Supporting developers of all scales to move their projects forward through advocacy and targeted technical assistance

Across California, much of the housing that gets built reflects the priorities of large institutional developers. Yet there is a wide landscape of capable, community focused firms whose ideas and projects rarely receive the same level of visibility, support, or access. Many of these developers are carrying real sites with real potential, but the pathway from vision to entitlement and financing can feel isolated and difficult to navigate without the right relationships or guidance.

The Developer Pathway Program was created in response to this gap. With generous support from the Sobrato Family Foundation, the Housing Action Coalition and Onyx Equity Partners designed this one year program to offer the structure, technical depth, and network support that help strong developers move their projects forward with clarity and confidence. It is a practical, high touch model that recognizes talent, invests in it, and brings more voices into the future of housing in California.

What you get over one year

• Project readiness review
  Structured feedback on a real project, including zoning and policy context, entitlement path, and potential points of opposition or support.

• Advocacy and endorsement support
  Guidance on whether your project is a fit for HAC endorsement and support preparing for public hearings and engagement with local decision-makers.

• Technical advisory and deal support
  Premier-level technical assistance to help refine your pro forma, sharpen your capital stack, and identify key risks and gaps that matter to lenders and partners.

• Tools, templates, and resources
  Checklists, sample materials, and practical tools that standardize how you present deals and communicate with public agencies, lenders, and capital partners.

• Connection into a pro-housing ecosystem
  Warm introductions into HAC’s statewide network across development, finance, architecture, law, labor, education, and community organizations, to help grow your long-term pipeline.

Is this program for you?

Applicants must meet all of the following:

1. You are a BIPOC or women lead/owned developer.

2. You are an early stage or scaling developer, defined as any of the following:

• You have fewer than 5 completed projects, OR

• You are part of a small or undercapitalized team building capacity, OR

• You have some experience but are expanding into larger or more complex development opportunities.

3. You have a real, active, or near-term housing project located in:

• One of the nine Bay Area counties, or

• Sacramento County

4. You are able to participate in a hybrid program that includes:

• Required in-person sessions

• Required virtual sessions

• Approximately 5 hours per month of engagement

5. You can submit the following project materials:

• Project narrative

• Preliminary pro forma or basic financial model

• Preliminary site analysis, which includes:

• Site photos

• Zoning summary

• Market comps

• Team bios

• Entity chart / ownership structure

How the program works

1. Apply with a real project
   Submit a short application describing your background and an active or near-term housing project in California.

2. Join as a HAC member
   Accepted participants enroll in the Developer Pathway Program and become HAC members. Membership connects you to HAC’s advocacy, programming, and statewide coalition.

3. Participate in structured project review
   Your project goes through a dedicated review track for scaling developers. You receive concrete feedback, next-step recommendations, and, where appropriate, support for HAC endorsement and public advocacy.

4. Engage in a year of support and tools
   Over the year, select participants will access technical advisory through partnership with Onyx Equity Partners, office hours, and resources to:

• Refine project assumptions and financials

• Prepare for key meetings and hearings

• Communicate effectively with agencies, lenders, and partners