CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
P R O C L A M A T I O N
Declaring May 2022 as Affordable Housing Month
WHEREAS, East Bay Housing Organizations has organized Affordable Housing Week , now Affordable Housing Month, for 26 years, acknowledging the need for and benefits of affordable housing because the housing crisis and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic can only be resolved when the entire region takes action to expand affordable housing and stability; and
WHEREAS, rising housing costs have led longtime residents to be displaced, live in overcrowded and substandard homes, or become homeless, threatening our region’s diversity and economic prosperity, and by creating new and permanently affordable homes and preserving and improving existing ho mes, we are making stable and vibrant communities, helping residents maintain community roots, and fostering racial and economic diversity for generations; and
WHEREAS, quality affordable housing is vital to healthy, safe, vibrant, and diverse communities, a fact highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic , and access to affordable homes is necessary to preserve individual and public health, such as sheltering-in-place and self-isolation; and
WHEREAS, affordable homes are the solution to homelessness: they provide support to seniors, families, youth, veterans, people recovering from illness, and people with disab ilities; they provide better access to opportunities and amenities for low-income communities; and those close to public transit and a resident’s workplace help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, local jurisdictions , non-profit organizations, c ommunity organizations, faith -based groups, and several others play an important role in solving these issues by raising local resources for affordable housing to leverage federal, state , and other funds and continue building inclusive communities that support low-income people and those with special needs.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Richmond City Council do es hereby declare May 2022 as Affordable Housing Month in the City of Richmond and encourage s community members to visit https://ebho.org/ to learn how we can make affordable homes for all a reality.
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Mayor Tom Butt
City of Richmond, California
May 3, 2022