Housing Ready Communities
The Housing Ready Communities initiative builds support for the development of affordable housing, impactful policy reform and other proven solutions to prevent and end homelessness. We welcome individuals, community groups, nonprofits, housing developers, and members of government to join us in taking action when it counts. There is a role for everyone. Sign up and get involved today!
Activated
Neighbors
Housing Developments Supported
Approval
Rate
Housing Ends Homelessness
Roughly 10,000 of our neighbors are currently experiencing homelessness, and systemic factors continue to drive this crisis. The solution to homelessness is simple–a home–but our community has failed to produce enough and sometimes stands in the way of new opportunities. This is where Housing Ready Communities come in.
Together, we advocate for key policy changes, and new deeply affordable housing developments, including more extremely low income (ELI) and supportive housing. The most dramatic shortage of housing in our community is at the deepest affordability levels, and there is a clear link between this shortage and homelessness. Supportive housing (affordable housing incorporating on-site services) ends homelessness and is proven to successfully maintain housing stability for our most vulnerable neighbors, while building more deeply affordable housing is key to preventing more at-risk residents from falling into homelessness.
Mountain View
Mountain View
Cupertino
San Jose
San Jose
Gilroy
Gilroy
San Jose
Housing Ready Communities in Action
The Housing Ready Communities Action Network speaks up in support of policy reform and housing across Santa Clara County. We answer our neighbors’ questions, write to our elected representatives, and comment at public meetings to make sure new policies and housing are approved and funded.
There is no required level of experience or commitment, just a shared vision that we all have a role to play in advancing proven solutions to prevent and end homelessness.
Our Organizing Is Working
The Housing Ready Communities initiative has organized thousands of Santa Clara County neighbors, and a growing coalition of organizational partners regularly supports Action Network advocacy and learning opportunities.
Together we have:
Rallied to support 45 new supportive and extremely low income housing developments, resulting in a 98% approval rate. Villas on the Park and Renascent Place are two beautiful examples, now safely housing 250+ neighbors.
Advocated for the Measure E transfer tax, passed by San Jose voters in 2020. This new real estate transfer tax (only on property worth $2 million or more) is bringing more than $50 million every year to fund new housing and programs proven to end and prevent homelessness.
Educated our community on causes and solutions to homelessness. Housing Ready Communities workshop participants demonstrate a 44% increase in understanding of homelessness and supportive housing, and a 7% increase in support for new supportive housing in the participant’s neighborhood.
See the Progress
Since 2015, our supportive housing system has made significant progress in developing new affordable housing throughout Santa Clara County, including passing the Measure A affordable housing bond in 2016. This work to coalesce a broader group of partners has been transformative. As a result of this collective effort, more than a dozen new developments have already opened, providing a safe and affordable home to more than 2,000 low-income residents. And all together, this partnership has catalyzed 64 housing developments representing more than 7,000 affordable homes —with many more in the pipeline.
Take the Next Step
HRC Action Alerts
Action Alert: Speak Out Against Cuts to Affordable Housing Funding
On Tuesday, the City Council will vote on a proposed budget that includes significant cuts to affordable housing funding –…
Action Alert: Speak Out to Preserve State Funding for Affordable Housing & Homelessness Initiatives
WHAT Last Week, the California Assembly & Senate released a budget package that restores funding for key programs that were…
Action Alert: Oppose Drastic Cuts to Affordable Housing Funding in San Jose
The City of San Jose is once again proposing DEEP cuts to affordable housing funding – and we need your help to…
Action Alert: Your Support Needed for Affordable Housing in San Jose
Tuesday (3/26), the San Jose City Council will vote on funding for two great new affordable housing developments at 525…
Action Alert: Say “YES!” to the County’s efforts to create new affordable housing
Show your support for a new round of Measure A developments This Tuesday (12/5), the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive…
Action Alert: Help Keep Affordable Housing Moving in San Jose
Thanks to advocates like you, we’re seeing the conversation around the San Jose budget beginning to shift! And next week, the…
