Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) | Metropolitan Transportation Commission Thursday, July 31, 2025 Update Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) is a regional housing finance agency working to create a Bay Area where there is enough safe and affordable housing for all residents. Credit LiPo Ching, Courtesy Midpen Housing Immediate Housing Benefits for the Region Currently, the Bay Area’s nine counties and 101 cities and towns address most housing issues individually, and often with limited staff and financial resources. BAHFA works to transform the way affordable housing is financed in the region and encourages collaboration across all cities and counties to solve the Bay Area’s affordable housing challenges together. BAHFA's current initiatives include: The Bay Area Eviction Study – the first study of its kind to look at the rates and characteristics of evictions across the Bay Area. Doorway , an online affordable housing search and application portal that serves the nine counties, to simplify the process of finding affordable homes in the Bay Area. rental assistance subsidy program in Napa to prevent extremely low-income seniors and people with disabilities from becoming homeless. One-time state grants for affordable housing preservation and production projects. Bay Area affordable housing pipeline to provide a comprehensive inventory of affordable housing projects in pre-development in the region. BAHFA helps administer the Priority Sites Program , which provides technical assistance to advance affordable housing development on sites nominated by local governments and affordable housing developers. BAHFA Programs BAHFA administers programs and projects focused on production, preservation and protections to help all Bay Area residents have a safe, stable and affordable place to call home. Learn more. Strategic Planning Update on April 13 BAHFA's new strategic plan prioritizes a narrower set of programs that leverage BAHFA’s regional scope to maximize impact while also charting a path to financial independence. Watch the webinar recording. Bay Area Eviction Study The Bay Area Eviction Study is the first of its kind to look at the rates and characteristics of evictions across the Bay Area. BAHFA staff and members of the research team held two overview webinars in July. Download the webinars and reports. The 3Ps Framework - Solutions for the Bay Area The 3Ps drive BAHFA’s strategy for creating systemic change in the way the Bay Area addresses its housing challenges. The framework includes: Production of new housing at all income levels, especially affordable housing Preservation of existing housing affordable to lower- and middle-income residents Protection for current residents to avoid eviction and displacement from their communities The goal of this framework is to make sure housing is available for all Bay Area residents, no matter their income. Read more about BAHFA’s 3Ps Framework Governance The BAHFA Board of Directors is composed of the same members as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Learn more about BAHFA’s governance structure and how to get involved. Staff Contact Daniel Saver, Deputy Executive Director for Housing & Energy Email: BAHFA@BayAreaMetro.gov Join the BAHFA Mailing List Subscribe to receive email updates highlighting BAHFA’s work BAHFA Advisory Committee Members Jamie Almanza, Executive Director, Bay Area Community Services Aissia Ashoori, Housing Manager, City of El Cerrito Efrén Carrillo, CEO, Gallaher Community Housing Consuelo Hernandez, Deputy County Executive, County of Santa Clara Nevada V. Merriman, Director of Policy, MidPen Housing Corporation Hugo Ramírez, Deputy Director of Community Development, City of Oakland Department of Housing and Community Development Leelee Thomas, Deputy Director, Housing & Grants Division, Community Development Agency, County of Marin Michelle Whitman, Executive Director, Sonoma County Community Development Commission BAHFA Resources The following resources provide some history and context for BAHFA’s programs and potential housing bond. History of BAHFA Elephant in the Region Momentum for Lasting Solutions History of the New York Funding Model Resources about Pilot Programs Doorway Pipeline Welfare Tax Exemption Preservation Term Sheet Eviction Study Reports and Webinars Eviction Study Launch Presentation Eviction Study Launch Webinar Video Housing Preservation Ecosystem Map BAHFA History BAHFA was established by California State Legislature AB 1487 (2019, Chiu) to support the production and preservation of affordable housing by placing new revenue options on the ballot. (Due to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made not to place a revenue measure on the November 2020 ballot.) Any new revenue source to be placed on the ballot would require voter approval by a two-thirds vote. Possible future options include: General obligation bond backed by property tax receipts (also known as a GO bond) Parcel tax Gross receipts tax Per-employee corporate “head tax” Commercial linkage fee (only authorized after voters approve a GO bond or parcel tax) BAHFA shares decision-making with the ABAG Executive Board related to raising revenues or expenditure of funds. Related Documents Bay Area Housing Finance Authority: Frequently Asked Questions 86.91 KB pdf Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) Business Plan 35.93 MB pdf About the Doorway Housing Portal 315.22 KB pdf Bay Area Affordable Housing Pipeline 2024 833.02 KB pdf Bay Area Metro Budget Book, Fiscal Year 2025-26 13.52 MB pdf Bay Area Housing Finance Authority Financial Statements For the Year Ended June 30, 2025 332.81 KB pdf Digital Library Related News March 12, 2026 BAHFA Partnership Preserves Affordable Housing in St. Helena March 10, 2026 BAHFA’s Doorway Housing Portal Receives CALCOG Eureka! Award March 9, 2026 El Cerrito Plaza BART Station affordable housing gets BAHFA assist January 8, 2026 BAHFA Partnership Keeps San Rafael Apartment Complex Affordable November 10, 2025 New Community of Practice Highlights Digital Housing Tools BAHFA Business Plan See how BAHFA plans to create bold, regional solutions to the Bay Area’s housing challenges. Learn about the BAHFA Business Plan. ABAG's Housing Resources The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) offers resources to planners and policymakers, including a comprehensive database of housing Technical Assistance programs. Visit the ABAG website. Technical Assistance Portal Local agency staff: See housing resources at the Technical Assistance Portal. Visit abag.ca.gov.