The California Housing Consortium  annual CHC Policy Forum and Housing Hall of Fame Luncheon was a great success.  See pictures and a summary of the event by Clicking Here!

On Wednesday, March 12, a delegation of CHC members participated in Spring Lobby Day.  Following a one-hour briefing in the conference room of the California Association of Counties (1100 K Street), the following CHC members visited with (16) key state representatives on housing-related legislation for the new term:  Carol Galante (CHC Policy Leadership Task Force Chair; BRIDGE Housing Corp.

In 2007 the California Housing Consortium/CHC Institute effectively advocated for unprecedented housing incentive programs; broadened its membership base; successfully recruited new board members to replace those terming off; met all financial obligations; and established an operating cash reserve to help address fluctuations in the receipt of member contributions.  Here is a year-end summary:  

POLICY LEADERSHIP

Please find attached CHC's Memo summarizing the input and discussion from the CHC Infill Set-Aside Stakeholders’ Meeting held on Tuesday, November 6, at the offices of (CHC Member) City of San Jose Department of Housing.  CHC is very grateful for the presence of HCD’s Deputy Director, Chris Westlake, Policy Director Russ Schmunk, and Multi-Family Housing Manager Eugene Lee.  We also appreciate the participation of (25) CHC members across the private, non-profit, and public sectors of the housing industry from Northern and Southern California.

CHC will be hosting roundtables on HCD’s proposed guidelines for administering the $300 million of Prop1C money for Transit-Oriented Development.  Based on the outcome of these forums, CHC will be submitting written comments and a formal CHC position to HCD by September 10.  All CHC members are invited to participate.

When: May 8, 2007
Where:  Los Angeles Public Library Rotunda
630 W. 5th Street, Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90071
Conference: 9 am- 12 pm
California Housing Hall of Fame Luncheon: 12 pm -2 pm
Questions:  Adam Eisendrath at aeisendrath@calhsng.org

In mid-March the following delegation of CHC members met with legislators at the Capitol to convey our recommendations with respect to the programming of over $ 1billion in PROP 1C funding: Dianne Spaulding, Carol Galante, Johrita Solari, Elizabeth Bluhm, Geoff Brown, Jack Gardner, Mary Ellen Shay, Betty Pagett, David Esselman, Jeff Loustau, and Adam Eisendrath.

CALIFORNIA HOUSING CONSORTIUM/CHC INSTITUTE

CHC's active participation in housing policy matters in California lead to the successful passage on November 7 of the PROP 1C housing bond - a $2.85 billion general obligation that both sustains catalytic state funding for existing homeless shelter, rental housing, and homeownership as well as creates incentives for infill and transit-oriented development, parks and housing-related infrastructure, and other innovative housing initiatives to address our housing needs across the broad income spectrum.

At the NHC-CHC Policy Forum held April 27, 2006 in Los Angeles, Session I focused on housing and transportations in California and across the country. Haya El Nasser of USA Today moderated the panel which included Martin Wachs, now with the RAND Corp., who described research finding by NHC's Center for Housing Policy and others showing:

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.