Barrett and Greene Inc.’s Post

LA Forward Institute, along with taxpayers Sylvia Aroth and Professor Gary Williams, and unhoused individual Kathy Coates, filed a fair housing lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles for obstructing the Venice Dell Community affordable and permanent supportive housing project. The lawsuit demands that the city proceed with all remaining approvals for Venice Dell and cease obstructing and delaying supportive and affordable housing projects. It also alleges these actions discriminate against people of color and individuals with disabilities. The plaintiffs are represented by Public Counsel, Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Strumwasser & Woocher LLP. The affordable housing and homelessness crises are rooted in decades of entrenched exclusionary housing and development policies. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. The mayor and other city leaders claim they want more housing, to reduce red tape, and prevent bureaucracy from slowing down the construction of desperately needed affordable housing. If they’re being honest with their statements to the public, they’ll work with us to quickly resolve this case and move Venice Dell forward. Learn more at www.buildvenicedell.org

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations has approved the fiscal year 2025 spending bill for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. This bill allocates $69.8 billion for rental assistance and self-sufficiency programs benefiting low-income working families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. It also includes funding for housing and services for homeless individuals, as well as support for economic and community development initiatives. This is a good start for 2025. https://lnkd.in/g7TE-kYG

7 Creative Solutions to Affordable Housing in California. We’ve learned a lot over the years about how to solve California’s housing crisis. The solutions below are proof that, yes, it can happen. https://lnkd.in/eSz5XCjE Communities are stronger when everyone has a safe, stable and affordable place to call home! 🏡 Check out these orgs advancing innovative housing solutions. #affordablehousingmonth

7 Creative Solutions to Affordable Housing in California. We’ve learned a lot over the years about how to solve California’s housing crisis. The solutions below are proof that, yes, it can happen. https://lnkd.in/esu_H-HR Communities are stronger when everyone has a safe, stable and affordable place to call home! 🏡 Check out these orgs advancing innovative housing solutions. #affordablehousingmonth

Affordable housing is hard to achieve, which is why we need people like Gregory Heller to help lead the way. Learn about Heller, his career, and where we can go from here: https://ow.ly/ZCwP50QwpkW #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment

This is a thoughtful and well written article about the lack of affordable housing in Connecticut, especially in Fairfield County. This article is a call to action on everyone's part. As President of The Fairfield Community Foundation, Mendi Blue Paca is leading by imploring legislators to make the change. I would add that individuals also, we ought to require real change every chance we get from our elected officials. She states, "But rather than viewing this as a deficit, let’s instead think about what’s possible if we commit to completely closing our affordable housing gap." #affordablehousing #wecandothis

California's SB 423, a transformative piece of housing legislation, promises to significantly alter the landscape of housing development across the state. As municipalities grapple with the implications of this new law, it is crucial to understand the new mandates for jurisdictions and the implications on local governmental control. Learn more from Hitta Mosesman, Vice President of Community Development + Housing, on this important bill. https://hubs.la/Q02QFLsZ0 #CommunityDevelopment #Housing #AffordableHousing #SB423 #WeAreHarris

Doing the BEST we can to get this HOUSING BUILT - Many times, by Wednesday, we are EXHAUSTED! Making sure that we are Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (should have been done since 1968, but wasn't) making sure that REDLINING does NOT continue (I work diligently at this!) and housing that is being built is NOT placed in POVERTY concentrated areas OR areas of Environmental hazards - AND we make SURE that each of the 539 cities/towns and 58 counties within the STATE OF CALIFORNIA integrate AFFORDABLE housing and HOUSING MADE MORE AFFORDABLE (YES, those are TWO (2) SEPARATE THINGS) into their HOUSING DNA- . The goal of the State is to build 2,000,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS by 2030 which means....WE'RE WORKING HARD, ALL OF US HERE AT HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (STATE OF CALIFORNIA). Since 2021, almost 200,000 new housing units have been built with many more to come! The REST is UP TO YOU and YOUR INDIVIDUAL CITY OR TOWN.... YOU MUST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! You can check what your City/Town is building by going to https://www.hcd.ca.gov - go to Housing Elements, pull up your city/town and it will tell you all you need to know. This is PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. :)

Today, I want to share a candid reflection on a recent setback our team faced with a proposed affordable housing project in St. Johns County. Our endeavor aimed to address a critical need for affordable housing in this community, particularly for essential workers who struggle to find suitable accommodation in the area. Despite our thorough plans and commitment to mitigating concerns, the proposal was ultimately denied by the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners. The decision, based on apprehensions surrounding traffic and school capacity concerns in a rapidly growing region, underscores the complexities of affordable housing development and the varying perspectives we encounter along the way. One significant aspect of this process was the opposition rooted in NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) sentiments, a common challenge faced in community development initiatives. While understandable, these sentiments can unintentionally perpetuate housing unaffordability and inhibit necessary progress. The impact of NIMBYism extends beyond individual preferences, often shaping local policy and community dynamics as we have seen with this case. Engaging with stakeholders who voiced concerns revealed the intricate web of perspectives that influence decision-making. Addressing fears around traffic congestion and neighborhood change requires not only sound technical solutions but also empathetic dialogue that recognizes diverse community needs. While disappointment is natural, it's equally important to embrace these moments as opportunities for growth. We value the input from all stakeholders—those who championed the initiative and those who voiced dissent. Their insights deepen our understanding of community needs and the multifaceted considerations that shape impactful projects. Our commitment to affordable housing remains resolute. We echo the sentiments of many in St. Johns County who recognize the urgent need for solutions to housing unaffordability. Moving forward, we'll continue to engage with local leaders and stakeholders, seeking collaborative pathways to address this pressing issue. Lastly, I'm reminded of the vital role community leaders play in advocating for accessible housing. As Chase Ellison, from Liberty Landscape Supply eloquently put it, our essential workers—whether serving burgers or tending gardens—are integral to our community's fabric. Their voices underscore the urgency of our mission to ensure housing affordability for all. Link here for a news article covering our proposal: https://lnkd.in/gnP7_4uK #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #StJohnsCounty #HousingAdvocacy #NIMBY #LocalEngagement #Resilience #CommunityDialogue

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