As the end date for the county’s eviction moratorium approaches, thousands of families are at severe risk of being forced from their homes. We need very urgently to join together to prevent the massive harm that would result from this.
Keep Public Meetings Public!
Diverse voices should be heard in public meetings
Governor Newsom issued an executive order (N-29-20) which relaxes some of the Brown Act public meeting requirements, thereby allowing public meetings to be held by video, teleconference or other electronic means during the period in which health officials have imposed or recommended social distancing measures. The number of people who have participated in public comment via videoconferencing and phone has skyrocketed! Thrive wants to make sure this progress is not lost. We are joining with other nonprofits to ask the state to continue the practice of having public meetings accessible online and by phone even after the public health emergency ends.
The Economic Security Project Action
The Economic Security Project Action is advocating to ensure big, recurring, inclusive cash relief that lasts through the crisis is included in the CARES 2 package. Can you take a minute and help?
Here are easy ways to do it
1. Priority! Call your Congressperson today.
The most important thing right now is for your Congressional rep to hear from you. Only 10 calls to an office gets noticed -- and flagged for the Representative. TEN - that's not much.
The ask: "Please (1) prioritize direct cash payments that are BIG, RECURRING, INCLUSIVE, and LAST UNTIL THE CRISIS ENDS
2. Please sign on -- and ask your members/colleagues/allies -- to sign these actions:
This Bail out the People 2. Please sign on -- and ask your members/colleagues/allies -- to sign these actions:
This Bail out the People letter: https://www.bailoutthepeople.com/congressletter and
This Change.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/give-2000-month-to-every-american-moneyforthepeople-covid19
New Initiatives to Support California Workers Impacted by COVID-19
Governor Newsom Announces New Initiatives to Support California Workers Impacted by COVID-19
Governor Gavin Newsom announced new initiatives to support the millions of California workers who have lost jobs or wages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment Development Department (EDD) will launch a new call center on Monday that will operate 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
One-stop shop for individuals applying for unemployment insurance and the new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program starting April 28
The Governor also announced an unprecedented $125 million in disaster relief assistance for working Californians
California has developed an immigrant resource guide to provide information about COVID-19 related assistance, including public benefits, that are available to immigrant Californians.
Advocacy Needs addressed by CalNonprofits
Check below, The Most Pressing Advocacy Needs addressed by CalNonprofits
California’s nonprofits and COVID-19: Recommendations for policymakers (click here to see our letter to California policymakers with more than 1,000 nonprofit signatories)
Letter to Congress: America’s charities request $60 billion infusion of support to help the most vulnerable (with the National Council of Nonprofits)
Urgent Need for Emergency Funding for Bay Area Public Transit Operators.
Seamless Bay Area Action Fund and Friends of Caltrain are calling on their supporters to take action to communicate the urgent need for emergency funding for Bay Area public transit operators.
Please click here to call or write to urge funding for public transit. This funding is critically needed, as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission projects a $1.3 billion remaining funding gap for Bay Area transit over an 18 month period.
Thrive Housing Statement - Policy Solution for Housing Crisis in San Mateo County
August 7, 2019
THRIVE HOUSING STATEMENT - POLICY SOLUTION FOR HOUSING CRISIS IN
The housing crisis in San Mateo County has a significant impact on the ability of nonprofit organizations to attract and retain employees and, consequently, threatens our ability to serve the communities that rely on us. Nonprofit employees provide many of the services that low-income communities in San Mateo require, yet increasingly these very workers cannot afford to live here themselves. Nonprofits are in an important and unique position to understand the impact of the housing crisis both on our organizations and the communities we support, and to advocate for the changes our community requires.
Therefore, we strongly recommend the following Five Point Affordable Housing Guidelines:
I. Better define affordability
The definition of “affordability” needs to be focused on the need to maintain housing for low and very low-income renters. While higher limits do assist with mid-level housing, they do not reflect the main levels of crisis.
Local government should use the localized version of the HUD definition for low and very low-income households.
Nonprofit employees should be included in the definition of “workforce” for which affordable housing is being considered.
II. Suspend the use of in-lieu fees
Rather than accepting in-lieu fees, local governments should require developers to build truly affordable low-income rental housing. In-lieu fees are too low and therefore they do not provide adequate funding to build additional, affordable housing units.
The minimum target set by municipalities should be no less than 20% “affordable,” half of which should be reserved for low and very low-income households.
Impact fees need to be assessed at levels that will ensure the required infrastructure will support additional housing.
III. Support higher density housing projects
Grant more flexible higher density bonuses for truly low-income rental housing. This would enable the market to “pencil out” profitable development.
Suspend height limits near existing high buildings in areas that are away from low-density single-family dwellings.
IV. Rezone light industrial and commercial areas
Rezone light industrial and commercial areas for multi-family housing to better utilize the limited land available and take advantage of land that is more likely to accommodate higher density than suburban tracts.
Add residential overlays to commercial zones wherever possible, particularly along transit corridors.
V. Make public lands available for affordable housing
Prioritize new uses of public lands for affordable housing.
Set specific targets as to the percentage of public lands that would be converted to housing development.
Thrive, The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County and its partners signed below are urging all San Mateo county cities, and the County of San Mateo, along with all applicable joint powers and other jurisdictions to adopt our Five Point Affordable Housing Guidelines:
I. Define Affordability
II. Drop In-Lieu Fees
III. Support Higher Density Projects
IV. Rezone Commercial to Accommodate Housing
V. Make Public Lands Available
We, the undersigned, believe that by adopting these guidelines we will be better positioned to address the housing crisis impacting our communities, and particularly our dedicated nonprofit workforce.
Click here to download Thrive Housing Statement in a pdf format.
