In less than two weeks, ballots hit mailboxes across the state — and amid a national election dominating the airwaves, one critical state measure risks getting lost in the noise.
This November, California voters will decide the fate of Proposition 1, a measure that speaks directly to values our traditions hold in common: care for the vulnerable, hospitality to the stranger, and the belief that every person deserves a place to call home.
Proposition 1 invests $11.25 billion — with zero new taxes — to build and preserve affordable housing across our state. It fast-tracks more than 40,000 shovel-ready homes for families one crisis away from homelessness, expands homeownership for teachers, nurses, and firefighters, and dedicates $1.25 billion to veterans’ housing through the CalVet Home Loan Program. Every dollar comes with strict accountability and public reporting.
The need is urgent. Only 22% of California households can afford a median-priced home, and more than half of renters spend over 30% of their income on rent. Across our traditions — Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, and beyond — the call to shelter the vulnerable and build a more just world is central to who we are. This is a moral issue as much as a policy one.
Our congregations look to us to help them see the moral dimensions of the choices before them, not to tell them how to vote. I am asking you to use whatever platform is available to you — a sermon mention, a bulletin insert, a newsletter note, or a conversation with your leadership — to help your community understand this measure before Election Day. A few concrete ways to do this:
● Share the facts about Prop 1 in a sermon, newsletter, or announcement.
● Frame housing as a matter of faith and justice, not partisanship or politics
● Print the Prop 1 FAQ in the link and make it available for your community.
Housing justice is one of the most important issues in Northern California, and this November offers a concrete opportunity to act on that conviction.
Thank you for considering this request and for the work you do in your communities. Please reach out to Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon, revgpn@gmail.com if additional resources would be helpful. Here is a link to print out the FAQ:
Faith Director, Housing Leadership Council
Co-Director, Peninsula Solidarity Cohort
