Dwellings City of San José Housing Department

A general plan represents the official policy regarding where new development may occur and serves as a blueprint to achieve the City’s social, economic, and environmental goals. Envision San Jose 2040 was created in 2007 and centers on 12 Major Strategies that reflect the community’s expressed desire to see San José grow. Today we're covering this comprehensive plan and digging in to see what it takes to receive the Award of Excellence for the extensive community engagement process and its contributions to long-range planning.

Renting Has its Rights is a campaign to educate the public on the ordinances that cover over 20,000 people in San José. Rachel and Vanessa give us a rundown of the campaign and some frequently asked questions the Rent Stabilization Team has answers to. Rachel will talk to us about what to expect in our push to educate tenants and landlords about our 4 biggest ordinances and the amazing team behind the scenes. At the end, we have frequently asked questions section related to the San Jose Housing Ordinances. This is a widespread effort from the Housing Department to educate and inform the public through billboards, bus ads, social media, and our website. Our website is a great place to start if you want to learn more about Renting Has Its Rights, sanjoseca.gov/rentalrights.

The Housing Department’s Rent Stabilization Program oversees the City's rental housing ordinances as well as numerous eviction prevention programs. These programs help tenants and landlords involved in potential eviction cases navigate the process and connect them with resources that may help the parties avoid evictions. Nobody wins when tenants are unable to remain housed. Tune in to find out what the City is doing to reduce the number of evictions and increase housing stability for the betterment of our entire community.

Today we look at a community-wide campaign headed by the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing with the goal of ending Family Homelessness by 2025. Heading Home is based on four key strategies that help families stabilize their lives and avoid or exit homelessness. We learn the meaning of “functional zero” and how this campaign moves our community toward that elusive goal. It's no small feat, but with help from partners like Destination: Home, the City of San José, and many non-profit organizations, families won't have to face the daunting risk of homelessness alone.

When an emergency strikes, the San José Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides leadership and coordinates the City’s response. But what about your response? How can you prepare for an emergency like an earthquake or fire? OEM provides materials and training to help residents like you prepare for the next emergency. Today, we learn about those resources and the steps you can take right now to protect your family and your property from the unexpected.

In this episode, we take a look at the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), a pioneering regional authority addressing the persistent housing challenges in the Bay Area. Kate and Daniel elaborate on BAHFA's origin, its role in the CASA Compact, the three P’s, and its unique status as a regional finance agency created by state legislation in 2019. They highlight BAHFA's capacity to raise revenue for affordable housing throughout the Bay Area, emphasizing collaboration with local jurisdictions. The discussion delves into the intricate relationship between BAHFA, MTC, and ABAG, showcasing their united effort to address the housing crisis and create meaningful solutions, including here, in San José.