Welcome to the Housing for All podcast, where we explore innovative housing solutions with key stakeholders in the Tri-Valley region. 

In this, our fourth and final episode, host Tim Sbranti, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group, discusses a range of topics with Linda Mandolini, CEO of Eden Housing, including the critical need for more affordable housing in our state, the complexities of its development, and legislative efforts and funding mechanisms essential for the industry. 

As the November 2024 ballot approaches, there are two important housing initiatives on the ballot - ACA 1 and the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA). ACA 1 is as a critical measure that could significantly impact affordable housing initiatives in California. This proposed constitutional amendment aims to lower the voter approval threshold for local special taxes and bonds from two-thirds to 55%, facilitating the funding of essential housing and public infrastructure projects.The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), would support regional affordable housing efforts, and would greatly benefit from ACA 1. If the BAHFA bonds pass, they would enable more efficient and widespread development of housing solutions to address the region's chronic housing shortages. Passing BAHFA would generate between $10 and $20 billion to build new affordable homes and preserve existing housing across the Bay Area’s nine counties.

Learn more about BAHFA
Learn more about ACA 1

GUEST BIO:
Linda Mandolini, Eden Housing

Linda Mandolini has served as President of Eden Housing since 2001. In her role at Eden, Linda oversees affordable housing production, resident support services, and property management components of the organization, and a staff of more than 500 employees. She is guided in her work by Eden’s active volunteer board of directors.

Under her leadership, Eden Housing has become one of the most productive and successful nonprofit affordable housing developers and owners in California and is nationally recognized for its work. To date, Eden has developed or acquired more than 11,000 affordable rental apartments in communities throughout California, completed three portfolio mergers and acquisitions, and has launched a number of initiatives to increase affordable housing preservation and to promote sustainable practices.

Linda has received a number of awards, including being inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017, and being named to the San Francisco Business Times’ Forever Influential Honor Roll in 2016.

Linda is a leader in housing policy on the local, state and national level. She was one of the affordable housing leaders who worked tirelessly for the passage of California Housing bonds that collectively generated $10 billion for housing. 

Prior to relocating to California in 1996, Linda held various community development positions in Boston. Linda received her AB degree from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and earned an MBA at Boston University.