Redevelopment’s central role in creating housing and economic opportunity for Bay Area residents is just one focus of 19 tours, grand openings, discussion panels and other events taking place during the 15th Annual East Bay Affordable Housing Week (May 6 – 15, 2011). Even as state budget battles threaten funds for affordable housing, more than 11 cities throughout the East Bay will celebrate the creation of green, accessible, quality homes for working families and people with special needs, all made possible with public-nonprofit collaboration.

Affordable Housing Week, sponsored by East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO), demonstrates how affordable housing allows workers to live near their jobs, giving parents more time with their children; and allow seniors and people with special needs to live independently. Today’s affordable housing is also built to the highest green standards and often located near transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allow access to employment. All of this is made possible by the hard work of mission-driven nonprofit developers, local officials and residents, but will be in jeopardy if redevelopment funds for affordable housing are ultimately cut in the state budget. Join East Bay Housing Organization for some of these highlighted events:

• Tour Fairmount Apartments in North Oakland on May 11, a rehabilitated property whose future was in doubt after the California freeze on state housing bonds. An emergency effort pulled together funding to create 31 apartments, including homes for people with HIV/AIDS and formerly homeless individuals.
• Talk with 100 practitioners, government staff, advocates, developers and experts at the State of Housing in the East Bay Symposium on May 11, exploring how affordable housing and transportation investment link to each other and help spur the economy.
• On May 13, see the pilot of the innovative WELL AWARE system at the newly greened Newark Gardens senior housing, an automated system that sends loved ones reports on the well-being of elderly residents.
• Hear community leaders in Antioch speak out about the foreclosure crisis on May 10 and how they are working to hold banks accountable and save their homes.
• Take a “hard hat” tour of the brand-new BART-accessible Station Center Apartments in Union City on May 10.
• Learn how more and more cities are passing ordinances to keep housing smoke-free at a May 12 presentation by the American Lung Association.
• Discuss how environmental sustainability and affordability go hand-in-hand at May 13 “Greening the Affordable Housing Portfolio,” featuring a keynote address by Ophelia Basgal, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Visit a former Naval base that now hosts a thriving community and several “social enterprise” green businesses at Alameda Point on May 12.

For more information on these events and many others, visit www.ebho.org or contact Gloria Bruce at Gloria@ebho.org or 240-252-0252.

For the past 15 years, East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO) has organized Affordable Housing Week to highlight the contribution that non-profit affordable housing development brings to communities, as well as the continued need for more homes that people can afford at all income levels. Founded in 1984, EBHO and its 300 members work with communities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to preserve, protect and expand affordable housing opportunities through education, advocacy, and coalition building.