HomeMy WebLinkAboutApplications_Peoples' Self-Help Housing Corp (1)Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
2022-2023 GRANT FUNDING FOR HIGH IMPACT DE&I PROJECTS
Pl e ase provi de al l re que ste d i nformati on be f ore submi tti ng your appl i cati on. Please be as spe cific as possible !
I f accommoda on or assistance is n eed ed in co mple ng this A pplica on, or if a paper ve rsion is prefe rre d, ple ase
contact (805) 781-7100 or D EI@slocity.org
Organization Name :*
Y e ar Establishe d:*
Fiscal Age nt, if diffe re nt than abov e :*
Tax ID #:*
Docume nt Ce rtifying Fe de ral Tax-Exe mpt status, if applicable
Name of Exe cutiv e Dire ctor (or highe st le ade rship position)
Approximate Annual Budge t:
M ajor Source s of Funding:
M ission State me nt:
Numbe r of paid staff (full- or part-time ):
Numbe r of v olunte e rs:
Name of Board Pre side nt or Chair:
Organizational Le ade rship Chart *
Name of Pe rson comple ting this Application:
PART 1: APPLICANT INFORMATION
Peoples' Self-Help Housing Corp.
1970
N/A
952750154
PSHH 501c3 Tax Exemption Letter 12.21.pdf 90.48KB
Forrest Eastham
12,304,834
Earned income, grant funding
We build affordable homes with site-based services that offer opportunities to change lives and strengthen
communities on the Central Coast of California.
204
50
Shelly Higginbotham
PSHH Board and Exec leadership.pdf 74.62KB
Forrest Eastham
Organization M ailing Addre ss:*
Phone :*
E-mail:*
Brie fly de scribe your organization’s mission, primary activ itie s, and ope rating structure s.
De scribe the community(ie s) your organization supports.
Name of DE&I Proje ct *
Est. numbe r of pe ople se rv e d through this proje ct:*
City
San Luis Obispo
State / Province / Region
California
Postal / Zip Code
93401
Country
United States
Street Address
1060 Kendall Road
Address Line 2
8055482345
forreste@pshhc.org
The mission of People’s Self-Help Housing is to build affordable homes with site-based services that offer
opportunities to change lives and strengthen communities on the Central Coast of California.
Founded in 1970, PSHH’s organizational heritage is rooted in the Civil Rights Movement and Fair Housing
Act. Housing is generally understood to be human right, a social determinant of health, and a driver of
intergenerational wealth-building and economic stability. Our longstanding commitment to the underserved
in our community has worked to counter racially-driven policies like redlining, blockbusting, and
discriminatory lending, which have perpetuated wealth, education, and health access disparities for people
of color and ethnic minorities. Over the past 52 years of service to our community, our mission has evolved
from paving paths to homeownership for low-income families to provision of onsite supportive health and
education services at the 53 affordable rental properties we have developed and maintain. These adaptive
and culturally-relevant services are provided free of charge, barrier, or enrollment restriction to those we
serve, creating equitable access to healthcare and economic opportunity for all. PSHH is also intentional in
selecting mission-aligned community partners with whom to build coalitions to connect residents to
resources that keep them stably housed and protect against eviction, which is twice as likely among
households of color.
Please be specif ic in the population and geographic area.
Serving over 5,600 residents throughout San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, our
residents are primarily people of color, seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, and those transitioning
out of homelessness. The communities we serve are largely rural, low-income, and under-resourced.
These same municipalities suffer among the lowest rates of healthcare access and highest rates of
physician shortages in the state, widening racial disparities in healthcare. Additionally, the City and County
of San Luis Obispo consistently rank among the highest cost of living regions, and the least-affordable
housing markets, in the nation. These combined factors pose a dire threat to the community’s diversity,
which already ranks among the lowest in the state. This specific project would directly serve an estimated
386 residents of the City of San Luis Obispo, comprising 311 residents of PSHH’s affordable rental
housing – 94% of whom belong to underrepresented ethnic and racial groups –and 75 PSHH staff
members – 40% of whom belong to underrepresented ethnic and racial groups and other protected
classes. Impacts are anticipated to extend outward to PSHH’s entire resident population of 5,600 and
employee population of 204 through implementation of inclusive practices in provision of onsite education
and clinical social services.
PART 2: PROJECT INFORMATION
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in SLO affordable housing and nonprofit employment
5800
Est. numbe r of SLO CITY RESIDENTS se rv e d through this proje ct *
Total Proje ct Cost:*
AM OUNT OF CITY FUNDING REQUESTED:*
De scribe your propose d proje ct or program.
386
95,000
50,000
Specify w hat the requested f unds w ill be used f or, the need for this project, the number of people impacted. Include a project plan, if available.
In alignment with our mission, PSHH is seeking funding in support of its internal IDEA Commission, a staff-
led effort to advance initiatives surrounding inclusion, diversity, equity, and access within our organization
and affecting our residents and staff alike. The IDEA Commission provides learning opportunities, mindful
dialogue, and meaningful evaluation of our existing systems and practices to enhance equity at PSHH.
Since establishing the IDEA Commission in 2019, PSHH has facilitated opportunities for peer-led
education, instituting process changes within departments, and doubling non-white and female
representation among organizational leadership.
Effecting lasting change requires mindful engagement from all stakeholders. PSHH actively works to
involve its leadership, board, and key stakeholders to commit to addressing persisting effects of inequity
among staff and those we serve. Led by PSHH’s Chief Real Estate Development Officer, Veronica Garcia,
and with the full support of PSHH’s executive leadership team and board, the IDEA Commission has been
actively working toward internal equity efforts since 2019 through opportunities for staff education and
engagement. As PSHH employs a high percentage of staff from underrepresented backgrounds or
protected classes which have historically faced discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity, long-term
goals include increasing self-determination and participation in department-level decision-making,
restructuring the top-down approach to a consultative model where client-facing staff have increased
agency over program development and implementation. These workshops have already sparked
innovation and change at departmental levels, resulting in a 17% increase in promotion of non-white staff
and increased IDEA Commission membership from 8 to 21 members since FY19-20. They have also
spurred the decision to invest in long-term REDI initiatives through the creation of a dedicated Diversity,
Inclusivity, and Equity (DEI) Advisor staff position (1FTE), which will provide strategic leadership in guiding
internal diversity efforts. These changes have provided the necessary knowledgebase to initiate the
project’s second phase.
In June 2022, PSHH completed Phase 1 of the REDI Mindfulness program, which established common
language and built staff proficiencies around REDI concepts, and culminated in administering the Equity
Challenges and Opportunities organizational climate assessment. Data was collected via an anonymous
online survey administered by PSHH’s HR Department, with participation reaching over 80% of PSHH’s
workforce of 204 employees. Evaluation of survey results, currently in progress, will be based on rates of
employee engagement, satisfaction with current REDI efforts, collaborative attitudes, and sense of
belonging. Early in the grant term, the first project output will be for PSHH’s leadership, IDEA Commission
and HR Department to evaluate and report on findings from PSHH’s baseline organizational climate
assessment. Assessment data will form the framework for the EDI Mindfulness Communication workshop
series.
Project funding would support initializing the second phase of PSHH’s REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity, and
Inclusion) professional development training series in the ongoing effort to address systemic inequities at
all levels of the organization. PSHH respectfully requests $50,000 in funding to offset the project’s total
estimated costs of $95,000 for staffing expenses, consultant fees, and professional development trainings
in mindful communication through a racial equity lens. Trainings will facilitate thoughtful dialogue
surrounding issues of racial disparity, and will identify opportunities to enhance experiences of equity
affecting our staff and residents, most of whom are from underrepresented ethnic and racial groups.
Findings will inform examination of internal processes, systems, and procedures for opportunities to
implement meaningful change that promotes a culture of inclusion for all. By taking this intentional
approach to embodying our mission inwardly and outwardly, our REDI efforts are already galvanizing
change at all levels and will ultimately improve quality of life among historically disenfranchised voices
within our organization and the communities we serve.
The nonprofit sector is not unique in encountering racial disparities within organizational structures. In a
De scribe the community the proje ct will support.
De scribe the e quity gaps and community ne e ds this proje ct will addre ss.
The nonprofit sector is not unique in encountering racial disparities within organizational structures. In a
recent report by the Ventura County Nonprofit Leadership Council, BIPOC nonprofit employees are least
likely to report feeling valued or a sense of belonging in their organization, negatively affecting mission-
alignment and staff retention rates among this demographic. Studies show that decreased diversity of
staffing within an organization also decreases diversity of thought, slowing the pace of innovation and
enrichment of client-facing programs. Additionally, the report found that the median salaries of white
employees in the nonprofit sector are between $5,000 and $20,000 higher than those of their BIPOC
peers, impacting quality of life for underrepresented staff. In our capacity as the Central Coast’s longest-
serving nonprofit affordable housing developer, PSHH is committed to leading the charge to reverse
systemic inequity by championing our most valuable asset, the people of People’s.
This next critical step will guide PSHH leadership in implementing REDI principles at every level of the
organization. The Phase 2 workshop will facilitate opportunities for all PSHH staff to come together to
share, listen and learn from each other’s experiences as they pertain to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, and ability status. Discussions will generate opportunities for organizational and IDEA
Commission leadership to examine existing organizational systems and identify opportunities to incorporate
REDI best practices at all levels, ultimately affecting individual wellbeing, fulfillment, sense of value, and
mission alignment among staff from marginalized backgrounds. As studies show that employees who feel a
sense of belonging are more passionate, effective advocates for their organization, these efforts will
ultimately extend to the communities we serve, building capacity to not only reach more residents, but to
do so meaningfully, intentionally, and effectively. In the nonprofit sector, these intangible factors are
essential. Cultural relevance and representation are vital to cultivating trust, which expedites clients’
willingness to accept services and raises standards of care.
Through this crucial series of dialogues and education modules, PSHH is taking a decentralized approach
to examining how racial inequities and implicit bias present within current organizational structures to effect
meaningful, lasting change. The impact of the City’s support would mean developing and implementing
REDI-informed best practices which protect our staff and the residents we serve against disparity, allowing
PSHH to more fully realize organizational integrity and improve quality of life for historically marginalized
members of our community.
Specify the population, location of services provided, and any other identif iers your proposed project w ill support.
Services will be provided via People’s Self-Help Housing’s corporate office located at 1060 Kendall Rd. in
San Luis Obispo, CA. Trainings and education modules will be provided virtually or with a multi-access
option, allowing for greater participation across PSHH’s three administrative offices and 54 property sites.
The population served will be the 61 residents of PSHH’s affordable rental housing within the City, as well
as an additional 250 estimated residents of two new properties opening in the coming year, and PSHH’s 75
staff who work within the City of San Luis Obispo. Among those served who are members of PSHH’s IDEA
Commission, 40% are non-white, 21% are also Latine, , and 64% are female or nonbinary. Among PSHH
housing residents served by the project, 90% are considered low- to extremely low-income, and 94% are
from underrepresented ethnic and racial demographics, including 80% who are Latine.
In the table below briefly list 2-3 methods of evaluation and indicators of success or
measurable outcomes.
M e thods of Ev aluation Indicators of Succe ss / M e asurable Outcome s
In the chart below, identify any partnerships/collaborations that are supporting this
project, and their roles.
Name of Partne r Activ ity/Se rv ice The y Prov ide for This Proje ct
Prov ide the time line for this propose d proje ct.
Currently, staff serving on PSHH’s IDEA Commission are dividing time among IDEA-dedicated projects and
regularly assigned job duties, with staff devoting an average 10-15% of regular working hours per week to
organizational DEI efforts. The resulting reduction in dedicated staff time for regularly assigned duties has
increased strain on Commission members, 40% of whom are themselves members of underrepresented
racial and ethnic groups. Funding would allow PSHH to deploy best practices to make its DEI efforts more
equitable for project staff by recruiting a full-time dedicated DEI position, adding 2,000 hours of direct
project support and creating bandwidth for Commission members as they continue to directly support
resident-facing initiatives and organizational operations, ultimately enhancing internal organizational
efficiency.
The project will also address equity gaps facing the residents served by PSHH staff through our ongoing
series of peer-led education modules and trainings provided by our contract facilitator. Learnings will
inform development and implementation of organizational best practices in serving our diverse resident
population effectively and mindfully, catalyzing transformation at the structural level. Residents will benefit
from enhanced cultural relevance and improved accessibility in service delivery, ultimately addressing
equity gaps in long-term physical and mental health disproportionately faced by minorities. Increased
foundational knowledge of challenges disproportionately faced by underrepresented groups will also
inform our clinical social workers, educators, and other resident-facing staff in assessing needs and
assisting clients more effectively. As the workplace is itself a social determinant of health, practices
implemented may also enhance equitable access to resources and education, and improve cultural
relevance surrounding employee health and wellness benefits for underrepresented staff.
The City of San Luis Obispo is a home for many large nonprofits, with creating a need for the
dissemination of best practices in equity processes for nonprofit employers. While this project will address
needs faced by low-income housing residents and employees currently working at PSHH, it will also
establish additional pathways for developing equity within a large nonprofit workplace. PSHH employees
serve on boards of directors, as independent consultants, as volunteers, and as part time employees at
other area nonprofits, and PSHH itself often provides speakers, thought leadership, and consultation with
other area nonprofits. Funding for this project will, through our networks and stakeholder engagement,
advance best practices in equity endeavors that are specific to San Luis Obispo.
Example : # of BIPOC serving on public boards, committees
BIPOC and women serving in leadership positions
Example: 10% increase by end of 2021
10% increase in BIPOC and women in
supervisory/leadership positions
Example : # of BIPOC serving on public boards, committees
Sharing of best practices developed
Example: 10% increase by end of 2021
Sharing of best practices with at least 5 other
nonprofits during the grant period
Example: ABC Business
IDE Mindfulness
Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes
Designing and providing DEA development
sessions
De scribe your plan for sustainability be yond the City’s one -ye ar award funding, if applicable .
Using the table below, please provide a broadly-itemized budget for your project,
including the source of any matching funds.
Ite m De scription *Total Cost *Amount Prov ide d by
City Funds *
Amount of Othe r
Funds and Source of
Funding *
1
2
3
*During application review , you may be asked for f urther f inancial information or f or proof of any matching f unds
De scribe the plan for promoting this proje ct within the City of San Luis Obispo.
The project for which we are seeking funding would begin in September 2022 with a two-hour synchronous
virtual workshop with EDI Mindfulness Communication provided by PSHH’s contract facilitator and
consultant, Nathan Baptiste, with whom PSHH has been working since 2020. PSHH has already completed
six all-staff, two-hour workshops which have initiated essential discussions and resulted in collecting
baseline feedback from staff surrounding equity challenges and opportunities facing the organization, with
additional workshops to prepare executive staff and departmental directors as programming initiated. The
format of the workshops is highly participatory, encouraging honest, reflective dialogue in a supportive
environment to build mutual understanding and illuminate opportunities for addressing inequities within
organizational structures. The workshop will foster a culture of respect and psychological safety necessary
to normalize the practice of sharing personal experiences and naming bias. Course content will develop
staff proficiencies in listening to understand and will cultivate self-awareness of unconscious bias in
communication patterns, laying the necessary foundation for discussions around culture change.
In Winter 2022 following the workshop, the facilitator will provide consultation and debriefing with PSHH
executive and IDEA Commission leadership to provide REDI-informed recommendations for next actions
based on workshop outcomes and findings from staff input. Phase 2 workshop learnings will inform
development in early Spring 2023 of a rubric which will guide PSHH’s HR department and IDEA
Commission in review and design of internal processes from a racial equity perspective. PSHH’s HR
department will capture baseline metrics on – and set goals related to – recruitment, retention, promotion,
and attrition of staff of color and from protected classes. Additional program outcomes may include PSHH’s
HR department conducting an internal audit of staff salaries through a REDI lens to identify potential
disparities within position class. Long-term project goals may also include enhancing recruitment,
retention, and promotion rates among staff of color and from protected classes, while also decreasing
rates of attrition and improving pay equity among the same groups. Following program implementation,
PSHH will conduct a follow-up organizational climate assessment to gauge efficacy of strategies
implemented. Client-facing outcomes may include PSHH staff administering resident surveys to solicit
feedback on how IDEA initiatives have improved equity issues affecting members of our affordable housing
communities. PSHH will provide timely detailed reporting on program outcomes per City guidelines and
requirements, followed by a final report in late Spring 2023.
PSHH is well-positioned to sustain the project, planned initiatives and funding beyond the one-year grant
term, and has budgeted for ongoing advancement of its internal diversity, equity and inclusion goals in its
5-year organizational Strategic Plan. PSHH continually seeks mission-aligned funding from local private
foundations, banks, corporate sponsors, and federal sources such as NeighborWorks America to further
these efforts. As our residents and staff are our most valuable asset, we prioritize partnerships which build
our capacity to improve the experience of equity among those we serve and those who serve them.
PART 3: PROJECT COST / BUDGET
IDEA Advisor, salary, taxes,
benefits, 1 FTE
90,000.00$0.00$50,000.00$
IDEA Committee members
(other PSHH employees)
5,000.00$0.00$5,000.00$
Contractor, DEA development
sessions
40,000.00$0.00$40,000.00$
PART 4: AWARENESS AND VISIBILITY
How will you highlight the City's support of your proje ct?
By signi ng thi s applicaon, I ce rfy that the i nformaon containe d w i thin is true and corre ct to the be st of my
know l e dge . I agre e to comply w i th the re quire me nts of the Ci ty of the San Lui s Obispo.
Name of Pe rson comple ting this Application:*
Signature *
Title :*
Date :*
Learnings will foster enhanced inclusive practices and cultural relevance in delivery of PSHH’s on-site
clinical case management, health services, and education programming. Additional community outreach
may be conducted via participation in City speaking engagements such as Good Morning SLO or at public
events to report outward on organizational and resident outcomes. Outreach would promote increased
awareness surrounding the benefits of DEI engagement at the individual, organizational, and community
level, particularly its impacts on individual health and economic resiliency. Other opportunities for visibility
may include leveraging PSHH’s strong relationship with local news outlets and elected representatives to
promote the partnership’s efforts and further advocacy of racial equity initiatives within our sphere of
influence, ultimately attracting more diversity to the region and enhancing retention and quality of life for
underrepresented City residents.
PSHH maintains a wide reach and readership nationwide across its social media platforms, with an
audience of nearly 3,000 on Facebook and a subscribership of over 8,600 to our multiple eNewsletters.
PSHH also cultivates strong partnerships with local news media outlets, with press releases regularly
distributed to news agencies extending from Monterey to Ventura counties. If funded, the partnership
would be advertised across multiple of the aforementioned channels, as well as on our website and
published in our FY2022-23 Annual Impact Report. PSHH also sends press releases to regional media in
response to awarded grants.
PART 5: CERTIFICATION
Forrest Eastham
Grants Manager
8/31/2022
Department of the TreasuryInternal Revenue >ScrvlccCINCINNATI OH <'t5999-0038In reply refer to; 0256<432597Dec. 22, 2021 LTR 'U68C 095-275015'i 000000 0000008958BODC; TEPEOPLES SELF-HELP HOUSINGCORPORATION1060 KENDALL RDSN LUIS OBISP CA 93401038765Employer ID number:Form 990 required;95-275015''*YESDear Taxpayer:We're responding to your request dated Dec. 15, 2021, about yourtax-exempt status.We issued you a determination letter in July 1971, recognizingyou as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code CIRC) Section 501(c)(03) .We also show you're not a private foundation as defined under IRCSection 509(a) because you're described in IRC Sections 509(a)(l) and170(b)(1)(A)(vi).Donors can deduct contributions they make to you as provided in IRCSection 170. You're also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests,legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts under IRC Sections 2055, 2106,and 2522.In the heading of this letter, we indicated whether youannual information return. If you're required to filemust file one of the following by the 15th day of thethe end of your annual accounting period;must file ana return, you5th month afterForm 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income TaxForm 990EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From IncomeTaxForm 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-ExomptOrganizations Not Required to File Form 990 or Form 990-EZForm 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or Section ft9^7 (a) (1)Trust Treated as Private FoundationAccording to IRC Section 6033(j), if you don't file ainformation return or notice for 3 consecutive years,required annualwe'll revokeyour tax-exemptnotice.status on the due date of the 3rd required return orYou can get IRS forms or publications you need from our website atwww.irs.gov/forms-pubs or by calling 800-TAX-FDRM (800-829-3676).If you have questions, call 877-829-5500 between 8 a.m. and 5 p .in . ,
0256432397Dec. 22, 2021 LTR <U68C 095-275015't 000000 0000008959PEOPLES SELF-HELP HOUSINGCORPORATION1060 KENDALL RDSN LUIS OBISP CA 93<^0llocal time, Monday through Friday (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacifictime).Thank you for your cooperation.Sincerely yours,1^(4 ^y^Steve M. Brown, Operations ManagerOperations 3-CIN
Board Members
With Years of Service and Associations
Shelly Higginbotham
Chair
5 years
Former Mayor, City of Pismo Beach
Ventura
Vito Gioiello
Vice Chair
6 years
First Republic Bank
Santa Barbara
Yesenia Beas
CAUSE, LoyalTeach
2 years
Arroyo Grande
Kevin Clerici
2 years
Downtown Ventura Partners
Ventura
Hazel Davalos
2 years
CAUSE
Santa Maria
Dieter E. Eckert, M.D.
35 years
Retired, Physician – Radiology
San Luis Obispo
Paula Johnson
3 years
Retired, Bookkeeper, Family Service Agency
Santa Barbara
Jose Flores
10 years
Owner, Flores & Sons Construction
Company Lompoc
Sonia Kroth
2 years
County of Ventura Human Services Agency
Ventura
Julissa Peña
2 years
County Immigrant Legal Defense Center
Goleta
Karol Schulkin, MSW
10 years
Retired, Program Coordinator Human
Services Agency
County of Ventura
Nick Tompkins
4 years
NKT Commercial
San Luis Obispo
Executive Leadership
Kenneth Trigueiro
President & Chief Executive Officer
Anna Miller
Chief Operations Officer
Griffin Moore
Chief Financial Officer
Veronica Garcia
Chief Real Estate Development Officer