This month’s Sticks & Bricks reflects on the importance of connection in a field where the work can often feel siloed, highlighting how gatherings like Housing California create space to reconnect with the people behind the projects. We also share key funding updates, including AHSC Round 10 and HOME deadlines, alongside new research from the Terner Center and workforce opportunities like the BAHIP and CCRH internship programs. Plus, explore upcoming events, from LIHTC financing training to construction management workshops, to stay informed, competitive, and engaged in the work ahead.
It Takes a Village: Reconnecting at Housing CA
For all the talk of “it takes a village” to build affordable housing, the work can often feel surprisingly siloed. As developers, you are constantly coordinating across a wide network—lenders, public agencies, design teams, contractors, and consultants—each interaction essential, but often transactional. The focus is on keeping projects moving forward, meeting deadlines, and solving problems in real time, leaving little space to step back and fully appreciate the people behind the work.
That’s part of what makes gatherings like Housing California so valuable. Yes, the sessions are insightful (I was grateful to convene one this year on housing for transition-age youth), and yes, it provides a strong networking opportunity. But more than that, these moments allow us to reconnect with the broader community behind the work, to engage more meaningfully with colleagues, collaborators, and peers we don’t always have time to connect with in the pace of day-to-day project delivery.
Whether it’s catching up with a partner you have only interacted with over email, meeting others across departments or organizations, or simply being in a room with people navigating similar challenges, these spaces serve as a reminder that this work is deeply collective. If it truly takes a village to build affordable housing, then opportunities like Housing California help ensure that the village stays connected. And in a field as complex and demanding as ours, that sense of shared purpose and community is not just meaningful, it’s sustaining.
Funding Opportunities
Explore these new funding sources for affordable housing development:
AHSC Round 10 Final Guidelines Released
HCD and the Strategic Growth Council have released the Round 10 AHSC Final Guidelines, advancing funding for housing, transportation, and infrastructure projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support compact, transit-oriented development. The NOFA will be released March 4, workshops will take place March 23–25, and applications are due May 4th.
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (2025 NOFA)
HCD has released approximately $34 million in HOME funding to support multifamily rental housing and first-time homebuyer development projects across California. Applications are due March 30, 2026, and developers are encouraged to apply while funds remain available.
HCD – CDBG Program (2025 NOFA, Amendment #1)
HCD has amended the 2025 CDBG NOFA to extend application timelines, with the portal opening February 2, and applications due April 3, 2026.
San Jose Rolling RFP
The City of San José has launched a rolling RFP for its Gap Financing Program, accompanied by updated underwriting guidelines. Projects submitted will be publicly scored, with top proposals prioritized for funding and the remainder added to a new waitlist.
Homekey+ and Tribal Homekey+
The State of California has launched two parallel funding programs to expand Permanent Supportive Housing for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness with behavioral health challenges. The Homekey+ NOFA provides $2.145 billion for projects serving veterans and other individuals with behavioral health needs, and the Tribal Homekey+ NOFA allocates $121 million specifically for Tribes and Tribal Entities.
News and Resources
Access important resources and guidance for affordable housing development:
NEW: BAHIP Internship Program – Applications Closing Soon
NPH is now accepting applications for its one-year, paid Bay Area Housing Internship Program, designed to train the next generation of affordable housing development professionals with a focus on racial equity and inclusion. Students interested in careers in housing and community development are encouraged to apply by March 29.
NEW: CCRH Internship Program – Applications Closing Soon
The California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) is now accepting applications for its one year, paid internship program for students and emerging professionals looking to break into affordable housing and community development. Priority application deadline closes on March 27th.
NEW: Terner Center: Pathways to Scale Innovative Construction Methods
The Terner Center’s latest report explores how industrialized construction can reduce costs, accelerate timelines, and expand housing production across California. The research outlines 40 policy recommendations to help the state overcome barriers and scale emerging construction methods.
NEW: Terner Center: 2026 California Legislative Preview
The Terner Center’s 2026 Legislative Preview highlights a shift toward reducing development costs, streamlining approvals, and restructuring housing finance systems, while raising concerns about limited new state funding for affordable housing.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these key industry events:
NEW: The Impact of State Pro-Housing Policies: Empirical Traps to Avoid
Join this April 3 webinar to explore how states are advancing pro-housing policies, and the key challenges in evaluating whether these reforms are truly increasing housing production.
NEW: Double the Bonds, Double the Fun
NPH is hosting a panel on April 14 exploring how the new 25% bond test is reshaping LIHTC financing strategies and what developers can do to stay competitive in today’s market. Free for NPH members ($40 for non-members).
NEW: ULI Housing the Bay Summit
ULI San Francisco’s annual Housing the Bay Summit returns on April 15, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, bringing together 400+ housing leaders, developers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the next chapter of housing in the Bay Area.
NEW: Building Smarter: Construction Management Basics
NPH & ELPN are hosting a practical training on April 16 covering the fundamentals of construction management, from budgeting and scheduling to lender coordination and lease-up. Free for NPH members ($10 for non-members).
NEW: Advancing Zoning Reform Through New Housing Models
SPUR is hosting an interactive workshop on April 28 (12:00–1:30 PM) exploring how state laws like SB 9 and SB 684 can unlock new housing models in existing neighborhoods through design and small-scale development.