Alhambra Housing Summit - May 13, 2021
On May 13, 2021, the Alhambra Main Street Alliance, in partnership with the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce, hosted the Alhambra Housing Summit. Approximately 100 stakeholders joined with city and regional elected officials to hear from speakers in academia, government, and affordable housing organizations that are addressing housing needs.
Alhambra Mayor Sasha Rene Perez opened the summit by focusing on the housing needs of communities that are generationally and economically diverse. Mayor Perez called for residents to participate in solving the housing crisis, so diverse perspectives are represented.
Keynote speaker Dr. Dowell Myers, director of USC’s PopulationDynamics Research Group, documented the history of housing development and how it has failed to keep pace with population growth.
On the first panel, Ma’Ayn Johnson, Housing Program Manager, SCAG shared the current state requirements for meeting housing needs. Michael Ruane, Executive Vice President, National CORE, shared insights on projects that transform underutilized properties into housing communities, thus enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
A second panel featured speakers experienced in solving housing shortages in three cities. These experts included Stephen Russell, Executive Director, San Diego Housing Federation; Bill Huang, Housing Director, City of Pasadena; and Ata Khan, Planning Manager, City of Pomona. They illuminated the multi-layered financing needed to build affordable housing, the need to draw from non-traditional allies to work together, and innovations, including “Pro Housing Pomona” that gives residents the tools they need to more meaningfully contribute to conversations and decisions about housing.
The closing speaker, Richard Gollis, Co-Founder and Principal of The Concord Group, echoed the generational impact of housing affordability, highlighting that dearth of affordable homes for Millennials. Gollis encouraged residents and leaders to work together to ensure a future of livable cities
During a breakout discussion, attendees called for a whole community approach to addressing the housing crisis.
Overall, collaboration was the theme that emerged from the summit, as well as the need to use creativity and innovation to fulfill the housing needs of Alhambra.