WHAT WE DO
A thriving ministry depends on stability. We ensure that ministry leaders can live and work in competitive housing markets. We help them afford long-term housing solutions
THE NEED
Renters vs. Owners
Take a look around your church. Does the number of homeowners on staff mirror the number of homeowners in the pews? How do you think a lack of homeownership affects ministry recruitment and retention?
Ministry Staff Needs
Ministry professionals are essential to worship, preschool, food distribution, afterschool, foster care, and dozens of other ministries. We need ministry staff. They need us to support affordable housing solutions.
Out Of Range
Typical Home Prices
Redwood City: $2,058,879
San Francisco: $1,576,808
San Jose: $1,437,021
San Rafael: $1,542,844
Santa Cruz: $1,472,844
(9/1/2022, Zillow)
Required Capital
Aslan seeks capital to support pastoral housing solutions at scale. We seek funds for equity shares (co-investments) alongside churches and pastors. We want to purchase more homes to rent at below-market rates. This takes significant dollars from investors and donors.
OUR APPROACH
Aslan Housing Foundation does three things: coach pastors, disciple stakeholders, and create housing solutions.
Coaching
Our goal is to understand how housing affects ministry staff, both personally and at work. We’ve found coaching to be particularly encouraging for emerging leaders. They are often left to fend for themselves in the housing market and they long to see a way to remain in ministry here. Our approach, expertise, and ideas are a balm for their anxieties. It is a calling, for sure, to serve in the expensive Bay Area. And yet, let’s not forget that God is at work in other, less expensive states—Idaho, anyone? People in ministry are fleeing our region to serve elsewhere. So, what do we discuss? Staff housing goals and timelines. How to take full advantage of the tax breaks uniquely offered to pastors. How credentials below ordination offer access to housing allowances. How to get federal student loan forgiveness for working at a nonprofit. All of it under air-tight NDAs. We’ve earned the trust of staff who know we don’t share anything with stakeholders, colleagues, or supervisors. We have a committed team of advisors that help navigate real estate, personal budgeting, and lending issues facing pastors. Coaching ensures Aslan is co-creating housing solutions that meet the price, location, and size metrics important to staff. Aslan offers free 1:1 housing coaching to all PCC ministry staff. We also consult with other churches and ministries to provide the same coaching services.
Discipling
We present at congregational, senior staff, and lay leadership team meetings to explain the need. We publish newsletters, blogs, and social posts with housing facts and the scriptural foundations of our work. It is surprising how many faithful people are unaware of how middle and junior employees are riven with anxiety about housing—not to mention, stressed out lead pastors and executive directors that are themselves housing insecure. We conduct surveys to show the delta between staff and stakeholder income levels and housing security. Many congregants are shocked when they realize that ministry staff are often considered Low or Very Low Income by HUD benchmarks.
Solving
This is the hard part. Hope is not a strategy. To create and design affordable housing solutions we work with ministry staff, investors, donors, lenders, real estate agents, and property owners. Aslan is committed to long-term, equity-based solutions. This is expensive for Aslan. But the value is long-term stability and growth for the staff and the ministry. Cash rental assistance has an occasional role in stabilizing the home situation for staff. However, funds spent on that exit the ministry ecosystem and cannot be recouped—so it’s never our first choice. Below market rate (BMR) rentals are a better step on the pathway to homeownership. Aslan owns homes it rents at BMR and works with other owners willing to do the same. Aslan manages properties for these owners at a cost-effective rate that makes this feasible. Check out our Marketplace to post available BMR housing or request it. Most of all, Aslan prefers to come alongside staff wishing to buy a home and through a series of scaffolded steps move them along the continuum from renting to homeownership. We call this The Path To The Promised Land—scroll on down!
Want to Help?
Your support will help us serve more staff and more ministries. Everyone in our community has a role to play!
Donate
Securely Via Bloomerang
Monthly Gift
Are you a Set-It-And-Forget-It kind of person? Could you give a small monthly amount? No amount is too small—mustard seed all the way!
Retire the King House Debt
Help us retire debt on property we own. Liquidity events and larger donations don’t just help us acquire!
Path to the Promised Land
We think the housing crisis is the greatest strategic threat to ministry in the Bay Area. Look, if homeownership is the Promised Land of stability and building a future, then renting in the market is Egypt! Aslan helps staff cross over instead of letting them wander around in the housing wilderness alone.
Your generosity is of practical help and profound engagement. Instead of insecurity and fear for the future, staff can plan for a future here. You will provide safe, simple homes they can afford to rent and get them on a path to save for the next step on the Road to the Promised Land— homeownership.
Aslan’s vision is a Bay Area with thriving ministries powered by thriving staff.
You can fulfill the law of Christ by bearing the burdens of staff. You can build the Kingdom because there is less churn and chaos at the church. You!
Imagine, the impact! Because of you singles and couples that are emerging leaders feel they can stay. Ministries can recruit and retain staff. Senior leaders own homes and can focus on the exceedingly difficult work of ministry.
Other Ways to Give
Real Estate
Do you have a home you could include in an estate plan?
Don’t laugh, the Woodsworth and Jefferson homes were charitable gifts from PCCers.
As a public charity, Aslan offers the highest tax-deductibility available to donors.
Aslan Scriptural Guideposts
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3:20
- Key Concept: God’s capacity and imagination exceed ours
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
1 Timothy 5:17-18
- Key Concept: We are called to honor ministry professionals through provision.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
- Key Concept: Obedience to Christ requires us to support one another.
Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14
- Key Concept: It is a command of God that ministry professionals receive their living from their church community.
Aslan partners with churches and other ministries to develop long-term pastoral housing solutions.
Aslan is an independent tax-exempt supporting organization of Peninsula Covenant Church. PCC is in our DNA!
Yet, we are not content to hide our light under a bushel. From inception, we’ve desired to help others tackle the pastoral housing crisis. It’s inefficient for every ministry to attempt this on its own—a stewardship problem. It’s unfair if only those serving wealthy congregations get help—a justice issue.
Partner with us to co-create housing solutions that are affordable and life-changing. Make an impact now.
Join Us!
WHO WE ARE
Aslan supports the creation of long-term pastoral housing solutions.
OUR HISTORY
Over its 70 years, PCC grew from a small Swedish-American congregation on Farm Hill to a thriving multicultural, multigenerational hub of activity. Its broad mission serves schools, vulnerable children, immigrants, unhoused adults, and a host of other ministries. As PCC grew in size and scope its staff housing needs did too—right alongside the astronomical increase in housing costs.
High rents and home prices affect recruitment and retention of staff at PCC and elsewhere. After years of watching the problem grow, a group of lay leaders came to recognize that PCC lacked the bandwidth and expertise to solve the problem. Aslan was born. Incorporated and declared tax-exempt in 2018, Aslan Housing Foundation coaches ministry staff, disciples stakeholders, and creates affordable ministry housing solutions.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The housing crisis is the greatest strategic threat to ministry in the Bay Area.
All of God’s people have a role to play in co-creating housing solutions.
We do nothing about the people we serve without the people we serve.
We seek to be transparent, benevolent, efficient, determined, and wise.
HOW IT WORKS
Aslan Housing Foundation does three things:
coach pastors, disciple stakeholders, and create housing solutions.
How We Do It
How do you know what ministry staff need?
We ask! A core value of Aslan: Do nothing about staff without staff. Aslan offers free 1:1 housing coaching to all staff of PCC’s Center, Church, Preschool, and School Aged Child Care. Our goal is to understand how housing affects them personally and at work. This coaching helps staff ground their housing goals and strategies, and take full benefit of the tax breaks uniquely offered to pastors. We have a committed team of advisors that help navigate real estate, personal budgeting, and lending issues facing pastors. Coaching ensures Aslan is co-creating housing solutions that meet the price, location, and size metrics important to staff. Aslan also consults with other churches and ministries to provide the same coaching services.
Aren’t prices too high for you to make an impact?
Great question! Yes, wow, prices are high. Aslan is committed to long-term, equity-based solutions. This is expensive for Aslan. But the value is long-term stability and growth for the staff and the ministry.
Cash rental assistance has an occasional role in stabilizing the home situation for staff. However, funds spent on that exit the ministry ecosystem and cannot be recouped—so it’s never our first choice.
Below market rate (BMR) rentals are a better step on the pathway to homeownership. Aslan owns homes it rents at BMR and works with other owners willing to do the same. Aslan manages properties for these owners at a cost-effective rate that makes this feasible.
Most of all, Aslan prefers to come alongside staff wishing to buy a home and through a series of scaffolded steps move them along the continuum from renting to homeownership. Bonus: whenever Aslan is on title for a pastor’s home the house is exempted from property tax.
This all sounds exciting—and complicated. Does Aslan have the expertise to make this work?
Aslan is run by a seasoned group of executives with deep experience in real estate, development, law, philanthropy, insurance, planning, and finance. We have a team of advisors that provide strategic and tactical assistance.
Who We Help
How do you select which staff person gets your help?
Aslan doesn’t make this call. At PCC, the lay-led Housing Committee decides who gets what form of housing assistance. We think this is the best way to lean into our role as a supporting organization of PCC. There is a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria that inform the Housing Committee decision-making process.
We recommend a similar approach to the other ministries we advise.
How can I apply for housing assistance from Aslan?
All full-time staff at PCC’s Center, Church, Preschool, and School Aged Child Care are eligible to receive housing coaching from Aslan. They are also encouraged to respond to the PCC Housing Committee when it announces available housing. For more information, contact your PCC supervisor. Even if you don’t get assistance at first, keeping the Housing Committee aware of your needs is important as staff transitions and available resources happen throughout the year.
If you are in ministry at another church or para-church organization—or lead one—Aslan is happy to take your call or email. We’ll set up an initial (free) consultation and from there decide how we can support you and the entity.
Is this the same thing as pastoral housing? What if I’m not a pastor?
Aslan is committed to helping all full-time employees that advance the mission of PCC regardless of the ministry of which they are a part. Historically, PCC just focused on housing for pastors. However, PCC has come to see itself as a mission with a church (rather than a church with a mission). Therefore, all staff are important to the mission. This is an approach we wholeheartedly support and recommend for other churches.
You might also have heard that there are tax issues associated with housing for pastors—technically, ‘ministers for tax purposes’. Correct! Aslan works with staff to optimize housing assistance for tax purposes. When qualified, these include exemption from property taxes and housing allowances. The benefits are huge!
How can Aslan help my church?
Aslan advises other churches! We work with lay leadership teams and staff to support the creation of affordable housing solutions. After an initial free consultation, we will jointly decide what kind of support is needed.
Sometimes, it’s a quick call with one pastor. Easy. Other times, it’s a full engagement with a board or finance team. Our consulting fees are very reasonable—we’re a ministry, too! The alternative is to wing it alone or pay market rates for subject matter professionals. The go-it-alone strategy either succumbs to inertia or a lack of stakeholder buy-in. The idea never gets past the thought stage. We get it—Sunday comes every Sunday. Running a church is relentless work. The full-freight market approach costs way too much. Why do that?
Regardless, you’ll want an equitable, strategic, transparent, sustainable housing program so you can manage expectations, meet needs, and attract capital. What’s our PLAYBOOK? We recommend the following steps:
- Consult with church lay and staff leaders about the goals, priorities, values, and limits of the new housing program (what you are doing and why)
- Establish a written housing policy to guide the program (clarity)
- Create written criteria to award housing support to staff (who gets what)
- Disciple stakeholders and advocate for support of the program (get buy-in, raise funds)
- Create the document stack, marketing collateral, and processes to support the acquisition, rental, and/or management of affordable housing for staff (awareness, deal flow, benchmarks)
- Retain and coordinate with subject-matter professionals to support the program or a specific project or deal (tax, legal, real estate, investment, insurance)
Overwhelmed? We were when we started, too. Save time and money, let Aslan help. We’re mission-aligned and laser-focused on ministry housing.
IMPACT
Ministry teams thrive at work and at home because their housing needs are met.
Stakeholders grow as disciples.
Ministries can recruit and retain talent.
Stories