Policy and Advocacy

Promoting policies that increase affordable housing opportunities

The need for affordable housing is greater than ever. When MidPen opens a new community we commonly receive well over 1,000 applications for each 50 homes. This means there are still thousands of working families, seniors and individuals with supportive housing needs living in substandard housing or left without money for other necessities after paying their rent. We are committed to narrowing the gap between the supply of quality affordable housing and the need for it. We work with local, state and national leaders in both the public and private sectors to promote policies that increase affordable housing opportunities for the people who need them. At all levels of our organization, MidPen supports and actively participates in the efforts of leading advocacy groups. MidPen’s leadership sit on the boards of regional, state and national organizations that drive legislation and regulations in support of affordable housing. They are often called on to testify or provide expert advice on issues related to affordable housing development policy and public funding.

MidPen Housing’s 2022 Legislative Priorities

MidPen housing works diligently with our partners to support proven affordable housing solutions. For the 2022-23 California legislative session, MidPen will support the following Bills and Constitutional Amendments.

ACA 14 (Wicks), The Housing Opportunities for Everyone (HOPE) Act

Since the elimination of redevelopment agencies 10 years ago there has not been a permanent source dedicated to produce affordable homes. During this time, homelessness in California increased by 26 percent. ACA 14 is a constitutional amendment that will require at least five percent of California’s annual budget to be spent on housing and homelessness for 10 years.

AB 2011 (Wicks), The Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022

This bill creates new streamlining provisions for underutilized commercial areas and presents a new and improved framework for labor requirements. The new standard would work to express the industry’s alignment with constructing homes using a fairly paid construction labor force.

AB 2094 (Rivas), Annual report - Extremely Low-Income housing

The bill will increase transparency in existing annual state building permit reporting requirements by requiring local jurisdictions to state their progress towards building new units for extremely low-income (ELI) households.

AB 2334 (Wicks), Density Bonus Law

This bill promotes the expansion of affordable housing units by expanding the enhanced density bonus for 100 percent affordable housing developments in location-efficient areas.

Bill and Amendment Support Letters

This year, the need to reform and invest in housing infrastructure is more pressing than ever. MidPen has taken a support position on 18 bills, advocating for important legislative changes to shift the affordable housing landscape in the Bay Area, working toward the common goal of safe, affordable housing for all.

Our 2022 Legislative Priorities:

Housing Element Best Practices

MidPen has compiled a set of case studies to illustrate high-impact policies advanced in the last Housing Element cycle and suggest strategies based on successful implementation.

This cycle presents an important opportunity to build and expand upon what worked previously to plan for equitable growth.

Allies and Partnerships

MidPen staff members have board seats on and/or otherwise work with and support the following organizations. We encourage you to visit their websites to learn how you can get involved.

Affordable Housing Map & Benefits Calculator

Mapping existing federal- and state-subsidized affordable housing and estimates the benefits these affordable homes generate for both residents and surrounding communities.

Housing Needs Dashboard

For data on housing need, market conditions, federal and state funding for affordable housing, and production and preservation trends.