The Bay Area Council has doubled down on our advocacy for increased housing production throughout the Bay Area, addressing the pre-existing housing crisis that has been compounded by our public health crisis. We must seize the opportunity to rebuild and revitalize our region with smart growth strategies that address historic racial injustices and our ongoing environmental crisis in a manner that does not derail our fragile economy.
2022 Policy Goals
- Improve Bay Area affordability by increasing housing supply to 55,500 units a year by 2031.
- Expand federal commitment to housing production.
- Increase awareness of Bay Area Council housing advocacy campaigns and achievements.
Recent Wins
We come into 2022 committed to this fight with fresh ideas, more allies, and the same determination to remove the roadblocks that currently prevent the building of a more diverse, equitable, sustainable, and vibrant Bay Area. As a result of our advocacy last year, we passed important legislative reforms including:
- SB 9, which allows up to four units to be built on most single-family lots, and our sponsored bill;
- AB 1174, which fixes a loophole in existing housing streamlining law (SB 35) to fast-track approval of housing developments.
While these legislative victories are important, significant work remains to addressing the housing crisis facing the state.
Get Involved
If you’re interested in engaging in our housing policy work and participating in any of the opportunities below, email kfallon@bayareacouncil.org and check out our upcoming events.
Housing Committee: Our housing crisis is impacting people, businesses, and communities well beyond the nine-county Bay Area. Participate in bi-monthly meetings to support our efforts in addressing the housing shortage.
Committee Chairs:
Mary Murphy, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Dave Hopkins, Chief Operating Officer, Sares Regis Group of Northern California
Project Endorsement Subcommittee: Help the Bay Area Council support more housing by reviewing well-planned mixed-use and residential developments in the region, or submit your project for our endorsement.
Committee Chairs:
Jonathan Fearn, Sr. Director, Development at Greystar
Jeremy Bamberger, Architect, Solomon Cordwell Buenz
Casita Coalition: Interested in advocating for more accessory dwelling units? The Bay Area Council is a proud co-founder of the Casita Coalition. The Casita Coalition believes that small homes – ADUs, cottage clusters, and small multiplex – can improve housing choice and opportunity throughout California.
