Introduction and Key Issues
The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) is the first national advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the housing, community and economic development needs of diverse and growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
National CAPACD was founded in 1999 by established community development practitioners to be a powerful voice for the unique community development needs of AAPI communities and to strengthen the capacity of community based organizations to create neighborhoods of hope and opportunities.
We support local leadership in communities by:
- Coordinating a training and technical assistance program for local organizations serving low-income AAPI neighborhoods
- Mobilizing AAPI-serving community organizations to prioritize and advocate on community development issues
- Advocating for the needs of low-income AAPIs in national housing, community and economic development policy.
National CAPACD’s member-based network includes more than 100 community-based organizations and individuals, including community development corporations, preservation agencies, community-based social service providers, advocacy agencies, as well as national intermediaries and financial institutions. Our members are in 17 states, implementing innovative affordable housing, community development and community organizing strategies to improve the well-being of low-income AAPIs.
National CAPACD works cohesively to address our core issues through our four program areas:
- Capacity-Building: increasing access to raining, technical assistance and other resources for organizations serving low-income AAPI neighborhoods
- Community Convenings: bringing our members together to learn, network, share resources and mobilize on community development issues
- Advocacy, Policy and Research: telling our stories through research and policy to increase the influence of AAPI communities in obtaining equitable resources
- Leadership Development: building a pipeline of AAPI leaders and change agents working in housing, community and economic development.
The four broad issue areas that ground National CAPACD’s programmatic and policy efforts are:
Access to Housing
Low-income AAPIs face a lack of quality, affordable housing in our communities and a significant homeownership gap. Homeownership rates of AAPIs continue to lag behind the national average of 66.2 percent. In addition, the presence of large families with low incomes mean that many AAPI households face difficulties in finding housing that is both large enough and affordable.
Data Policy
Low income AAPI communities are underserved by federal and other national housing, community and economic development programs because data about our diverse communities is not funded, not collected, not disaggregated by ethnic group or not included in the analysis. Despite significant housing, community and economic development needs in AAPI communities, many Americans, including government agencies and funders, mistakenly believe that all AAPIs are well-educated and well-off in comparison with other people of color, and hence need little support.
Economic Justice
Income inequalities are increasing in the U.S., creating even greater challenges for low-income AAPIs, immigrants and those who are limited English proficient. AAPIs are among those who have the highest income and those who are the lowest wage earners. Although the median AAPI income is higher than the national median, incomes for some specific ethnic groups are substantially lower than the national median. AAPI poverty rates are also higher than the national median, with poverty especially high among specific ethnic groups.
Community Preservation and Revitalization
Neighborhoods that were historically Asian enclaves are disappearing and are threatened by major commercial developments and gentrification. At the same time, there are burgeoning Asian American and Pacific Islander business districts that appear to be thriving. Many AAPI-serving community based organizations and arts are cultural organizations are still not connected to many of the programs and initiatives that support sustainable small business growth and invest capital into low-income and minority communities.
To learn more about National CAPACD and our programs, please visit our website at http://www.nationalcapacd.org or email info [AT] nationalcapacd.org.
