Supporting Community Partners in the Time of COVID

As the pandemic continues, community organizations are facing more challenges than ever. In Southern California, Enterprise is committed to helping our partners weather this crisis through financial support, the latest tools, recommendations and research, plus up-to-date analysis on how federal, state and local legislation supports the affordable housing sector and its residents.

EARPS Grants totaling $750,000 awarded

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continues to hold a powerful grip on vulnerable communities across Southern California in painful and devastating ways. Our nonprofit affordable housing partners are sharing that the pandemic is having a significant disruption on economic conditions for the people and communities they serve, and that they are responding quickly to increase or adapt their services to meet their food security, cash assistance, health and wellness service needs.

Nonprofit housing providers are also reporting increased stresses on their operations, such as increased costs to protect residents, clients and staff, decreased rental income, disruptions in cash flow, project delays and slower construction and payment schedules.

Born out of these challenges, Enterprise committed our own resources and locally we have partnered with Ballmer Group, CIT Bank, City National Bank, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Wells Fargo to offer Emergency Action for Resident & Partner Sustainability program (EARPS), a national initiative with a local programmatic version to provide critical community partners with:

Grants to help organizations stay afloat and meet their residents' and communities' most pressing needs
Guidance, tools, planning strategies and technical assistance to help organizations remain viable
Capital and systems change support to in seeking critical government relief funds and other interventions

The seven local grantees are led by people of color, serving communities of color: A Community of Friends, Clifford Beers Housing, Coalition for Responsible Community Development, East Los Angeles Community Corporation, Little Tokyo Service Center, SRO Housing Corporation, and Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge and Services. Nationally, Enterprise expects to provide nearly $11 million in funds to stabilize organizations in the time of Covid. Please contact Natalie Donlin-Zappella with questions or Danielle Serrano to contribute. Anchor

Complete our new COVID-Impact Survey!

As part of our ongoing COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts, we are asking all nonprofit housing providers with properties in Los Angeles County to complete this 12 question survey to better track and convey the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and recession on affordable and supportive housing owners and operators.

Data collected from this survey will be used in an aggregate, anonymized form by Enterprise, SCANPH and our partners to continue advocating for policies and resources that help stabilize, sustain and support affordable housing residents, providers and properties. We plan to periodically collect and reassess key data points with some frequency throughout the year.

Please complete this online survey—one response per organization—by Wednesday, February 3. Given the content, an asset management director and/or executive director is likely best suited to complete this survey. Please contact Natalie Donlin-Zappella with questions or comments.

LA County Creates $14 Million Acquisition-Rehab Fund

On Nov. 10, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to expand the Pilot Community Land Trust Partnership Program by allocating $14 million for the purchase of unsubsidized properties suitable for affordable housing. This pilot program is intended to protect renters at risk of eviction and homelessness due to the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This pilot program will help preserve critical housing resources and prevent families from being forced out of their homes and communities during the pandemic. The motion directs community land trusts (CLTs) and their community development corporation (CDC) partners to acquire multifamily properties currently for sale on the market, rehabilitate them into more healthy, vibrant homes, and steward them as permanently affordable housing.

Anchor This investment will help preserve at least five multifamily properties and around 60 housing units, providing dozens of households with a more stable, affordable place to call home. Under the CLT model, residents will be engaged in decision-making processes and will eventually have the opportunity to become owners of their homes. Drawing on our expertise in housing preservation and finance, Enterprise worked with our nonprofit partners and LA County staff for months to develop this innovative, collaborative pilot program. We will continue to provide technical support and guidance to our CLT, CDC and public agency partners throughout the implementation of the Partnership Program in 2021.

Supporting Resilience & Upward Mobility

Enterprise is pleased to partner with TRUST South LA, Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) and Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (LANLT) to help build community-driven strategies for economic recovery from Covid-19 in South LA. This $50,000 grant expands on their neighborhood development efforts with the Climate Commons Collaborative and SLATE-Z to support Covid-19 impact research and engagement with South LA tenants, workers, homeowners, and small businesses. The partners will develop policy solutions that will change systems to advance racial equity, promote wealth-building and community ownership, and increase development and employment opportunities for green space and affordable housing.

ICYMI: New Covid Tools and Resources

Anchor Enterprise is developing tools and providing organizational capacity building to support the long-term viability and sustainability of affordable housing community development corporations as they, and their communities, recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19. Here is a recap of some of our most recent tools, and stay tuned for more resources coming in 2021! Click here to stay informed on our most recent advocacy updates.