Abundant Housing LA: Fee-Based Certification Course

In Los Angeles, only one new house is added per 5.55 jobs, further fueling the housing crisis. Abundant Housing LA (AHLA) is dedicated to making Los Angeles County a more affordable, diverse, and vibrant region where everyone can afford a place to live. When a board member suggested a revenue generation program to further their efforts, AHLA began researching how to create a model that would be true to their brand while maintaining independence from the development industry.

With a grant from Progressive Multiplier, AHLA developed and piloted the fee-based Housing Certification & Leadership Program, a 12-part training series for those looking to enter or continue a public policy, housing development, land use, or architecture career. 

AHLA certified 38 students in the pilot year and raised $17,000 from individual coursework sales. By selling sponsorship packages and recordings of the classes, they grew revenue to $44,200. In the coming years, they anticipate these numbers will skyrocket with more consistent and strategic marketing and promotion of the courses. 

While the revenue generated by the project makes it a huge win, there were also some unexpected benefits. The classes created a new pipeline for people wanting to further their advocacy and policy work.  

Abundant Housing LA is dedicated to making Los Angeles County a more affordable, diverse, and vibrant region where everyone can afford a place to live. They view land use and zoning as tools to increase racial and economic equity, growth, sustainability, and quality of life.