Housing & Homelessness

HOUSING

More housing and more affordable housing in all Berkeley neighborhoods

The city we live in today is much different than when much of our housing stock was built and our zoning laws and development codes were written. There are more of us. We are more diverse. Our values have evolved and continue to evolve. These are all good things – and they create challenges that we are called upon to address. To address Berkeley’s housing crisis, our approach to housing must also evolve.

  • Remove obstacles to, and incentivize the construction of, missing middle housing (e.g., duplexes, fourplexes, ADUs) to help increase housing, prevent displacement, maintain our supply of family-friendly housing, add smaller units (which promotes diversity across neighborhoods), and help correct historically exclusionary zoning practices. Nowhere is that needed more than in Berkeley, the birthplace of exclusionary zoning.

  • Thoughtfully and appropriately revise exclusionary rules around land use, including density and height limitations that prevent additional residents from moving into the neighborhood. Adena supports denser buildings in transit corridors and middle housing (ADUs and multiplexes) in residential neighborhoods. She supports projects like those over the North Berkeley and Ashby BART stations, the upzoning in Southside, and the apartments throughout our downtown – not only do renters benefit from the increased housing, but business districts in downtown and South Berkeley benefit from the increased foot traffic that comes with new residents. 

    We must be careful to build new housing with an understanding of our city’s history and racial inequities. That includes prioritizing building affordable housing throughout the city, not just in historically redlined areas, which would risk perpetuating economic disparity in our city.  

  • Strengthen tenant protections to stabilize existing housing for tenants, preserve affordable housing, and prevent displacement. Actions include supporting Just Cause protections and Rent Stabilization protections.

  • Secure regional funding for affordable housing. The housing crisis neither stops nor ends at our city limits. Adena is very disappointed that the 9-county, $20 billion housing bond was pulled from the ballot. We need to redouble our efforts to find additional funding for affordable housing and work to bring back the bond – or one that is even better – quickly.

  • Support long-term policies to address gentrification, including expanding access to higher education and jobs and skills training opportunities.

HOMELESSNESS

More affordable housing, safe and welcoming shelters, and access to mental health services

Homelessness and housing insecurity are the biggest issues facing our city today. While progress has been made in recent years, the latest point-in-time census identified 844 people living without a permanent home in Berkeley – and that doesn’t account for people who are living in temporary housing situations with friends or family.

Adena experienced housing insecurity during her transition between community college and UC Berkeley. She lived in many different living situations from apartments and co-ops to a tiny, shared room in a fraternity. Adena’s personal experience informs her drive to build more housing and provide appropriate, compassionate care to people experiencing homelessness.

  • Build more affordable housing in all Berkeley neighborhoods. (See above)

  • Make shelters a safe and welcoming alternative to the street. Adena believes each of us, whether housed or unhoused, should have the dignity of being able to choose where and how we live. That’s why she will prioritize moving more people off the street by creating better alternatives to the street. Berkeley shelters should ensure families stay together, provide personal safety and secure storage, offer culturally appropriate services and resources for mental health and rapid rehousing. Berkeley should have shelters that are specifically for families and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

  • Ensure Housing First principles continue to inform our policies around addressing homelessness. Housing First programs (as opposed to programs that require participants to be in treatment before they are housed), have decreased homelessness by 88% and improved housing stability by 41%, according to National Low Income Housing Coalition data. Applicants should be allowed to enter the program without income, even if they aren’t “clean and sober” or “treatment compliant” and even if they have criminal justice system involvement. Service and treatment plans are voluntary, such that tenants cannot be evicted for not following through.