The City of Sacramento’s Housing Policy Manager Danielle Foster has been named “Affordable Housing Champion of the Year” by the Sacramento Housing Alliance, a local housing nonprofit association.
Foster received the award at a ceremony on Oct. 15 in downtown Sacramento.
“This award recognizes an individual who has successfully used their voice to advocate or make policy change to advance more equitable, affordable housing solutions that positively impact the greater California Capital region,” said SHA Executive Director Kendra Lewis. “Danielle has demonstrated the commitment to, and accomplishments in, advancing affordable housing goals.”
Working in the City’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, Foster was hired in 2019 as the City of Sacramento’s first Housing Policy Manager.
“I am honored to collaboratively serve my community in furthering the goals of housing and affordable housing production,” Foster said. “I am humbled by this recognition and feel fortunate for the work I get to do within our great city. My colleagues and I are working hard to ensure a safe and affordable home for all members of the community.”
As housing policy manager, Foster has worked to streamline the housing development process to increase housing stock and further create affordable housing initiatives.
Foster is actively pursuing new models for the City to develop affordable and workforce housing as well as housing anti-displacement and homeless prevention programming.
As part of these efforts, Foster has been working on partnerships and collaborations in the development of transitional and permanent housing, including both state Homekey-funded and public-private investment projects.
Foster is currently on a team that is working on the implementation of City Council-adopted plans to respond to homelessness and housing needs and is leading the City’s housing anti-displacement efforts in the Stockton Boulevard Specific Plan.
The Sacramento Housing Alliance on Oct. 15 also named the recently opened permanent supportive housing Vista Nueva — championed by Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby — the Affordable Housing Development of the year.