Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA)
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) is a first-of-its-kind regional authority created to address the Bay Area’s chronic housing challenges.
BAHFA has released its Draft Equity Framework and Draft Funding Programs.
BAHFA is the first regional housing finance authority in California. BAHFA has the potential to raise the significant funding necessary to change the affordable housing landscape in the Bay Area.
Established by the state Legislature in 2019, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority's mandate is to create regional solutions that meet the Bay Area's affordable housing needs. BAHFA is the first regional housing finance authority in California, and works together with MTC and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
The 3Ps Framework - Solutions to the Housing Crisis
BAHFA’s focus is rooted in the 3Ps framework. Specifically:
- Protection for current residents to avoid displacement
- Preservation of existing housing affordable to lower- and middle-income residents
- Production of new housing at all income levels, especially affordable housing
The goal of this framework is to make sure housing is available for all Bay Area residents, no matter their income.
Collaborating Across Counties & Cities
Currently, the Bay Area’s nine counties and 101 cities and towns address most housing issues individually, and often with limited staff and financial resources.
BAHFA instead encourages coordination, regional thinking, and working together to tackle the housing crisis on a larger scale — because together, we can do more.
Governance
The BAHFA Board (which is comprised of the same members as the MTC Commission) and the ABAG Executive Board share governing responsibilities for BAHFA. In addition, a nine-member Advisory Committee provides consultation to BAHFA and the ABAG Executive Board to assist their decision-making.
Board Members
The BAHFA Board is comprised of the same membership as the MTC Commission.
BAHFA Oversight Committee
Learn more about the BAHFA Oversight Committee.
BAHFA Advisory Committee
As required by AB 1487, BAHFA’s nine member Advisory Committee is comprised of members with expertise in affordable housing finance, production, preservation and/or tenant protections. See the list of Advisory Committee members below.
Staff Contact
Kate Hartley, BAHFA Director
Phone: (415) 778-6679
Email: khartley@bayareametro.gov
Join the BAHFA Mailing List
Subscribe to receive email updates highlighting the work of BAHFA.
The 3Ps drive BAHFA’s strategy for creating systemic change in the way the Bay Area addresses the housing crisis.
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) offers resources to planners and policymakers, including a comprehensive database of housing Technical Assistance programs.
- Jamie Almanza, Executive Director, Bay Area Community Services
- Aissia Ashoori, Housing Manager, City of El Cerrito
- Efrén Carrillo, Vice President, Burbank Housing
- Nevada V. Merriman, Director of Policy, MidPen Housing Corporation
- Jacky Morales-Ferrand, Director of Housing, City of San Jose
- Tomiquia Moss, Founder & CEO, All Home
- Hugo Ramirez, Community Development Program Manager, San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development
- Leelee Thomas, Deputy Director, Housing & Grants Division, Community Development Agency, County of Marin
- Michelle Whitman, Executive Director, Renewal Enterprise District
BAHFA was established by California State Legislature AB 1487 (2019, Chiu) to support the production and preservation of affordable housing by placing new revenue options on the ballot. (Due to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made not to place a revenue measure on the November 2020 ballot.)
Any new revenue source to be placed on the ballot would require voter approval by a two-thirds vote. Possible future options include:
- General obligation bond backed by property tax receipts (also known as a GO bond)
- Parcel tax
- Gross receipts tax
- Per-employee corporate “head tax”
- Commercial linkage fee (only authorized after voters approve a GO bond or parcel tax)
BAHFA shares decision-making with the ABAG Executive Board related to raising revenues or expenditure of funds.