Funding, building affordable housing a worthy challenge

For more than 40 years, the Northbay Family Homes nonprofit organization has been at the forefront of developing affordable housing projects in Marin County.

In 2021 the organization will cease operations. But, the need for affordable housing and advocating for it in Marin remains strong.

During operations, NFH built a legacy that will stand as a testament to its commitment to and passion for fulfilling its mission. The affordable housing at Hamilton Field was, by far, our most ambitious and successful undertaking. The project included over 700 properties developed for ownership or rental by low-income families with construction and mortgage financing arranged by NFH.

Of course, there were many other projects along the way that came with less fanfare but also continue to fill this need. For example, NFH’s first project was the Encina Court Condominiums in Novato. Those six units were purchased by low-income families with construction and mortgage financing arranged by NFH. That was in 1978 and was California’s first mutually owner-built/self-help project.

NFH took on the challenges of political, community and regulatory interests to become Marin’s pioneer builder in affordable housing and always an advocate. NFH successfully worked with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to devise a different set of rules and procedures specifically for owner-built, affordable attached housing. The state set up a separate program in the HCD for owner-built housing with NFH’s expertise and counsel. The new procedures made it less difficult for groups to utilize the ownerbuilder concept, a concept now also employed by Habitat for Humanity.

The NFH has had a hand in $154 million of investments, building 4,014 affordable housing units and serving 9,978 people. These are Marin’s teachers, medical workers, store clerks and many others that we now call essential to our daily lives under current pandemic conditions. Where would we be without these neighbors here in our community today.

Acknowledging that the need for affordable housing in Marin is ongoing, NFH leadership concluded that it was time for the next generation of builders and community-minded developers to move to the forefront.

Our most recent NFH project, in partnership with BlueStar Family Homes, was a 100-unit home development. This project had been inching forward for several years while the estimated cost per unit increased from $250,000 up to $750,000. Overall, the project cost had increased from $25 million to $75 million. All of us at NFH/BlueStar felt we needed to leave those kinds of costs to others with more resources, staff and capital.

For more than 40 years, many people have walked along the path with NFH. We want to thank our staff members for their steadfast efforts towards a mission that was not always popular. We want to thank our board or director members over the years that volunteered their time and expertise.

There were many community partners including elected officials that were steadfast supporters and we thank them. Within the ranks of city and county administrations there were staff that helped guide us through the various and always evolving regulations and processes. There are too many individuals to name here. We do truly appreciate your support and know that the families that live in the homes we developed appreciate you too.

A community cannot flourish without a vibrant mix of people across the economic landscape. Marin’s homeownership affordability has always made it challenging for homebuyers without substantial means. A safe and vibrant community is one that has housing available for police, firefighters, nurses, teachers, clerks and single-parent homes. Now it is time for others to take our handoff and run with the ball.

There was no shortage of need in the past or is there in the present. The two of us are available to share our experience and expertise as other individuals and organizations now will be walking in our path. Contact us by email at clark@nfh.org

Thanks Marin, for opening your hearts to the families we found homes for. And thanks to those families for joining our community.

Clark Blasdell, of Novato, is president and CEO of Northbay Family Homes. Paul Simmons, of San Rafael, is chairman of the board.