Bay Area gears up for ‘Affordable Housing Week’ festivities
In a creative move that says housing issues are a priority, civic leaders around the Bay Area are declaring next week “Affordable Housing Week.”
For seven days (or more) this month, housing experts, activists and city leaders will gather in dozens of locations around the Bay Area to address the question on everyone’s mind: How do we help people afford to live here? Events include everything from panel discussions to social mixers — even a kickball game — all in the name of affordable housing.
Affordable Housing Week is an ongoing tradition, and last year’s Santa Clara County festivities drew nearly 1,000 people. It bears significant weight this year as the housing shortage continues to intensify — a recent California Housing Partnership study shows workers in core Bay Area counties would need to earn four or more times the minimum wage to afford an apartment here.
“Silicon Valley’s Affordable Housing Week is a chance to bring people together around the idea of regional collaboration on housing issues,” SV@Home Executive Director Leslye Corsiglia wrote in a news release.
Find an event near you:
Santa Clara County
Friday — “Link up 4 Housing” mixer: 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Willow Glen, San Jose
Saturday — First-time homebuyer fair: 10 a.m.noon in Milpitas
Monday — Ending homelessness in Santa Clara County roundtable: 2-4 p.m. in San Jose
Tuesday — “City Trivia Night: Housing Edition”: 6 p.m. in San Jose
Wednesday — “Affordable Housing Finance 101”: noon in Sunnyvale
May 17 — SB 827: “Where do we go from here?” panel discussion with state Sen. Scott Wiener: 2-3:30 p.m. in San Jose
May 18 — SV@Home policy forum and luncheon: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Sunnyvale
Go to siliconvalleyathome. org for additional information, to see more events or to register. Most events are free but request online registration.
San Mateo County
May 18 — Annual policy breakfast: 7:30 a.m. in Woodside
May 21 — Brisbane Baylands site tour: 10 a.m.-noon in Brisbane
May 22 — Sweeney Lane affordable apartments tour: 10 a.m. in Daly City
May 23 — Waverly Place supportive housing grand opening: noon in Redwood City
May 24 — Community forum on housing our nonprofit workforce: noon-2 p.m. in Redwood City
May 25 — “A Path Forward for More Subsidized Housing” discussion: 8-10:30 a.m. in San Mateo
Go to hlcsmc.org for additional information, to see more events or to register.
Alameda and Contra Costa counties
Today — “22nd Annual Affordable Housing Week Kick-Off Celebration”: 6-8:30 p.m. in Oakland
Sunday — Bike tour of cooperative community living options: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Berkeley
Monday — “Exuberant Advocacy: Voicing your Support for Housing for All”: 6:45-8:45 p.m. in Walnut Creek
Tuesday — Community benefits of housing affordability panel discussion: 10 a.m.-noon in Walnut Creek
Wednesday — Kottinger Gardens senior affordable housing community grand opening: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Pleasanton
May 17 — Tri-Valley affordable housing tour: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in Dublin
May 18 — “Women’s Leadership Build” with Habitat for Humanity: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in Fremont
May 19 — “Changing the Narrative of Home Ownership 2.0”: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Richmond
Go to ebho.org for additional information, to see more events or to contact event organizers.