The Placer County Board of Supervisors has approved a funds management agreement with Housing Tahoe, a regional nonprofit focused on housing issues in eastern Placer County. The agreement will provide up to $500,000 over three phases to help increase local housing capacity and address workforce housing needs in the Tahoe region.
This partnership follows recommendations from the Placer County 2021–2029 Housing Element, which called for private housing trusts that can combine resources from public, private, and nonprofit partners. The board previously recognized the importance of such trusts in 2019, leading to the creation of Housing Trust Placer and efforts to develop affordable housing in unincorporated areas.
In November, county staff were directed by the board to pursue an east county partnership with Housing Tahoe. The latest approval secures funding for establishing this new trust.
“The creation of Housing Tahoe represents a collaborative and strategic approach to increasing local capacity for developing and preserving housing that serves the workforce of the Tahoe region,” said Erin Casey, CEO of Tahoe Housing Hub. “We’re excited to get the county’s support as we kick-start our efforts to create more affordable housing for our community.”
Housing Tahoe is currently working toward obtaining federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and will operate alongside the Tahoe Housing Hub, a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advocacy around workforce housing. While waiting for IRS approval, The Martis Fund will serve as fiscal sponsor so that Housing Tahoe can receive tax-deductible donations.
The $500,000 allocation will fund operational activities such as legal setup, staffing, insurance needs, and finalizing nonprofit status. It also supports property evaluation processes for land or housing acquisitions, outreach campaigns targeting property owners in eastern Placer for potential donations, and development of frameworks for public-private partnerships involving employers and investors.
Distribution of funds will occur in three performance-based phases. Each phase requires meeting specific milestones like executing agreements, gaining county approval on evaluation criteria, submitting expenditure reports, and showing progress in securing additional external funding at a two-to-one ratio.
This effort is part of broader initiatives aimed at finding solutions for North Lake Tahoe communities and local workers. Additional information about Placer County’s housing initiatives can be found at https://www.placer.ca.gov/housing.
Information about the Tahoe Housing Hub is available at https://tahoehousinghub.org/.
