Dear Activist and Community Members,
It is hard to believe that we are already six months into 2021! It is June, so summer begins. We celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth. California has re-opened, and we are now in a new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although, it is great to begin to get back to “normal or a new normal,” we must reflect that we have lost over 600K souls in America and 3.82 million worldwide. Covid-19, has effected vulnerable communities, especially communities of color in every aspect of society-- health, environment, housing, education, in the workplace and the list goes on… This pandemic has exposed so many of the systems that many are dependent on are just are not working.
June is usually the time we start to enjoy our long summer days. I implore our great community to take some much-needed time off, however you choose to enjoy the summer days. We all have had a very stressful 18-months. We need to take some time off to decompress and have some fun.
The post Covid-19 future is what we will make it. What it has revealed is that we have so much work to do. So, time off is critical. Take the time to do whatever pleases. Find your joy and some time to re-boot. Enjoy the sunsets, BBQs, stillness, long hikes, the beach, everything, or nothing at all.
“Live In the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Have a great summer,
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Kendra Lewis
Executive Director
Sacramento Housing Alliance
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Our Mission
Sacramento Housing Alliance advocates for safe, stable, accessible, and affordable homes in the Sacramento region. SHA builds healthy communities through education, leadership, and policy change.
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Our Vision
Everyone in the Sacramento region has a home in a healthy and inclusive neighborhood.
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Housing Element Work & Updates |
The Housing Element is the blueprint to accommodate for a city or county's anticipated housing needs. Jurisdictions throughout the region will begin to seek state certification and adopt their 2021-2029 Housing Elements. It is essential that local advocates know what policies have been adopted by the local jurisdiction to ensure that enforcement takes place.
The City of Sacramento's Planning and Design Commission hearing will be held on July 22, 5:30 PM, with the Adoption Hearing scheduled for August 17, at 5 PM
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SHA will be providing several opportunities for the community to learn and engage in the enforcement of the adopted housing elements in jurisdictions in the Sacramento region. |
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The Sacramento Investment Without Displacement Coalition and the City of Sacramento entered into a Community Accountability Agreement, separate from the Community Benefits Partnership Agreement (CBPA) entered into by UC Davis, Wexford LLC, and the City of Sacramento. This Community Accountability Agreement was created to both provide access to any public records needed to monitor compliance with the CBPA, as well as creating space for a SIWD representative to be at the table as the housing, workforce, and transportation workgroups meet to flesh out essential elements of the CBPA.
The Community Accountability Accountability Agreement as stipulated in the term sheet, also creates a forward looking ordinance that calls for the City of Sacramento to enter into a Community Benefits Agreements for future developments.
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In addition there are several other terms including for the City of Sacramento to engage in 2 community led meetings to report and monitor progress of the CBPA, as well as work with SIWD on the second Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD IIthat will be used to support the Aggie Square Development. Watch our June 2,community zoom meeting here.
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Governor Newsome announced that California has a state budget surplus of $75.7 billion dollars. Now is the time to make a significant, long term investment to advance racial and social equity by ending homelessness, protecting renters, and building more affordable homes. We need everyone who is able to take the following actions ASAP to urge our elected officials to take action to build more affordable housing.
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Use the Bring CA Home digital toolkit to contact Governor Newsome to voice your support
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Join us along with the National Low Income Housing Coalition to urge Congress to provide the highest funding possible for affordable housing and community development. With more families struggling to make ends meet due to the pandemic and our nation’s housing affordability crisis worsening, federal investments are critical to create more equitable communities and ensure families thrive. |
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Since rents and other market rates generally rise each year, appropriations for housing and community development need to increase in order to maintain the current number of assisted households
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Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance |
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), in partnership with the City and the County of Sacramento, through federal and state funding, is offering emergency rent and utilities assistance for renters living anywhere in Sacramento County who have experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible applicants can receive assistance for past rent and utilities owed from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 and may qualify to have a portion of their rent paid for April, May and June 2021.
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The total assistance amount available will depend on household need.
Applications will be placed in a computerized random order—NOT first-come-first-served.
Priority will be given to households that owe rental arrears
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Opportunity Starts at Home |
Across the country, opportunity varies significantly by neighborhood. High opportunity neighborhoods offer children the best chance for upward mobility, but due to pervasive housing segregation, families of color are disproportionately residing in lower-opportunity areas. The following fact sheet describes how segregation created the disparities we see in our neighborhoods today.
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In preparation for an upcoming vote on a city-wide master plan for homeless housing solutions, members of the Sacramento City Council have been identifying properties in their districts that could accommodate more safe shelter options. In solidarity with many of our partners, SHA signed on a letter to address ongoing concerns including clear pathways to permanent housing, equity, and ensuring that there are sufficient sites throughout all 8 districts in the City of Sacramento. The Master Siting Plan will go before Council for approval on July 20.
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One of our members, Mutual Housing California was highlighted in NeighborWorks Capital this month for their partnership with the LGBTQ+ community to bring Lavender Courtyard, 53 new affordable homes for seniors who make a very low income, from vision to reality.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community reached out to Mutual Housing California about developing homes for seniors in Sacramento. They’d found other senior communities or senior living environments not always welcoming, and some experienced overt discrimination. MHC worked with the Sacramento LGBTQ+ community to develop welcoming, safe and affordable senior apartments in a market with some of the highest rent increases in the nation.
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Once they found the ideal site, MHC needed to be able to secure it quickly, so they reached out to NeighborWorks Capital, who they knew could help them close in time. NeighborWorks Capital helped finance the acquisition through a $800,000 loan. Construction began in October, with a virtual groundbreaking, and will be open to residents in 2022!
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Become a Member Today
The Sacramento Housing Alliance is a member-based organization that works to increase the supply of affordable housing and support the efforts of affordable housing developers. We need strong and engaged membership that reflects a broad base of community support for progressive affordable housing and regional equity policies.
Membership in the Sacramento Housing Alliance links you to a community of compassionate advocates and thought
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makers and gives you access to member-only events and early access to issue papers.
Members receive
· Discounted rates to our annual
Affordable Housing Summit
· Educational seminars and
discussions
· Lively networking receptions and
other SHA-hosted events
Members are eligible to nominate individuals to serve on the board and nominate award recipients.
Organizational members may extend event discounts to their employees, and may request promotion of their outstanding projects and programs by SHA.
Most importantly, membership in SHA will strengthen our work advocating for a safe and affordable home for all in an inclusive and healthy
To Learn more about becoming a member and the benefits Click Here
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Stockton Blvd. Specific Plan Community Meeting |
The City of Sacramento will be hosting two online meetings in June and July centering around anti-displacement strategies and community ownership models. These two meetings will include a panel of organizations and individuals who are working on these topics. The purpose is to problem solve and collaborate on how to move forward on the most effective strategies. |
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Everyone is welcome to attend and will be able to submit ideas, comments, and questions throughout the events. Click on the events below to register.
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It is not to late to join us with our partners Housing California, along with hundreds of experts advocates and leaders across our state at California’s premier statewide housing and homelessness conference on from today, June 23 to June 24.
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Habitat will be hosting a mandatory live virtual orientation on July 7th.
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Senior Development Director
Affordable Housing,
VOA National Headquarters
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The Senior Development Director, Affordable Housing is responsible for sourcing and closing on the development, acquisition or preservation of affordable housing projects utilizing Federal, state, local and private funding sources, including LIHTC and conventional debt. Core measures of accomplishment include successful closing of real estate development, acquisition, and/or preservation projects within budget and on schedule. Generation of developer fees and revenue compared to project pipeline projections.
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Come make a difference! Volunteers of America is one the nation's largest and most comprehensive human services organizations. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions.
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