5 California Organizations Working To Create And Protect Affordable Housing

With booming industries and a growing population, California faces unique challenges, and it's easy for people to fall through the cracks. When the system doesn't protect tenants and lower-income residents, these nonprofits step in to provide necessary services, ensuring citizens aren't taken advantage of and offering affordable solutions to the housing crisis. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

5 Groups Leading The Fight For Affordable Housing In California

Organization Headquarters Mission
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco San Francisco Building and improving homes in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties
Community HousingWorks San Diego Develops and operates apartment communities throughout the state
Housing Rights Committee of SF San Francisco Counsels, organizes, and fights on behalf of tenants against unfair practices
Tenants Together San Francisco Defending the right of all Californians to safe and affordable housing
South of Market Community Action Network San Francisco Fighting displacement in the SOMA community

The Global Reach Of Habitat For Humanity

American Cities With The Highest Rent

Rank City State Median Rent For 1-Bedroom Apartment In 2019
1 San Francisco CA $3,500
2 New York NY $2,750
3 San Jose CA $2,490
4 Boston MA $2,450
5 Los Angeles CA $2,420
6 Oakland CA $2,350
7 Washington, DC N/A $2,100
8 San Diego CA $1,950
9 Seattle WA $1,900
10 Miami FL $1,800

The Impact Of Community HousingWorks

In Depth

Shelter is a fundamental need, but, for many people, it is not guaranteed. Efforts are needed to build low-cost homes, provide tenant counseling, and advocate for improved legislation. In no particular order, here are five organizations working to ensure everyone has the opportunity to fair housing.

In the #1 spot is Habitat For Humanity Greater San Francisco. For almost thirty years, it has been building houses and creating homeownership opportunities. Its values focus on providing stability, equity, and partnerships for families who have traditionally not had access to affordable residences. By offering homes, making critical repairs, and revitalizing parks, it is working to ensure families are enjoying immediate and long-term benefits from their communities.

Working families making between forty to eighty percent of the area's median income are eligible for these services. In addition to building houses for families, the organization's home repair program assists individuals on limited incomes, including installing new windows and replacing stairs. If you are interested in helping Habitat For Humanity Greater San Francisco, you can donate money or building materials. There are also numerous volunteer opportunities, at building sites, parks, and the donation center.

There are also numerous volunteer opportunities, at building sites, parks, and the donation center.

Next, at #2, is Community HousingWorks. This nonprofit organization has been developing multi-family units and renovating single-family houses for thirty years. It provides people with stable homes in healthy communities, ensuring a safe place to live for thousands of residents. It also recognizes the importance that housing plays in other areas of people's lives, and offers resident programs at onsite Community Centers.

It has received many national, state, and local awards for its developments and methods. By linking safe and affordable housing with essential services, it helps families forge stronger futures. Anyone interested in volunteering can participate in the after-school program or at a monthly family night event. Other ways to help include hosting a book drive, donating school supplies, or distributing flyers.

#3 on the list is Housing Rights Committee Of San Francisco, a grassroots organization that's been advocating for tenant rights since 1979. It offers free counseling to residents dealing with many types of issues, including evictions, illegal rent increases, repair problems, and security deposit returns. Through protests, demonstrations, workshops, and community meetings, it supports fair housing-related laws.

It offers free counseling to residents dealing with many types of issues, including evictions, illegal rent increases, repair problems, and security deposit returns.

It educates people about their rights and helps all types of renters, including Section 8 and public housing tenants. The organization relies heavily on volunteers to act as tenants rights counselors, and anyone able to assist in this capacity is encouraged to do so. However, there are other ways to get involved. You can volunteer to work in one of their offices, join a workshop, or participate in a demonstration.

Coming in at #4 is Tenants Together, a coalition dedicated to ensuring people have the right to safe, decent, and affordable housing. It works to improve the lives of California's tenants through statewide advocacy to support and strengthen renters' rights movements. Working from the belief that housing is a human right, it brings together multiple unions, building associations, and allied groups with the common goal of ending inequality among vulnerable communities.

This organization focuses on key issue areas that fall under the category of tenant protections, in order to address housing injustice. If you would like to help locally, you can volunteer as a hotline counselor. However, you can help this cause regardless of where you live. Those located elsewhere can assist remotely with fundraising or translation services, or by forming an action group in your own neighborhood.

However, you can help this cause regardless of where you live.

#5 is Somcan, an organization that was formed to address gentrification and displacement issues in San Francisco. In order to promote the long-term well-being of the community, it actively participates in local policy-making decisions. This action builds up the collective power of working-class and immigrant youth and families, ensuring at-risk populations can thrive.

Its tenant counseling program provides basic rights information and referrals to critical resources, like legal assistance. Somcan is working to increase the availability of affordable family housing. It also provides multiple programs to foster strong relationships within neighborhoods. To get involved, you can volunteer to facilitate community discussions, speak at legislative hearings, or perform outreach activities.