SDHF 2024 AnnualReport Interacti

SAN DIEGO’S VOICE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

IMPACT

REPORT

2024

WITH YOU ALL THE WAY: A Message of Gratitude

and Impact from the San Diego Housing Federation

As the San Diego Housing Federation enters our 35th year, we’re

reminded of the profound difference each of you makes in our shared

mission. Our theme, With You All the Way, is both a tribute and a

commitment—reﬂecting the journey we've traveled together and the

support that will propel us forward. This past year has been marked

by remarkable stories of resilience, opportunity, and growth

that speak volumes about our community’s strength. Through

every career journey, community partnership, and program

milestone, your involvement has shaped a more inclusive and

compassionate housing landscape in San Diego.

We are proud to share last year’s achievements in our

Impact Report. From providing essential resources

to fostering career growth and strengthening the

relationships that deﬁne our community, we continue to

stand beside those we serve—each step of the way. The

pages that follow highlight the incredible contributions of

our members, partners, and program participants, whose

stories of dedication, resilience, and innovative spirit have

built and sustained our mission. Together, we are forging

paths toward a future where everyone has a safe and stable

place to call home.

As we reﬂect on these accomplishments, we also look ahead

with renewed dedication. The future of affordable, inclusive

housing in San Diego depends on collective action, and your

support remains central to our progress. With your partnership,

we will continue to expand our reach, strengthen our programs,

and deepen the bonds that hold our community together.

Thank you for standing with us, not only today but for the last 35

years. Together, we’re making strides toward a more hopeful future,

where housing stability is a reality for all San Diegans. With your

commitment, we will continue to make a lasting difference.

Thank you!

Steve Russell, President and CEO

steve@housingsandiego.org

OUR HISTORY

Since 1990, the Federation has worked

tirelessly to educate the public, inﬂuence

policy, and create spaces for community

members to connect and collaborate. From

organizing impactful conferences to leading

campaigns that secure vital resources, SDHF

has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those

working to make affordable housing a reality.

We thank our members, volunteers,

colleagues, partners, and staff for their

efforts to create housing opportunities

for low-income households

SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION

OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD THE KNOWLEDGE,

CAPACITY, AND INFLUENCE OF PEOPLE,

ORGANIZATIONS, AND INSTITUTIONS THAT

ARE COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING AND

PRESERVING QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SAN DIEGO’S VOICE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

IMPACT

REPORT

2024

WITH YOU ALL THE WAY: A Message of Gratitude

and Impact from the San Diego Housing Federation

As the San Diego Housing Federation enters our 35th year, we’re

reminded of the profound difference each of you makes in our shared

mission. Our theme, With You All the Way, is both a tribute and a

commitment—reﬂecting the journey we've traveled together and the

support that will propel us forward. This past year has been marked

by remarkable stories of resilience, opportunity, and growth

that speak volumes about our community’s strength. Through

every career journey, community partnership, and program

milestone, your involvement has shaped a more inclusive and

compassionate housing landscape in San Diego.

We are proud to share last year’s achievements in our

Impact Report. From providing essential resources

to fostering career growth and strengthening the

relationships that deﬁne our community, we continue to

stand beside those we serve—each step of the way. The

pages that follow highlight the incredible contributions of

our members, partners, and program participants, whose

stories of dedication, resilience, and innovative spirit have

built and sustained our mission. Together, we are forging

paths toward a future where everyone has a safe and stable

place to call home.

As we reﬂect on these accomplishments, we also look ahead

with renewed dedication. The future of affordable, inclusive

housing in San Diego depends on collective action, and your

support remains central to our progress. With your partnership,

we will continue to expand our reach, strengthen our programs,

and deepen the bonds that hold our community together.

Thank you for standing with us, not only today but for the last 35

years. Together, we’re making strides toward a more hopeful future,

where housing stability is a reality for all San Diegans. With your

commitment, we will continue to make a lasting difference.

Thank you!

Steve Russell, President and CEO

steve@housingsandiego.org

OUR HISTORY

Since 1990, the Federation has worked

tirelessly to educate the public, inﬂuence

policy, and create spaces for community

members to connect and collaborate. From

organizing impactful conferences to leading

campaigns that secure vital resources, SDHF

has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those

working to make affordable housing a reality.

We thank our members, volunteers,

colleagues, partners, and staff for their

efforts to create housing opportunities

for low-income households

SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION

OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD THE KNOWLEDGE,

CAPACITY, AND INFLUENCE OF PEOPLE,

ORGANIZATIONS, AND INSTITUTIONS THAT

ARE COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING AND

PRESERVING QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ADVOCATE

We advocate for those with very low

incomes who are most severely impacted

by the absence of an adequate supply of

aordable homes in the region.

PROTECT

We inform the public, media, and decision

makers about the need for more safe, healthy

and affordable homes in the region.

EXPAND

We expand the expertise of our

members and others interested

in learning about trends, best

practices, and opportunities in

affordable housing development.

BUILD

We serve as the collective voice of the affordable housing

in San Diego, aligning developers, builders, investors,

service providers and residents together to build strong

coalitions that amplify our impact.

EDUCATE

We educate members,

policymakers, and the

community about affordable

housing trends and initiatives.

NETWORK

We offer networking opportunities to

enable members to make new, and

strengthen, existing connections.

2024 IMPACT REPORT

SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION

POLICY & ADVOCACY

The San Diego Housing Federation made substantial

progress in 2024, solidifying its position as a leading

advocate for affordable housing at both the state

and local levels. Despite facing a challenging ﬁscal

environment, SDHF achieved critical legislative

victories, fostered community engagement, and

protected vital housing programs.

Legislative Victories

SDHF worked in coalition with our statewide partners

to successfully oppose several bills in Sacramento that

would have negatively impacted affordable housing

development. These included:

● Defeating three bills undermining the Surplus

Lands Act.

● Halting onerous reporting and documentation

requirements for public works projects and

developers.

● Opposing restrictive measures affecting regional

housing allocation processes in Orange and

San Diego Counties.

● Blocking legislation that would have

undermined critical housing and energy

programs beneﬁting vulnerable communities.

Through direct lobbying, coalition building, and

public outreach, SDHF safeguarded the interests of

the affordable housing sector and ensured that these

harmful policies did not advance.

PROTECT

Policy Leadership and Advocacy

The SDHF Policy Committee saw a 15% increase in

participation. The committee addressed critical topics,

including Age-Friendly Communities, statewide

lobbying strategies, and regulatory concerns. Notable

accomplishments include:

● Hosting an education roundtable with the

California Department of Housing and

Community Development (HCD) to discuss the

SuperNOFA.

● Facilitating 46 meetings with California Senate,

Assembly, and policy ofﬁces to advocate for key

legislation.

● Engaging in four meetings with the Governor’s

Ofﬁce to lobby for the passage of crucial bills.

Navigating the Budget Crisis

California’s signiﬁcant budget deﬁcit—ranging from

$38 billion to $73 billion—posed challenges to housing

initiatives. SDHF collaborated with statewide housing

coalitions to:

● Preserve funding for the Multifamily Housing

Program and Regional Early Action Planning

Grants 2.0.

● Secure additional investments, including $500

million for the State Low-Income Housing Tax

Credit Program and $1 billion for the Homeless

Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP)

Program.

2024 IMPACT REPORT

Bills Supported

by SDHF

Visits to Legislative

Ofﬁces to Share

Insights

Reports on

Age Friendly

Policies in

Housing

Elements

Nevertheless, deep budget cuts affected programs like

the Inﬁll Infrastructure Grant Program, Veterans Housing

and Homelessness Prevention Program, and CalHome

Program. SDHF continues to advocate for restoring

funding to these essential initiatives, emphasizing

their importance as investments in California’s future.

Community Engagement and Impact

SDHF’s commitment to community engagement

remained strong, as evidenced by:

● Creating a Developers Forum to address

regulatory concerns.

● Increasing use of feedback tools like the

Regulatory Intake Form by 30%.

● Hosting advocacy events that empowered

members and the public to take action.

Legislation Supported

SDHF actively supported bills advancing affordable

housing, including:

● ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry): Local government

ﬁnancing for affordable housing.

● SCA 2 (Allen, Wiener): Article 34 public

housing projects.

● AB 1657 (Wicks, et al.): The Affordable

Housing Bond Act of 2024.

Pieces of

Harmful

Legislation

Stalled

Looking forward, SDHF remains steadfast in its mission to create equitable and affordable

housing opportunities. By leveraging its successes and addressing emerging challenges, the

organization continues to make a lasting impact on the San Diego region and beyond.

Dozens of

Position Letters

On Legislative

and Regulatory

Reforms to

the Sector

SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION

Individual

Participants

69%

Membership

Participation

(91% increase in

participation

from 2023)

ADVOCATE

In 2024, the Residents United Network (RUN) continued its mission to empower

residents and advocate for affordable housing. Through a combination of

grassroots activism, policy advocacy, and community engagement, RUN made

signiﬁcant strides in advancing housing justice.

Participating in Housing California's 2024 Lobby Day, RUN members descended

upon Sacramento to support and advocate for these bills:

AB 653 (Reyes): Housing Voucher Utilization – This bill aims to streamline the

process of using housing vouchers, ensuring more Californians can access safe and

stable housing.

AB 1657 (Wicks): Affordable Housing Bond – This legislation proposes a critical

investment in affordable housing construction by authorizing a bond measure.

AB 2396 (Reyes): On-Line Applications Portal for Affordable Housing – This

bill seeks to create a user-friendly online application system for affordable housing

units, increasing accessibility and fairness.

Additionally, RUN members voiced strong opposition to proposed budget cuts

that would negatively impact affordable housing programs. They advocated for

continued funding for crucial initiatives like HHAP.

RUN maintained a strong presence in local communities,

engaging with residents and advocating for their needs.

By participating in community presentations and outreach

events, RUN members educated residents about their

rights and encouraged them to join the movement

for affordable housing. The Prop 5 campaign provided

an opportunity for RUN members to mobilize and

demonstrate their collective power.

Advocacy

Events