From NPH
In the San Francisco Bay Area, long before the COVID19 global pandemic swept through our region, safe, stable, and affordable housing was far from accessible to all. In the midst of the pandemic, low-income communities of color are far more likely to experience homelessness and housing instability. Moreover, they are also less likely to own homes and acquire wealth, due to the Bay Area’s unique legacy of racial discrimination in public policy. The economic ramifications of the pandemic have only intensified the stark racial disparities already present in California’s housing market. To lead the region on a trajectory of recovery and prosperity, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) should work together collaboratively to develop a comprehensive regional housing strategy.
The Road Ahead: A 21st Century Housing Strategy for the San Francisco Bay Area outlines why and how MTC and ABAG can develop, approve, and implement a comprehensive housing strategy for the Bay Area that will guide both agencies’ existing housing portfolio, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), Plan Bay Area 2050, and their various housing programs, policies, and decision-making processes.