5th Annual San Joaquin Valley Affordable Housing Summit

The Housing Connection: Housing as an Anti-Poverty Strategy

The housing crisis is just as pervasive an issue in the San Joaquin Valley as it is in anywhere else in California. This crisis reaches beyond issues of affordablity and crosses into community health outcomes, environmental impacts, transportation access, education opportunities, and community and economic development. As Valley communities strive to fight poverty -- individuals, neighborhoods, and regionally -- housing is one critical tool, but it is most effective as a part of a greater solution. 

The 5th Annual San Joaquin Valley Affordable Housing Summit is bringing together housers and non-housers alike to think critically on the role of housing as a part of a regional anti-poverty strategy.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

9am-4pm

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Resources & Strategies for Homeownership in the San Joaquin Valley

Homeownership Working Session for Developers, Policy Makers, & Program Administrators in the San Joaquin Valley

From creating sustainable and health neighborhoods to building individual financial stability -- owning a home is more than part of the American Dream, it's integral to the fabric of American communities. However, California's housing crisis has impacted homeownership across the San Joaquin Valley. Join the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative for this hands-on working session as we explore challenges and opportunities to support homeownership in Valley communities.

September 13, 2016

10am-3:30pm

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Nearly 100 attendees from across the San Joaquin Valley joined together on Thursday, April 21 for the Resources to Fight Blight in San Joaquin Valley Communities: A Code Enforcement Symposium in Visalia, CA. The Symposium was hosted by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative, with support from the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State, and the California Coalition for Rural Housing.  

The date began with a 2-hour "Framing the Issues session led by: Curtis Wright, Founding Partner and Code Enforcement Attorney from Silver & Wright, LLP based in Ontario, CA; Patience Milrod, a lawyer and policy advocate from Fresno, CA; and Marisa Christensen Lundin, a Staff Attorney and Community Equity Initiative Interim Director at the California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. 

Panelists covered several issues related to code enforcement, including: vacant, blight, and problem properties; tenants, landlords, property managers and owners; policy, regulations, and legislation; and cost recovery; cost neutrality, and fine revenue.

The second half of the day began with the Resources for Code Enforcement panel that focused on Community Development Block Grants, strategic partnership, data collection, and community-based participatory research. Maria Cremer, Director-Office of Community Planning and Development, U.S. HUD and Janine Nkosi, Lecturer-Department of Sociology, Fresno State were panelists.

A Roundtable featuring the City of Visalia, City of Bakersfield, and County of Madera followed the informational presentations. Each agency presented an overview of its code enforcement efforts, challenges and solutions, cost-saving strategies, key partnerships, and opportunity areas. 

The Symposium concluded with regional interactive discussion groups, giving the attendees an opportunity to discuss code enforcement with their communities, considering their needs challenges, and opportunities.

The San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that formed to address housing issues that affect low-to moderate-income households and communities in the Valley. Since 2009, the Collaborative has served as a forum to discuss regional housing challenges and strategies and is an invaluable tool for the region to organize as one voice when communicating with state and federal policymakers and regulatory agencies. Staff from the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State, and the California Coaltion for Rural Housing co-direct the Housing Collaborative.

The San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative hosted a full-house cap-and-trade forum in Merced, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs: Funding Opportunities for the San Joaquin Valley. Over 80 participants from across the 8-county region were in attendance, including state and federal representatives. The timely forum took place just weeks after the Strategic Growth Council announced the funded projects through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program.

The forum featured several speakers and panelists, including representation from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council, Institute for Local Government, Strategic Growth Council, and Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. Covered topics included affordable housing and sustainable communities, weatherization and renewable energy, energy efficiency, urban forestry, and low carbon transportation. Speakers and panelists highlighted the success of Valley projects and communities that have procured funding from state cap-and-trade programs, and addressed opportunities and areas for improvement. Institute for Local Government hosted a panel that discussed the resources and technical assistance available to help communities apply for funds.

Breakout sessions allowed for participants to hear from successful and unsuccessful applicants about the process, limitations, and best practices from their experiences. Notes from group report backs will be written up into a letter addressed to the Strategic Growth Council on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley.

The event was made possible with support from the California Coalition for Rural Housing, OCED, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and the Institute for Local Government.