Gaining Ground: The State of Acquisition & Preservation in California

Acquisition-rehab (acq-rehab) has gained significant momentum in the past few years to create affordable housing and to stabilize communities in California. Local pilot programs have inspired policy campaigns across the state and significant public investment both at the local and state level. The acquisition of occupied, unsubsidized properties (often referred to as “NOAH”) and preserving these homes as permanent affordable housing is an exciting place-based strategy that can help fight racialized displacement and build community power. This session will feature three panels with speakers from across the state and the field discussing technical capacity, innovative capital, and transformative policy – all critical ingredients to making acq-rehab successful. This session builds on the case studies and lessons learned from Enterprise’s 2020 report, Preserving Affordability, Preventing Displacement, and other preservation initiatives that our two California offices have led on and contributed to in recent years. Learn about the work, get inspired and take action to ask the state to support this work through policy, technical assistance, and a catalytic State investment!