17 minute read
Mary Ellen Shay, Executive Director of the California Association of Local
Mary Ellen Shay
The 21st century has seen remarkable progress in the development and economic prosperity of modern-day women. Can you believe it, we have a woman vice president! And that’s not all, some top executive offices are now womenled and today, we are looking at one a phenomenal woman who I have known personally and professionally.
MARY ELLEN SHAY’S JOURNEY IN REAL ESTATE
Mary Ellen Shay the Executive Director of the California Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, a position she has held for 31 years. Mary began her career as a VISTA volunteer in 1970. She worked in Shasta County and founded the Self Help Home Improvement Project with her VISTA colleagues. She has worked at the local, state, and federal levels in developing affordable housing and has had a private consulting business since 1986. However, behind this remarkable success, Mary has seen it all, she was there when discrimination was still ‘legal’ and helped form the infrastructure that would later come to fight redlining in the country.
BUT HOW DID SHE GET STARTED?
She came to Confront Redlining and Discrimination Heads-on! Mary came into the housing market when redlining was widely practiced and accepted in the country. This had been a practice ‘encouraged’ by the federal government and was explicitly designed to segregate the country’s housing stock. At the time Ellen was coming into the industry, the housing market could only be described in terms of ‘red’ and ‘green’ areas. What had been happening in the years prior to the late 60s was that the government efforts were focused to provide housing to the white, middle-class, lower-middle-class families. Other people of color were left out of the new suburban communities.
This was the environment back then. Mary began her career in housing in 1969. She was hired by the Southern Alameda County Economic Opportunity Agency, which was part of the Federal Poverty Program instituted by the thenpresident Lyndon Johnson in the 60s. This was
coming at a crucial time as the Fair Housing Act had just been passed the previous year (1968). She started as a housing consultant, mainly involved in investigating housing discrimination complaints. This opportunity introduced her to a non-profit organization based in Hayward called EDEN.
Her primary responsibility was not exactly in the investigation’s docket but in building information and data and then using that information to determine what programs needed to be developed. This was and still is important because, at the time, what would happen was, that a White couple looking for a home would be given all the privileges, and in most cases, no paperwork was required for them, whereas preferential treatment was given to the African Americans who would in most cases even be denied access to see the house. With such an environment, information and data become an integral part of designing programs that would fight this preferential treatment and discrimination in the housing sector.
HER EFFORTS WERE FINALLY PAYING OFF
After years of hard work, eventually, the work that she and many others were doing began paying off, and in the mid-70s, federal programs to support housing in the marginalized communities started emerging. One of such programs was the section 8 program, also known as Housing Choice Voucher Program. So basically, the Section 8 program is one of the major programs for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants can find their housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the program’s requirements and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.
A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.
MEANWHILE, THERE WERE OTHER HOUSING PROGRAMS STILL BEING BUILT.
The housing landscape in the late 60s and 70s was characterized by less public housing and more developments by the public and private partnerships. At the time, Mary was working in Shasta County.
At the time, there was a very active movement to develop housing programs through the city of Redding, which saw the establishment of the Community Development Block Grant Program, and Mary was given the responsibility of administering the program.
This is a program that supports community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. To support community development, activities are identified through an ongoing process. Activities may address infrastructure, economic development projects, public facilities installation, community centers, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/ acquisition, microenterprise assistance, code enforcement, homeowner assistance, etc.
She was also the first administrator of the Section 8 Program in the city of Redding, and soon after, she, together with others, founded the Self Help Home Improvement Project.
“And that’s an organization that encourages folks to invest their sweat equity in building their own homes or in the case if you own a home that it needed repair do your home repairs that enables people who don’t otherwise have the money to buy their own homes to contribute their sweat equity. As a partial part of the mortgage that they got so that organization is still going strong, it will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.”
In the Mid-70s, Mary moved to Sacramento to work for the Department of Housing and Community Development, and it was while working for the agency that she helped to start the first housing assistance program for the disabled. Although there were challenges on the way, General Fund Programs were legislated, and with that, this new program got its first state housing grant of a hundred million dollars. The money was spent making a lot of pre-development loans.
HOW IMPORTANT IS FAIR HOUSING TODAY… DO WE STILL NEED THE ACT?
The fair housing act of 1968 is one of the most important legislation and a hallmark of the civil rights movement. It is an act that expanded on previous acts and prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap, and family status. Title VIII of the Act is also known as the Fair Housing Act (of 1968). Mary was already in the housing industry when the Act was being enforced and had some interesting views regarding the act. When asked how important the act was and still is by today’s standards, she had this to say,
“We absolutely still need a fair housing act it’s more important than ever because we know that people who are able to purchase homes are far ahead of those who are not in building wealth and family stability. Nothing could be more important than that it was important in 1968, and it’s important right now.
She adds that Cal-AlHFA is firmly committed to developing programs and activities that will heighten the awareness of the importance of the fair housing act. In addition, she notes that one of the big jobs in CAL-ALPHA is to communicate with its affiliate members and colleagues about what’s going on in all aspects of affordable housing development. More often, the communication includes the enforcement of fair housing activities and the establishment of good practices in local agencies.
Awareness campaigns about fair housing are one of the most effective ways to combat discrimination which is still happening today even though subtly, and CAL-ALHFA has been extremely active on this by going as far as going on roadshows and talking about single-family homeownership programs. This includes components about complying with fair housing requirements.
“I just can’t say more emphatically. Fair housing is equality. It’s one of the tenants of our country, and it needs to be enforced and spread throughout the entire country. It’s taken a long, long time for us to make, not nearly as much progress as we need to, and I think that that awareness has come to the fore in the last, say seven-eight years, the fact that we have been so remiss in giving people the equal opportunity and housing and employment at it’s time to catch up that that’s why it’s important right now and that’s what our organization is attempting to do, and that’s what I am attempting to do just to catch up.”
WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO RIGHT ITS PAST WRONGS?
Although discrimination had been happening throughout the country, with some areas impacted more than others, enforcement of this act certainly did not happen on a larger scale in some places. Financing is one of the key drivers, and the fact is, some the cities are well-financed more than others. This has had an impact on furthering the Fair Housing mandates. Therefore, what the city is willing to do or is doing to aid in fair housing impacts a community in so many ways.
Taking the state of California as an example, the first governor ran on the premise of separating African Americans from the Whites, and even though he did not believe in the institution of Slavery, the idea of ‘separate but not equal’ was the foundation of slavery. That was the foundation of the state and for years it permeated into our society and influenced our culture. Because of this, African Americans have had a tough road in trying to find equality in housing and in almost everything.
It would be interesting to find out what the state is already doing to right its past wrongs.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS BY THE STATE
To answer this, Mary, who is a registered lobbyist and who for years has been quite vocal in some of the issues around fair housing, notes that the state has over 1,000 bills in the current legislative session which began early last year, that addresses some aspect of; housing, fair housing, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, housing development, planning and zoning and so much more all of which are dedicated to increasing fair housing opportunities and increasing the supply of affordable housing.
The very first task force for the study and the development of reparations proposals for African Americans was passed in 2020 by Shirley Weber, who is now the Secretary of State.
It is important to note that this is the only reparations Task Force in the country, and it is active in completing a number of proposals, in addition, we also have a lot of housing champions in the state legislature. These folks have been on the edge of housing fairness, developing protocols for years. SEN Toni Atkins is President pro tem of the Senate and is responsible for passing dozens of bills that have encouraged the development of fair housing. Moreover, she has found different financing sources and is a champion for the housing development bonds that have passed over the years it’s one of the significant forms of financing.
“We have SEN Scott wiener who has been just relentless in his efforts to fight discrimination by identifying more sites throughout all of California for the development of affordable housing for equal opportunity, housing. it’s a passion of his to make more space available for housing at all economic levels, and he’ll introduce a bill, and it’ll get shot down, and he’ll come back, and he’ll introduce another version of that bill and eventually, little by little, unit by unit, we get more diverse housing and more diverse neighborhoods than we’ve had before, so Tony and Scott are pioneers in this work.”
She continues to add that the current chair of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee has introduced an assembly constitutional amendment that would set aside 5% of the state’s general fund for housing and
homeless activities for 10 years, starting in 2023. This is unprecedented. The amendment bill is a ballot measure, and if Buffy is successful, it will be put on the ballot in November of 2022.
“Think about that 5% of the state’s general fund money being used for ten years annually for housing development and homeless prevention activities. That’s a lot of money and a big commitment. I don’t know if she’s going to be successful, but I know she’s going to try.”
Mary continues to add that the state has also seen a rise in other big supporters of affordable housing in the legislative assembly, and a good example to note is Member TIM Grayson from the concord area, who is doing a lot of organizational stuff to streamline the process trying to organize the financing structures in such a way that people don’t have to travel all over the state Government to put together their financing in both the development process and also in the management and administration of existing programs and projects.
That aside, and as we had previously mentioned, information and data drive decision making, and on that front, Mary notes the efforts and the hard work that Reggie Jones-Sawyer has put in trying to gather facts and figures to develop a database that looks into how many minority contractors, there are involved in the development of affordable housing.
“We recognize that equality in jobs is also an incredibly important part of not only the housing development business, but just in equality overall, and so we’re trying to come up with programs that will encourage folks, minority subcontractors to participate in these programs of. Providing incentives for them to participate, we’re trying to determine exactly how many minority contractors there are and then trying to develop programs that will lower those barriers and get more minorities
Involved in the development of affordable housing, it’s specific that’s what his bill is doing, but that that concept, I think, goes beyond affordable housing and all development commercial institutional what have you.”
On the program side, there’s been a recognition that minorities of all stripes, including women and the gay and lesbian community have not had a fair shot at accessing resources, and so there are priority programs now for emerging developers, as well as for minority contractors to access these programs get priority points for.
AS FINAL WORDS…
We must build more and also bring more people on board if the Fair Housing Act is to be enforced in its entirety. If you don’t have people to administrate and enforce the law, then what’s
the point of that law in the first place? And if you are not changing the hearts and minds of individuals who are in a position to discriminate or deny access to housing, then again, what’s the point of that law? We need more enforcement of fair housing laws, but we also need need housing so that you know the law can be enforced.
Unfortunately, when there’s a low supply of something, it brings out the worst in people, I mean, people have actually been killed.
Over consumer goods, they were trying to get something in a store during Christmas time. I think a lot of the problems that exist and will continue to exist in California, and other states are because of the supply issue.
“I believe in equality, and I believe that with equality comes freedom, and we need a community, a country that is open and free and equal, fair housing, affordable housing is a way to bring underserved communities up into a higher level of income and wealth, building a higher level of educational opportunity, higher access to health care; having a good stable home open and available to all isn’t is opening the door to equality and all other aspects of our life. What could be more important than having an opportunity to be your best self, to have your best family, to have the best jobs have the best house that counts? It’s everything! It’s everything!”
- Mary Ellen Shay.
INTRODUCTION
CAL-ALHFA (California Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies) was established in 1989 to represent local housing agencies and professionals in the California State Legislature and State housing programs. We also work on housing issues at the federal level. CAL-ALHFA is a non-profit organization with a broad-based membership including public and private agencies that develop, finance, and administer programs to create affordable housing in California. Our core membership is small and medium sized local agencies that have to follow state mandates, but often lack the personnel and financial resources to do so.
PURPOSE
From the beginning, the founders of CAL-ALHFA felt that local government agencies interested in affordable housing matters needed better representation at the state level because their concerns were often not addressed in the development of single family and multifamily housing programs and policies.
The purpose of CAL-ALHFA is to provide that representation, based on input from all our members, including our lenders, investors, developers, and consultants. It includes participation in the California State Legislature’s legislative process and participation in program and policy development in all the State’s affordable housing agencies.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
▪ Legislative Advocacy. Sponsoring, supporting (or opposing), and tracking housing legislation including fair housing; bond financing; state program development and administration; relocation; land use law, including planning and zoning; housing element law; and other legislation which affects affordable housing development.
Program Advocacy. Tracking program developments in CalHFA, HCD, the Tax Credit
Program, and the Debt Limit Allocation Program. Assisting in the development of program policies and procedures. ▪ Education. Sponsoring webinars, conferences, symposia, and workshops to provide information on new developments in the field of affordable housing.
▪ Newsletters and Legislative Alerts. Preparing and distributing regular newsletters and as-needed legislative alerts to inform members of current activities. ▪ Individual Member Services. Providing advocacy and advice on district or agency matters as requested. ▪ Professional Networking. Providing a forum for industry activists to share ideas, information, and expertise with their colleagues.
RECENT ACTIVITIES
Return to the Capitol – April 2022
For the first time since 2020, advocates can attend legislative hearings in person, and testify on bills of interest to the affordable housing community.
We can now meet our colleagues face-to-face on an impromptu basis. In other words, we now have a lobby in which we can do our work as lobbyists.
Middle Income Housing Webinar – November 2021
Bond Purchase of existing market rate multifamily housing and converting them to lower rent middle income (workforce) housing.
Presentations included:
Discussion of the pros and cons of this program Examples of successful conversions Potential legislation needed.*
*AB1850 – Ward. Establishes minimum standard for JPA acquisitions and is currently moving through the legislature. CAL-ALHFA is a supporter of this bill, which was at least partially written on the recommendations that came from this webinar.
Single Family Symposium – October 2021
Discussions included:
Increasing Minority Homeownership with a presentation by The Power Is Now Innovators in Down Payment Assistance Rural Broadband Expansion Closed Loop Pump Storage – Wildfire / PSPS Prevention
CAL-ALHFA Annual Meeting – October 2021
Keynote Speaker – Senator Scott Weiner
Discussions Included:
State Programs Update Legislative Update
UPCOMING
Density Bonus Webinar – May 18, 2022
Following a presentation by leading density bonus expert Jon Goetz, two cities, the City of Pasadena and the city of San Jose will describe how they developed their density bonus ordinances and how they administer them.
Cosponsored by The Power Is Now, the Symposium will cover all aspects of minority home ownership programs, updates on Fair Housing activities, and presentations by state, regional and local homeownership programs.
CAL-ALHFA’s Annual Meeting summarizes the major events of the year in Sacramento, and features key State legislators, Senior Staff from all major housing agencies, and a discussion of future legislative actions, presented by the Chief Consultants of the Senate and Assembly Housing Committees
