The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County recently gained Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification. As a CDFI certificated community loan fund, Housing Trust joins the ranks of those financial institutions that specialize their products to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income communities, traditionally underserved by most financial institutions.

CDFI certification opens up opportunities for the Housing Trust to apply for new awards from the government that carry the CDFI requirement, further growing our potential to help more in our community in need the products and services that we offer.

Kevin Zwick of the Housing Trust was honored in this year's "40 Under 40" list in the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Other honorees included Caroline Barlerin of Hewlett Packard, Hilary Barroga of EHC LifeBuilders, Brian Brennan of Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and Anand Chandrasekara of Yahoo among others notable in their respective fields.

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Click on the title above to download the Housing Trust's ad in this year's Silicon Valley Business Journal's Giving Guide 2011-12

A big THANK YOU to the generousity of CityNational Bank's sponsorship for this opportunity to showcase our programs!

Click on link above to see the interview with Dan Lachman by VHOTV about our loan programs.

Press release on the newly formed California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Housing Recovery Task Force. Housing Trust Executive Director Kevin Zwick will be participating.

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Hope for low-income homebuyers

Pete Carey and Eve Mitchell (Page 1A, July 10) quote Seth O'Toole regarding the rebound in the local housing market saying that "most areas have corrected to affordable levels."

While it is true that area median prices have dropped since the highs of 2005-07, Santa Clara County homes are still, even at these lower prices, out of reach for lower income families. Yes, there are single family homes under $400,000, but investors are often first in line to snap them up with ready cash and attractive terms. First-time homebuyers with little in the way of a deposit, and much tighter loan regulations to navigate, are still having trouble closing on homes.

First-time homebuyers do have options. The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and the city of San Jose with our partners have been purchasing foreclosed properties in targeted neighborhoods in San Jose, renovating them, and will begin selling them exclusively to low and moderate income households. For more information, go to www.sjnsphomes.com or www.housingtrustscc.org.

Kevin Zwick
Executive Director Housing Trust of Santa Clara County

Except from Supervisor Ken Yeager's June 2, 2011 Newsletter.

"In addition to these “safety net” services, I want to make sure that the County continues to support our partnership with the Housing Trust. The Housing Trust provides first-time homebuyers assistance as well as facilitates the construction of affordable housing and shelters. They do this by leveraging public dollars with private donations.

The County was the co-creator of the organization and should remain a strong collaborator. The County’s investment in the Housing Trust can leverage millions of dollars toward vital programs. Furthermore, we can do so without affecting the rest of the budget. The County already has $2.5 million dollars allocated in an Affordable Housing Fund."

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San Jose Mercury News: Officials Tour Sunnyvale Senior Housing Project During Affordable Housing Week

UrbanLand: Apartments for Seniors Revitalize Downtown

News coverage from Rebuilding Together's Day of Service, Somos Mayfair talks about teaming with Wells Fargo and Housing Trust to repair homes in the Mayfair district of San Jose.

KCBS radio interview with Senator Steinberg and Kevin Zwick of the Housing Trust, during the 2011 Housing Trust Investor Briefing. Highlighting the need for affordable housing during this time of uncertain budgets.

Video coverage from April 8, 2011: Affordable Housing focus of Housing Trust's 2011 Investor Briefing. Keynote Speaker: Senator Darrell Steinberg and CA St. Insurance Comm. Dave Jones in attendence.

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Housing Trust Investment Project
New 120-unit senior housing complex, Fair Oaks Plaza in Sunnyvale will be opening in October 2011.  The eighteen (18) MHSA-designated 1- and 2-bedroom units are for seniors 62 years and older (by Sept. 1, 2011), who are severely mentally ill and homeless or at risk of homelessness. Please note the application deadline stated in the announcement: April 27, 2011. 

Application PDFs:English  / Chinese  / Vietnamese  / Tagalog  / Spanish

See applications for information about how to apply & definitions of eligibility.

Opinion: In redevelopment debate, affordable housing must be a priority
By Mark Walker and Kevin Zwick

(Click on title above for video link)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose is thinking about following the lead of more than a dozen cities across the state to protect redevelopment funds before Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget effectively does away with the nearly 400 redevelopment agencies around the state. City leaders held a special emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon to vote on a collaborative agreement between the Redevelopment Agency or RDA and the city in an effort to protect $58 million in projects already in development. Fremont approved a similar strategy on Monday night to commit $121 million to lock in various projects.

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Earlier this month, Dan Lachman, program manager of the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County, asked members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors to inform their clients that his organization can provide financial assistance to first-time homebuyers. 

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Wells Fargo Commits $1.5 million to Help Stabilize California’s Hardest Hit Communities
23 nonprofits receive grants to preserve homeownership

PDF Version

From October 2010 Issue:

"No Mean Feat" (click to download pdf)

"Rising Stars" (click to download pdf)

San Jose Consortium receives $25 Million for Neighborhood Stabilization. Photo of ceremonial check signing from August 30th press conference.

From KLIV 1590 news radio, click on title for PDF.

The federal funds will also be used to purchase and rehabilitate up to 105 bank-owned homes for eventual resale to low- and moderate-income buyers.
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - by David Goll
Click here for web link. and click on story title for pdf file.

Kevin Zwick, Executive Director of the Housing Trust talks with first NSP/PAL loan recipient, Jason Otwell, at his new home in Edenvale, San Jose, CA.

The Impact on Local Affordable Housing Issues by a Housing Trust Fund
From Jul 21, 2010
Kevin Zwick, Executive Director of the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County (HTSCC) discusses with host Joanne Greene how HTSCC has invested over $33 million and leveraged more than $1.7 billion to create more than 7,800 housing opportunities. HTSCC's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2), funded by a $25 million federal grant, is helping to stabilize neighborhoods affected by the foreclosure crisis and helping low to moderate income earners purchase a home.
 

Kevin Zwick interviewed by Damian Trujillo for KNTV/NBC Comunidad Del Valle, explains how the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County along with the City of San Jose and NHSSV applied for and received federal stimulus funds to help mitigate the foreclosure crisis in Santa Clara County.

From KCBS radio, Housing Trust Executive Director Kevin Zwick discusses new NSP2 program. (originally aired 4/5/2010) 

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Local media coverage from KGO/ABC 7, NBC Bay Area and KSTS Telemundo all covering recent federal stimulus money granted to the Housing Trust and City of San Jose to mitigate the damage from the housing foreclosure crisis. Programs include lending for downpayments in designated areas of San Jose by the Housing Trust (PAL loans), and direct purchase and rehab of houses in certain areas of San Jose by the City of San Jose. (Click on link above to see all three videos)

HUD Awards San Jose $25M in foreclosure aid funds

Affordable housing will be harder to get

Housing Trust Launches New ESCO Program

'Equity Share' loans up to $75K offered to Silicon Valley homebuyers

Statement from Congressman Honda Supporting the Work of the Housing Trust

Wells Fargo Provide $1M for Affordable Housing Group