Making Housing and Community Happen: Celebration and Fundraiser
Guest Post By Rev. Connie Tamkin and Jill Shook
If you think of all the ways in which a community matters, it is first and foremost being community as neighbors, and an interdependency of life together, working together - uniting - to find solutions to the common problems in civic life. One of the common problems of our time is affordable housing.
We may think of “affordable housing” as only for those who are at the lowest income levels. In Pasadena, in 2019 the city increased its inclusionary zoning (IZ) requirement, that 20% of all units in any new housing must be priced to be affordable for three levels of affordability: Extremely Low, Very Low, and Low of the Area Median Income (AMI) established geographically by HUD each year.
We may think of “affordable housing” as only for those who are at the lowest income levels. In Pasadena, in 2019 the city increased its inclusionary zoning (IZ) requirement, that 20% of all units in any new housing must be priced to be affordable for three levels of affordability: Extremely Low, Very Low, and Low of the Area Median Income (AMI) established geographically by HUD each year.
Housing is also unaffordable for what has been called the “missing middle” or workforce housing. Cities do not have affordable housing for firefighters, police, medical support staff, office administrative personnel. These folks were a part of the fabric of the community, but no longer can afford to live here and must commute from distant cities.
Housing has also become unaffordable due to housing being commodified as an investment and by predatory profit practices of institutional and corporate buyers.
Housing has become unattainable due to historic and systemic real estate and financial policies and practices, which has marginalized and disenfranchised BIPOC. It is a human right to have decent and affordable housing in neighborhoods of choice.
There have been champions who have worked together over the years advocating for affordable housing from elected officials, private and non-profit affordable housing developers, and individuals who have united to make housing and community happen.
In March of this year, the San Gabriel Valley Community Land Trust (SGV CLT) incorporated as a nonprofit and was birthed from Making Housing and Community Happen. The SGV CLT is regional and is working with municipalities, neighborhoods, as well as faith communities and advocacy groups to promote this affordable housing solution. Rev. Connie Tamkin has been a founding board member who has brought this to fruition. For more information: http://www.sangabrielvalleyclt.org.
Housing has also become unaffordable due to housing being commodified as an investment and by predatory profit practices of institutional and corporate buyers.
Housing has become unattainable due to historic and systemic real estate and financial policies and practices, which has marginalized and disenfranchised BIPOC. It is a human right to have decent and affordable housing in neighborhoods of choice.
There have been champions who have worked together over the years advocating for affordable housing from elected officials, private and non-profit affordable housing developers, and individuals who have united to make housing and community happen.
In March of this year, the San Gabriel Valley Community Land Trust (SGV CLT) incorporated as a nonprofit and was birthed from Making Housing and Community Happen. The SGV CLT is regional and is working with municipalities, neighborhoods, as well as faith communities and advocacy groups to promote this affordable housing solution. Rev. Connie Tamkin has been a founding board member who has brought this to fruition. For more information: http://www.sangabrielvalleyclt.org.
United for Housing Justice Celebration
Making Housing and Community Happen warmly invites you to our annual celebration and fundraiser! We will have music, refreshments, and inspiring stories of how Making Housing and Community Happen is addressing the housing crisis in Pasadena and beyond through affordable housing.
Make sure to RSVP at info@makinghousinghappen.org
To contribute to our housing justice work, go to https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTYyMzk2
We will be giving out the first annual John J. Kennedy Legacy Affordable Housing Rock Star Award, which will be presented by his sister Lena Kennedy. Councilmember Kennedy received this award in 2020. Click here to see his acceptance speech.
Two of this year’s honorees :
Jess and Brendan are truly affordable housing rock stars!
Make sure to RSVP at info@makinghousinghappen.org
To contribute to our housing justice work, go to https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTYyMzk2
We will be giving out the first annual John J. Kennedy Legacy Affordable Housing Rock Star Award, which will be presented by his sister Lena Kennedy. Councilmember Kennedy received this award in 2020. Click here to see his acceptance speech.
Two of this year’s honorees :
- Councilmember Jess Rivas for her strong support for affordable housing and rent control.
- Brendan Poon, an intern at MHACH and a junior at Polytechnic High School. Brendan has shown extraordinary commitment and leadership with Pasadena’s rent control campaign.
Jess and Brendan are truly affordable housing rock stars!
Event and Organizational Sponsors: The Church We Hope For, San Marino Congregational Church of Christ, Pasadena Mennonite Church, Lincoln Ave Christian Church, La Fuente Ministries, Full Circle Thrift, Orange Grove Friends Meeting, Reissa Foundation, Rosebud Cafe, Pasadena Foursquare Church, Neighborhood Unitarian Church, Pasadena Presbyterian, First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, and Home Depot.
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