A large group of technology and philanthropic foundations has announced multiple funds to help mitigate the crisis of housing affordability in the Bay Area. It's the second such effort announced already this year.

"A group of San Francisco Bay Area philanthropists has pledged to spend half a billion dollars to protect and expand affordable housing in the region," reports Emily Flitter.
Included in that group, and described as a "central player," is the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Also contributing to the partnership are Morgan Stanley, Kaiser Permanente, Facebook, Genentech, the Ford Foundation, and more.
The so-called Partnership for the Bay’s Future will combat the region's housing affordability crisis by seeding an investment fund "to preserve housing for 175,000 families and add capacity for 8,000 new homes over the next decade through loans and other assistance to community groups."
According to the announcement of the new partnership, posted on the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative website, the partnership is beginning with two funds: the Investment Fund and the Policy Fund.
Similar to a plan announced by Microsoft to provide $500 million in funding for housing in the Seattle region, Partnership for the Bay's Future will devote most of its funding to loans—in this case funded through the Investment Fund, explained in more detail in the announcement:
The Investment Fund, poised to become one of the largest in the nation, will help to address the funding gap that limits the ability to preserve and produce affordable housing. This fund is managed by LISC—the largest nonprofit community development financial institution in the country—which has been investing in affordable housing, economic development, recreation and community space, and workforce programs in the Bay Area for nearly four decades. LISC is also partnering with national affordable housing experts Capital Impact Partners and the Corporation for Supportive Housing to originate investments out of the Fund. Morgan Stanley is also providing capital for the Fund.
The announcement also reports that the Investment Fund has confirmed its first transaction: a revolving line of credit to the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation.
The Policy Fund will provide grant funding on a smaller scale:
The Policy Fund will support initiatives to preserve and expand housing, with a strong focus on strengthening low-income tenant protections. The Policy Fund is led by the San Francisco Foundation and will be administered through two grant programs: Challenge Grants, which are larger awards to pursue ambitious, comprehensive protection and preservation solutions; and Breakthrough Grants, to provide technical assistance to jurisdictions that have the potential to develop affordable housing at scale. At the time of launch, the Policy Fund has secured almost $20 million for an intended $40 million for the Fund.
The Policy Fund already has $20 million toward a planned $40 million.
FULL STORY: $500 Million Pledge in Bay Area Supports Affordable Housing

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service