Preparing for CHC’s 20th Anniversary has afforded me a tremendoous opportunity to learn from our founding and long-term board members about CHC’s evolution over two decades. Most striking has been the universal view that CHC’s mission and the founders’ foresight to bring the diverse voices of the housing industry together to speak with one message are even more relevant and crucial today. As CHC founding member Dianne Spaulding reflected:
“The work isn’t done, but the reasons for creating the California Housing Consortium are probably more valid today than they were 20 years ago.”
Looking at the housing landscape California families are facing, and the challenges our members experience in breaking ground on urgently needed affordable homes, I couldn’t agree more. As Ben Metcalf, California’s Director of Housing and Community Development says, ” The facts on the ground for a typical California family are really as bad as they’ve ever been in the state’s history.” CHC’s board had a chance to hear directly from Director Metcalf at our board meeting this month, and to commit to work together for the benefit of California’s struggling families and our State’s future. We share his view that because significant barriers to building are “challenges that have been created through policies, we know we can fix them.”
We were also pleased to welcome Assembly Housing Committee Chair David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to the meeting to join forces on moving AB 71. As you know, Asm. Chiu is the author of our sponsored legislation that would redirect state funds currently used to subsidize second, vacation houses and invest these dollars in building homes for families who currently lack any affordable, safe place to live. Bringing the state’s leading housing professionals together with policymakers to solve problems that leave families without a place to call home is, after all, why CHC was founded.
In the coming year, I look forward to sharing more of our members’ insights and reflections from 20 years of advocacy for affordable homes and the people and families who need them. I also invite you to share your perspectives on CHC’s history and future at our events, on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #CHC20.
Sincerely,
Ray Pearl
CHC Executive Director
