients.

If you ARE already a Member or a One-Step Underwriter – we THANK YOU for your support and look forward to a productive relationship promoting the cause of affordable housing in California.

If you ARE NOT YET a Member or a One-Step Underwriter – we INVITE YOU to join our organization. Please take a look at our Board of Directors and Board of Governors (found elsewhere on this website) – your addition to this ‘big tent’ organization will help us be even stronger and more effective. You will find on this website a simple application to become a Member or a One-Step Underwriter. We encourage you to add your voice to the CHC mission!

Please call, e-mail, or write to us if you have any questions or would like additional information about the California Housing Consortium. Thank you again for your interest and support!