Dear Members, Future Members and Friends,
It’s been almost two weeks and we are still basking in the glow of our Fall Conference in San Diego. It was an amazing event and it was so great to see so many of you there. So in that spirit, we’d invite you to mark your calendars and save the date now for June 8-10, 2026. Our Spring Conference will be held at the beautiful Silverado Resort in Napa. We chose this location both to support the growth of our conference and to create an unforgettable event in a stunning setting. Registration will open in early February and we can’t wait to see you there.
Now, let’s debrief the 2025 Fall Conference at Paradise Point. To lead with the headline it was a resounding success and also the largest in CCAH history, with 256 registered attendees! This milestone reflects the incredible strength of our community and the growing commitment to advancing affordable housing in California.
Early feedback indicates that the panels were nothing short of outstanding—packed with timely insights, expert perspectives, and actionable strategies. Just as important, the networking opportunities were vibrant and productive, creating connections that will drive collaboration well beyond the conference. If you attended and have not yet completed the post event survey, we’d sure appreciate your input.
One of the highlights was the Friday Policy Roundtable, where attendees brainstormed with Paul Shafer, our Policy Manager,to refine CCAH’s 2026 legislative agenda. We are actively working with legislators to sponsor bills that will build on the success of AB 130 and SB 686 this year and those who attended are helping us to shape the future of affordable housing policy in California. We are excited to share more as this agenda develops. In the meantime, check out this great summary of housing-centered legislation that was signed by Governor Newsom during the last session and this deep dive into AB 130. We are grateful to our contract lobby team at Brownstein with whom we worked closely to advance our mission this year and for providing these summaries.
The CCAH PAC Fundraiser was another highlight of the Fall Conference, giving attendees an exclusive opportunity to connect with three of California’s most influential champions for affordable housing: Assemblymember Chris Ward, Assemblymember David Alvarez, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Their insights into the legislative landscape and commitment to advancing housing solutions energized the room and reinforced the importance of our collective advocacy. This event not only raised critical funds for the CCAH PAC but also strengthened relationships that will help drive meaningful policy change in the year ahead.
On Friday, participants had the chance to tour completed affordable housing projects, seeing firsthand the impact of their work. Several of those who went on the tour worked on the projects in an administrative capacity, meaning they seldom see the completed structure. As one attendee put it:“Walking through these homes reminded me why we do what we do—seeing families thriving in safe, affordable housing is the ultimate reward.”
Meanwhile, we are closely watching for the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to release implementation guidelines for AB 130 and SB 686, which together create the Affordable Housing Excess Equity Program. These laws allow developers to repay certain HCD loans early, unlocking equity that can be reinvested into new affordable housing projects, rehabilitation, predevelopment costs, and gap financing. This is a game-changer for our industry, enabling a revolving fund approach to accelerate production and preservation of affordable housing. HCD is currently drafting regulations and approval processes, and we’ll keep you informed as soon as those details are available. Public comment will be critical and we will need your voice as we ensure the guidelines support the intent of the new law.
Now is the time to get involved. If you’re not yet a member of CCAH, join us today. Membership gives you access to critical updates, advocacy efforts, and a network of professionals dedicated to solving California’s housing challenges. Thank you for being part of this historic moment. Here’s to building more affordable housing—and stronger communities—across California.
Warm regards,
Jenna Abbott
Executive Director
California Council for Affordable Housing