The Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH) held its 37th Annual Conference on September 11, 2025, drawing hundreds of developers, advocates, policymakers, and funders to the Pasadena Convention Center. The conference, the flagship event for nonprofit housing leaders across the region, followed an evening awards reception and served as a forum for exploring solutions to one of the most urgent issues in Southern California: the ongoing housing affordability crisis.
This year’s gathering featured a full day of programming under the theme “Visionaries in Action,” underscoring the organization’s mission to blend practical solutions with bold ideas for the future. Attendees participated in workshops covering affordable housing finance, development equity, and policy innovation, while also engaging in extensive networking sessions aimed at linking emerging project sponsors with veteran leaders in the field. The structure of the event emphasized collaboration, ensuring that community-based organizations could connect directly with decision-makers and funding agencies.
One highlight of the day was the keynote session, which brought together thought leaders and practitioners to discuss the role of nonprofit housing developers in addressing California’s escalating housing shortage. Speakers pointed to the mounting pressure on local governments to streamline approvals, increase access to public funding, and accelerate the pace of development, especially for low- and moderate-income residents who continue to face rising rents and shrinking availability of affordable units.
The conference also introduced a hands-on component through office hours hosted by the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. Developers were able to meet directly with agency representatives to review upcoming funding opportunities and eligibility requirements under new Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs). This direct access to program guidance aimed to reduce barriers that often slow down affordable housing projects and to ensure that nonprofit developers have the tools they need to secure financing in a timely manner.
SCANPH’s president highlighted the importance of the annual gathering, noting that Southern California’s housing demand continues to grow at a pace that far outstrips supply. With thousands of residents struggling to find stable housing, particularly in Los Angeles County, the conference serves as both a rallying point and a problem-solving forum. “We need policy and public funding to move as quickly as the needs of our communities,” the president said, emphasizing that collaboration among nonprofits, public agencies, and private funders is essential to meeting the region’s housing goals.
Beyond workshops and keynotes, the conference provided a platform to showcase innovation in nonprofit housing development. Topics ranged from new financing mechanisms and community land trusts to the integration of sustainability and climate resilience into affordable housing projects. Equity remained a recurring theme, with panelists stressing the importance of ensuring that marginalized communities are not left behind in housing development efforts.
The timing of the conference reflects a critical moment for the region. With California state leaders continuing to push aggressive housing production targets, and Los Angeles County facing mounting pressure to deliver on its promises for both affordable housing and supportive housing for unhoused residents, nonprofit developers are increasingly recognized as key partners in achieving those goals. Events like the SCANPH conference provide an essential space to align strategies, share best practices, and advocate for the policies and resources needed to make meaningful progress.
For many attendees, the value of the conference lay as much in its community-building as in its policy discussions. Bringing together diverse stakeholders under one roof fostered a sense of collective mission, reinforcing the idea that solving Southern California’s housing crisis requires not just technical expertise but also strong, sustained partnerships.
As the conference concluded, participants left with both practical tools for advancing their projects and renewed energy for the larger fight to expand housing affordability. With the challenges ahead significant, the gathering served as a reminder that nonprofit housing advocates remain at the forefront of shaping solutions, pushing innovation, and ensuring that housing remains a right, not a privilege, in Southern California.
