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By Kathy Chouteau
A new California law makes it easier for houses of worship to build affordable housing on their land, and a new collaboration is working to accelerate such developments in the East Bay.
AB 1851, authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, reduces parking requirements in order to allow affordable housing to be constructed by faith-based organizations. It became law Jan. 1.
Now a collaboration is underway that aims to accelerate housing development on East Bay properties owned by faith organizations as well as other nonprofits. This week, it was announced that Uche Uwahemu, senior district field representative for Wicks’ office, has joined the Board of Directors of New Way Homes (NWH) to help the nonprofit in its efforts to create a scalable model in East Bay neighborhoods.