The  affordability crisis in California is dire, with the skyrocketing cost of housing forcing people to live on the street or move out of state. We need approximately four million affordable homes to meet the housing need in California.

We know the cure: pro-affordable-housing policies and more affordable apartments and homes! We’ve made important strides here in Pasadena, with one in 10 now living in affordable housing and over a 1,000 more affordable apartments in the pipeline (with 400 of these in East Pasadena--a community resistant to affordable housing). The fierce NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) movement is one reason our educational and advocacy work is so essential.

We also scored a big win this spring when the Planning Commission approved naming a portion of N. Fair Oaks  “The Black Legacy District.” They also approved public art, business support and 48 units an acre, which will revitalized the area and make affordable housing feasible.  Black residents who felt neglected by the city for years are  feeling heard. 

We are excited that this year the team we started 7 years ago to support congregations seeking to provide affordable housing has become its own nonprofit: Congregational Land Partners. It is  going strong, with 37 congregations provided with technical advisement , that will produce 700 affordable units.

As a faith-rooted organization, we empower congregations to address the housing crisis. Our housing Justice Institutes do just this, and two are being planned: one in Oceanside and another in Stanislaus County. The goal is not only to educate, but also to encourage participants to form teams like ours to advocate for affordable housing.

We at MHCH are organizing people of faith to ensure that everyone has a decent, safe and affordable home. Your support makes our work happen. 

 In gratitude,

Bert Newton, Jill Shook and  Anthony Manousos