MidPen Housing
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| MidPen Housing | |
|---|---|
| Name | MidPen Housing |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Type | Nonprofit housing developer |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto, California |
| Region served | San Francisco Bay Area; Monterey Bay; Sacramento; Central Coast |
| Leader title | President & CEO |
| Leader name | Nino Trajano |
MidPen Housing MidPen Housing is a nonprofit affordable housing developer and manager based in Palo Alto, California, focused on acquiring, developing, and operating multifamily affordable communities. Founded in the 1970s, the organization manages thousands of units across multiple counties and engages in preservation, development, resident services, and advocacy. It works with municipal agencies, housing finance entities, and philanthropic organizations to expand affordable rental housing.
History
MidPen Housing traces roots to community housing initiatives in the 1970s that responded to housing shortages in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County, and neighboring regions. Early collaborations involved local redevelopment agencies and service providers during the era of urban revitalization associated with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs and federal housing policy shifts. During the 1980s and 1990s the organization expanded through low-income housing tax credit allocations from the Internal Revenue Service program and partnerships with entities such as California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and county housing authorities. In the 2000s and 2010s MidPen pursued preservation strategies amid rising housing costs linked to the Dot-com boom and changes in regional planning by agencies like the Association of Bay Area Governments and metropolitan transportation commissions. Recent decades saw engagements with state initiatives such as California Department of Housing and Community Development funding rounds and participation in bond measures coordinated with county boards of supervisors and city councils.
Mission and Governance
The nonprofit operates under a board of directors and an executive leadership team accountable to funders, lenders, and regulatory agencies including California Housing Finance Agency and federal oversight bodies. Its mission focuses on creating and sustaining affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income households, aligning with policy goals promoted by organizations like Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and regional housing coalitions. Governance includes compliance with syndication rules from investors such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and community development financial institutions like Civic Enterprise Development. The organization adheres to nonprofit corporate law in California and files reporting consistent with standards supported by national umbrella groups such as National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Housing Partnership Network.
Properties and Housing Programs
MidPen develops and manages a diverse portfolio including family units, senior housing, and supportive housing serving residents referred by agencies like county behavioral health departments and homeless services coordinated with Continuums of Care (CoC). Properties have been financed through layered capital stacks involving the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, tax-exempt bonds issued by local housing authorities, and funding from philanthropic foundations such as The James Irvine Foundation and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Resident programs often coordinate with nonprofit partners including Catholic Charities, United Way, YMCAs, and local school districts to provide services spanning job training, early childhood assistance linked to programs like Head Start, and health partnerships with providers such as Kaiser Permanente and county public health departments.
Development and Preservation Projects
The organization undertakes new construction, adaptive reuse, and preservation of at-risk properties, engaging architects, planners, and contractors familiar with California planning processes influenced by laws like the California Environmental Quality Act and housing elements required under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation framework administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments. Projects often intersect with transit-oriented development near hubs served by Caltrain, Bay Area Rapid Transit, and VTA (Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority) corridors. Preservation efforts target preservation of affordability in properties originally developed under programs tied to agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture rural housing programs and HUD multifamily projects, ensuring compliance with long-term regulatory agreements monitored by state housing departments and investor monitors.
Partnerships and Funding
MidPen partners extensively with public agencies, private lenders, philanthropic foundations, and service providers. Funding sources include allocations from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program administered by state agencies, proceeds from municipal bond issuances coordinated with county treasurers, grants from foundations like The James Irvine Foundation and Zellerbach Family Foundation, and loans from banks including Wells Fargo and Bank of America as well as community development financial institutions such as Enterprise Community Loan Fund. Partnerships include collaborations with municipal planning departments, county housing authorities, homelessness continuums like San Mateo County Continuum of Care, and regional agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for transit-oriented projects. Technical assistance and equity investment often involve intermediaries like Enterprise Community Partners, Capitol Impact Capital, and national housing networks.
Impact and Community Services
The organization's portfolio provides thousands of affordable units serving seniors, families, veterans, and formerly homeless individuals referred via county veterans services and homeless service networks such as Department of Veterans Affairs programs and local HUD-funded shelters. Resident services link tenants to employment programs run by workforce development boards, health services from community clinics like La Clínica', and education programs coordinated with community colleges, including Foothill–De Anza Community College District and Monterey Peninsula College. Impact assessments reference metrics used by national advocates such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition and research institutions including Urban Institute and Terner Center for Housing Innovation to evaluate affordability preservation, displacement mitigation, and community stability across jurisdictions including Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, and Monterey County.