California Coalition for Rural Housing
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| California Coalition for Rural Housing | |
|---|---|
| Name | California Coalition for Rural Housing |
| Formation | 1989 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Davis, California |
| Region served | California |
California Coalition for Rural Housing is a nonprofit housing organization based in Davis, California focused on affordable housing development and policy for rural and small-town communities. The organization engages in affordable housing finance, technical assistance, community development, and policy advocacy across California's Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, and coastal regions. It works with state agencies, local jurisdictions, philanthropic foundations, and community development corporations to expand rural rental and ownership opportunities.
History
Founded in 1989 amid debates over state housing policy, municipal land-use disputes, and rural development needs, the organization emerged alongside reforms such as the California Housing Finance Agency initiatives, the passage of Proposition 13 (1978), and the restructuring of federal housing programs under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Early collaborators included statewide groups like California Community Foundation, regional actors such as the Rural County Representatives of California, and municipal partners in counties including Yolo County, Butte County, and Plumas County. Over the 1990s and 2000s the coalition adapted to changes from legislation like the Davis–Stirling Common Interest Development Act and funding shifts tied to ballot measures such as Proposition 46 (1986) and Proposition 63 (2004). In response to the Great Recession and the foreclosure crisis linked to entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the organization expanded technical assistance and loan packaging for rural affordable housing projects.
Mission and Activities
The coalition's stated mission emphasizes creating and preserving affordable homes in rural communities by leveraging federal programs, state resources, and philanthropic capital from organizations like the James Irvine Foundation and the California Endowment. Its activities connect to programs administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, funding mechanisms involving the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program administered through the Internal Revenue Service, and grant streams tied to the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Staff expertise spans regulatory compliance with statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act in federally assisted projects, tax-credit syndication practices influenced by firms like WNC Community Development Corporation, and project finance considerations relevant to entities like the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
Programs and Services
Programs include predevelopment financing, loan packaging, and technical assistance drawing on models used by organizations such as Enterprise Community Partners and Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Services offered encompass grant-writing support for funding from the California Health and Human Services Agency, environmental review coordination with regional agencies like the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and capacity-building workshops similar to trainings by the Nonprofit Finance Fund and the National Housing Trust. Project examples have spanned workforce housing near industrial employers like Sutter Health facilities, senior housing adjacent to institutions such as UC Davis Medical Center, and preservation efforts for manufactured-home communities comparable to work by Mobile Home University advocates.
Advocacy and Policy Influence
The coalition participates in policy forums addressing statewide housing challenges alongside stakeholders including the California Legislative Black Caucus, the California Environmental Justice Alliance, and the Rural Housing Alliance. It provides technical testimony to bodies such as the California State Assembly housing committees and engages in rulemaking consultations with the Government Operations Agency (California). Advocacy efforts target resource allocation under state initiatives like California Climate Investments and incentives linked to the Cap-and-Trade Program (California), while also aligning with litigation and policy strategies used by organizations like the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the Public Advocates, Inc. for tenant protections and rural infrastructure funding.
Partnerships and Funding
Partnerships include collaborations with local public housing authorities such as the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, regional planners like the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and conservation partners including the Trust for Public Land. Funding sources combine public capital from programs administered by the California Housing Finance Agency, tax-credit equity facilitated by syndicators such as Wells Fargo Community Lending, and philanthropic grants from foundations like the Ford Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. The coalition also leverages loans and loan guarantees involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture and partners with corporate social responsibility programs of companies like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase to underwrite development and technical-assistance activities.
Impact and Criticism
Impact claims include the preservation and creation of affordable units in counties such as Colusa County, Merced County, and Humboldt County, technical assistance outcomes comparable to milestones documented by Housing California and measurable progress in accessing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations. Critics have raised concerns mirrored in debates involving California Tax Credit Allocation Committee transparency, rural displacement issues highlighted by scholars at University of California, Berkeley, and tensions between development and environmental protection voiced by groups like the Sierra Club. Evaluations by auditors and independent analysts associated with institutions such as the Public Policy Institute of California have recommended continued emphasis on data transparency, cross-sector coordination with entities like the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, and strategies to address land-use constraints in rural watersheds managed by agencies including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.