Front Porch Investments’ Post

Interesting article about efforts in California to expedite affordable housing through streamlining of the approval process and detangle this critical issue from the local political quagmire that can stall needed projects. To be clear, the need for regulatory relief remains and we encourage lawmakers at the local, state and federal level to consider a variety of approaches to removing barriers to housing. If we’ve learned one thing, there is no silver bullet; there is no one-size-fits-all policy. Addressing the housing crisis will require creative thinking from government agencies, the for-profit development community and our valued nonprofit partners. https://lnkd.in/exCuQcEK

We at Destination: Home support interim housing. What we don't support is only investing around 5% /- of a budget into what has been called over and over our city's #1 crisis issue and then taking the existing housing dollars already in that 5% to pay for it. This is not a win and it's certainly not a strategy. Yet I still believe we are capable of doing both which requires leadership and advocacy to bring NEW dollars to our community in order to 1) Keep folks housed 2) Intervene, support and temporarily house or shelter people currently suffering outside and 3) Keep driving on the singular thing we know can end homelessness for good and that is prioritizing and funding new housing at the deepest levels of affordability.

There’s one skill all politicians have. Especially the ones whose careers started in activism or advocacy. Most people don’t notice it. When they do, it’s usually too late. Have you ever witnessed negative societal outcomes after government leaders adopted a policy that sounded virtuous and sensible? It’s a simple skill: using an upbeat slogan to distract from the negative trade-offs of a trendy social cause. That’s Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “Bring Chicago Home” plan. Sometimes he calls it the “mansion tax.” But that’s just as misleading. In reality, the tax plan targets a shrinking and embattled business community. Johnson promises it will end homelessness. It will all but surely accelerate Chicago’s business exodus and lead to higher rents. Raising costs on employers and landlords won't end homelessness. It will limit job opportunities and raise the cost of living for renters. Johnson enjoys casting himself as a teacher. But he clearly didn’t teach economics. via Paul Vallas #realestate #Chicago #publicpolicy #taxes  

Upholding Human Dignity: Understanding the Roots of High Rent Prices 🏠 Every individual deserves a home where they feel safe, secure, and respected. Yet, the soaring cost of rent is threatening this fundamental aspect of human dignity for countless people. This article delves deep into the underlying reasons driving high rent prices, revealing how this issue impacts the dignity of individuals and families worldwide. By uncovering the economic forces, policy decisions, and societal factors at play, we gain a clearer understanding of the challenges many face in accessing affordable housing. It's not just about numbers and statistics; it's about preserving the dignity of every person by ensuring they have a place they can call home without sacrificing other basic needs. Let's come together to advocate for solutions that prioritize human dignity, from affordable housing initiatives to policy reforms that address the root causes of this crisis. Everyone deserves a place to live with dignity, and it's up to us to make that a reality. 💙 #HousingForAll #HumanDignity #CommunitySupport https://lnkd.in/gx3ZCAF9

From the article, "Crain’s Chicago Business recently published a piece on the high cost of building affordable housing, especially using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This is the kind of article that tends to make many nonprofit affordable housing developers cringe and get defensive, while a few champions of cost containment in the industry cheer. My reaction is much more mixed, because I think there’s one thing that these reports tend to have in common—they conflate things that add cost in the short term but save cost in the long view with things that add cost but have little long-haul benefit. As a society we are pretty terrible about looking at the bigger picture and the longer term. In the affordable housing field, we have been trying to some degree to get better about that. For example, on the big-picture front, Housing First advocates have put together a lot of research reminding us that paying for housing is cheaper than the societal costs of homelessness. And on the long-term front, shared-equity homeownership and permanent affordability advocates have reminded us of the eventual consequences of short-term or temporary affordability measures that evaporate in less time than it takes to raise a child, as opposed to a single subsidy that can keep homes affordable for the indefinite future. What happens if we look at the list of arguments Crain’s gives about soaring costs, and think about the big picture? I see three examples where there is some legitimate debate, though it can go too far, and two where complaints are just short sighted."

As featured in the San Francisco Chronicle's opinion page. Thank you David A. Garcia and Quinn Underriner for the stellar partnership in making this Op Ed possible. 🏡 On a sunny, wealthy corner in North Berkeley, Jordan Court (across the street from my old apartment) stands tall. It's a symbol of hope, built on church-owned land, offering 35 units for low-income seniors. ⛪ As California grapples with a housing affordability crisis, faith-based organizations are stepping forward, looking at their land as a potential solution. 📜 Enter SB4 by Sen. Scott Wiener. This bill, now awaiting the governor's signature, aims to simplify the approval process for affordable housing on land owned by faith-based organizations. 🔢 The numbers? Our research suggests a whopping 47,000 acres of land, owned by faith-based entities in California, could benefit from SB4. If we include nonprofit colleges, that is 171,000 acres available for affordable housing — a total of 5x the size of Oakland. ✨ By streamlining the process and offering support at various levels - from local planning departments to philanthropic organizations - we can drive meaningful change in the housing sector. Looking forward to seeing many more Jordan Courts possible across California this 2024. 🌆

Our Mission Baltimore Renters United is building a tenant-led movement for housing justice. In collaboration with communities, organizers, legal advocates, and service providers, we use community organizing, political education, and advocacy to build the ranks of tenants who are prepared to advance renters’ rights and build tenant power in Baltimore. Our Vision Baltimore Renters United envisions a Baltimore where all renters have safe, stable, affordable, and fair housing and where all tenants, especially those who are marginalized by virtue of being Black, Brown, low-income, or otherwise, are free from exploitation. We envision a future where land and housing are community-controlled and a basic right. Our Principals * Tenant-Led – The work for housing justice must be accountable to Baltimore renters. Those who are directly impacted by the housing crisis, who are disproportionately Black and Brown women, families, and low income renters, must lead this movement. * Racial Justice – Our work must be centered on dismantling the systemic racism that has constructed and maintains an inequitable housing system. Our movement builds towards a society where Black, Brown, and all marginalized people live with the dignity, resources, power, and self-determination to fully thrive. * Movement-Building – We are an organization focused on building tenants’ rights. We are creating a movement of renters to shift the balance of power. * Collective Power – We are more powerful together than apart. The collective power of people, especially those directly impacted by housing injustice, can bring about meaningful, long-term change. * The Right to Housing – Everyone deserves to live in safe housing with dignity and respect. Housing is critical to an individual’s quality of life and crucial to a flourishing society, the health of families, and the prosperity of communities. * Political Education – Our movement must be self-perpetuating and intentionally generate strong leadership. We expose the realities of how the housing system works and raise public consciousness about the issues. * Transparency and Accountability – We hold public institutions, including rent court, responsible for perpetuating housing injustice. When housing injustice is recognized, accountability and transparency is demanded from all appropriate institutions and governmental structures.

State lawmakers should boost funding for fair housing tests https://ow.ly/UJxn50R2ckf To fully tackle this issue, lawmakers should support the network of nonprofits that does the work of the vital but underfunded state Fair Housing Testing, Education and Networking program. This program funds six regional full-service fair housing organizations doing fair housing testing, education and enforcement across the state, including Long Island Housing Services Hochul has said, “Investment in this crucial program sends a clear message: housing discrimination will not be tolerated here in New York.” In this spirit, we urge the governor and State Legislature to double down on their commitment to fair housing by increasing funding for this program from $2 million to $4 million.

In my consulting days, I led a team who developed a first pass at a housing trust fund for Syracuse. We had a front row seat to the things spoken about here and what it means for #CNY. That said, this is a must read opinion piece from Robert M. Simpson from CenterState CEO on the dire need for #housing across CNY. This is especially pertinent given the massive focus on housing in the #1115Waiver on top of all the economic development components spoken to in this article. For instance, under this waiver, Medicaid dollars can be used towards rent for up to 6 months. That has never occurred before! And there are several other services that fall into this multi billion dollar effort. Perhaps, most importantly, all of these efforts cannot pass by each other like ships in the night. For the sake of our community members, cross-sector education, transparency, and financial resources must come together in these unprecedented, complex times. Please read, stay informed, and act accordingly.

Adequate, safe, and affordable housing is a systemic problem every city is facing, including Kansas City. An often forgotten approach to future-proofing adequate inventory is to deliver public infrastructure that assists residents in affordable units, those on waiting lists, and the broader population with the digital tools, resources, and opportunities needed to reach self-sufficiency and greater economic capacity & mobility. This also drives better health outcomes. Let’s give it a chance.