Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA)
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) is a regional public authority that works to create a Bay Area where there is enough safe, affordable and stable housing for all residents.
In November 2024, Bay Area residents could potentially vote on a regional bond measure to generate $10-$20 billion to build more affordable homes and help keep existing homes affordable.
See how BAHFA plans to create bold, regional solutions to the Bay Area’s housing challenges.
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 works to transform the way affordable housing is financed in the region and encourages collaboration across all cities and counties to solve the Bay Area’s affordable housing challenges together.
BAHFA is working to bring immediate housing benefits to the region, including:
- A potential regional bond measure to generate $10 to $20 billion to build more affordable homes and help keep existing homes affordable.
- Current pilot programs and projects include:
- Doorway, an online affordable housing search and application portal that serves the nine counties, to simplify the process of finding affordable homes in the Bay Area.
- A rental assistance subsidy program in Napa to prevent extremely low-income seniors and people with disabilities from becoming homeless.
- One-time state grants for affordable housing preservation and production projects.
- A Bay Area affordable housing pipeline to provide a comprehensive inventory of affordable housing projects in pre-development in the region.
The 3Ps Framework - Solutions for the Bay Area
The 3Ps drive BAHFA’s strategy for creating systemic change in the way the Bay Area addresses its housing challenges. The framework includes:
- Production of new housing at all income levels, especially affordable housing
- Preservation of existing housing affordable to lower- and middle-income residents
- Protection for current residents to avoid eviction and displacement from their communities
The goal of this framework is to make sure housing is available for all Bay Area residents, no matter their income. Read more about BAHFA’s 3Ps Framework.
Governance
The BAHFA Board of Directors is composed of the same members as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Learn more about BAHFA’s governance structure and how to get involved.
Staff Contact
Kate Hartley, BAHFA Director
Phone: 415-778-6679
Email: BAHFA@BayAreaMetro.gov
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- Jamie Almanza, Executive Director, Bay Area Community Services
- Aissia Ashoori, Housing Manager, City of El Cerrito
- Efrén Carrillo, CEO, Gallaher Community Housing
- Consuelo Hernandez, Director, County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing
- Nevada V. Merriman, Director of Policy, MidPen Housing Corporation
- Tomiquia Moss, Secretary, California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
- Hugo Ramírez, Deputy Director of Community Development, City of Oakland Department of Housing and Community Development
- Leelee Thomas, Deputy Director, Housing & Grants Division, Community Development Agency, County of Marin
- Michelle Whitman, Executive Director, Sonoma County Community Development Commission
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.