Episode 23: Preparing Your Home for an Emergency

Coming Soon: Dwellings, from the City of San José Housing Department by Dwellings

San José’s Bridge Housing Communities: Tackling a problem as large as homelessness requires cities to use a variety of tools in their toolboxes. In the City of San José, one of these tools is the Bridge Housing Program, which serves as interim housing for unhoused residents while they work with case managers to get back on their feet and find permanent housing. Today we sit down with Ragan Henninger, deputy director of the Housing Department, to learn about San José’s Bridge Housing Program, and find out how it is helping in previously unexpected ways during the pandemic. by Dwellings

34 min listen

A Housing-First Approach to Ending Homelessness: The best way to help someone struggling with homelessness is to get them housed. Seems simple, right? But it wasn’t - and still isn’t - as simple as it seems. On today’s episode, we chat with Joel John Roberts, CEO of PATH and PATH Ventures, and Ray Bramson, Chief Operating Officer for Destination: Home, to learn more about the housing-first approach to ending homelessness. by Dwellings

42 min listen

Community Plan to End Homelessness: Ending homelessness is a group effort. It takes the strength of dozens of local governments and nonprofits, working together with volunteers and currently unhoused residents, to find solutions. On today’s episode, we sit down with Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination: Home, and Lee Clark, Lived Experience Advisory Board Member for Destination: Home, to talk about what it takes for a community to come together to end homelessness. by Dwellings

29 min listen

The People Behind San José’s Homeless Response Team: Coordinating the homelessness response across a city as large as San José is no easy feat. It takes partnerships with dozens of agencies; managing grants from the federal and state governments; and a dedicated team. Today, we sit down with Kelly Hemphill and Darius Brown from our Homeless Response Team to learn more about what their team does to help unhoused residents in San José find shelter. by Dwellings

34 min listen

How Does the City Protect Renters and Landlords?: The City of San José’s Rent Stabilization Program is a community-facing program designed to help tenants and landlords navigate issues around rental housing. On today’s episode, we sit down with Rachel VanderVeen, deputy director of the Housing Department, to learn more about what the Rent Stabilization Program does, and how its work has changed during the pandemic. by Dwellings

22 min listen

Interim Housing: Is it A Game Changer for Housing the Homeless?: What is interim housing? How does it differ from homeless shelters? How does it complement permanent supportive housing? The City of San José is a national leader and innovator in interim housing. The City currently operates five interim housing sites. This approach to housing offers compelling benefits vis-à-vis more traditional approaches to addressing homelessness. However, there are significant tradeoffs. Join us for a fascinating discussion about the role of interim housing in combating homelessness, and hear experts share what they have learned since San José opened its first interim housing site 16 months ago. Ramona Giwargis, editor-in-chief of San José Spotlight, moderated the discussion, and was joined by Ragan Henninger, deputy director of the San José Housing Department, René Ramirez, chief operating officer of HomeFirst, and one of our interim housing community residents. This online event was hosted by t by Dwellings

55 min listen

Building Disability-Forward Housing: In the state of California, developers are required to build a certain number of apartments and housing units following ADA accessibility requirements. But do those requirements actually make a difference? Is there more that can be done? On this episode, we sit down with Allie Cannington, Manager of Advocacy and Organizing for The Kelsey, and Jacky Morales-Ferrand, Director of the Housing Department, to learn about building inclusive housing for people with (and without) disabilities. by Dwellings

47 min listen

Santa Clara County’s Continuum of Care: A Continuum of Care is a regional planning body that coordinates housing and supportive services for homeless individuals and families. In Santa Clara County, this program is overseen by Kathryn Kaminski, Deputy Director for the County’s Office of Supportive Housing. In today’s episode, we talk with Kathryn to learn how the Continuum of Care works with the City of San José and our nonprofit partners to coordinate the distribution of federal funds, delivery of care, and data collection for local homeless programs. by Dwellings

28 min listen

What Could the Future of Housing Look Like?: 2020 was a whirlwind year, challenging our collective notions about what the world around us should look like. Housing, already top of mind in California, became a national conversation. On today’s episode, we’re joined by David Friedlander, CEO of the Change Order Group, a climate and innovation-focused development company. We talk about what needs to change in the world of planning and development to ensure fewer people are unhoused, and what the future of housing might look like in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. by Dwellings

31 min listen

San José’s Housing Element: Every 8 years, the State of California requires all cities and towns to update their Housing Element, a document that details how and where each city will plan for additional growth within their jurisdiction. On this episode, we’re joined by Ruth Cueto, Planner for the San Jose Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement; and Kristen Clements, Division Manager for the Housing Department, to learn about the Housing Element process, the city’s Assessment of Fair Housing, and how San José is planning for the future. by Dwellings

45 min listen

San José’s ADU Program: Accessory Dwelling Units, also called ADUs, granny flats, or in-law units, are an opportunity for property owners to add additional living space to their properties. ADUs are frequently used for family members or as rental property. On this podcast episode, we sit down with Sarah Shull, the ADU Ally for the City of San José, to learn about the City’s ADU program and how ADUs are one way the City is working to end the housing crisis. by Dwellings

34 min listen

Opportunity Housing Part 2: The City of San José is exploring ways of adding additional homes to the city. In season one, we discussed the concept of opportunity housing, which would allow homeowners to convert their homes into duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes. On this follow-up episode, we sit down with Jerry Strangis, a local land use consultant and realtor in San José, and Patrick Condon, professor in the University of British Columbia Vancouver’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, to learn more about the local impacts of opportunity housing and possible impacts upzoning might have on affordability. by Dwellings

35 min listen

Episode 17: How does affordable housing financing work?: There's a constant need for affordable housing in Silicon Valley, and there are a variety of tools the City and other entities can use to finance the construction and operation of that housing. There are also myriad requirements that must be satisfied, so investors must take numerous steps to bring affordable to fruition. On today's episode, I'm joined by Rachel VanderVeen, deputy director of the City of José Housing Department. We talk about how financing affordable housing in San José actually works. by Dwellings

28 min listen

How the Pandemic Impacted Landlords in San José: The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on our society, including impacting a large share of renters throughout the state of California. But how did the pandemic impact landlords? On this episode, we’re joined by Elijah de la Campa, researcher with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and Viviane Nguyen, Senior Analyst with the San José Housing Department, to learn about how the pandemic impacted local landlords in San José. by Dwellings

44 min listen

Episode 15: How the Apartment Rent Ordinance Impacts Rental Housing in San José: The Apartment Rent Ordinance has had a significant impact on San José apartment renters since 1979 through rent stabilization, the petition process, and the rent registry to name a few examples. It also has rules on how rent is raised in a year and how data is used for policy decisions. On today’s episode, I’m joined by Noel Padilla. Noel is a Senior Analyst with the San José Housing Department’s Rent Stabilization Program. He and I are going to talk about the City’s Apartment Rent Ordinance, which affects more than 100,000 residents in San José. by Dwellings

30 min listen

Episode 13: Increasing Our Supply of Housing: How can solutions be scaled to meet the housing demand in our region? According to the Regional Housing Needs Assessment estimates, we need to create 441,000 new homes to solve the Bay Area housing shortage. The solutions to help us get there include innovative approaches to building affordable housing, streamlining regulations, and leveraging new types of financing. On today's episode, I'm joined by Vince Rocha, vice president of Housing and Community Development at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. We will discuss the economic implications of increasing or failing to increase the housing supply in our region, and ideas to help get more housing built. by Dwellings

32 min listen

Episode 18: The Lived Experience Advisory Board: The City is working to create a feedback loop for homelessness solutions that will improve resource utilization and make solutions more accessible to those in need. A key part of this process is listening to people with lived experience with homelessness to understand how we can make it easier to navigate the complex system for obtaining and using homelessness solutions. On today’s episode, I’m joined by Chad Bojorquez, chief program officer at Destination: Home, and Greg Pensinger, homelessness response manager in the City of San José Housing Department. We talk about the Live Experience Advisory Board and how homelessness solutions are evolving to better meet the needs of homeless residents. by Dwellings

42 min listen

Episode 16: Project Homekey: Project Homekey has helped fast-track solutions for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. It does this by allowing public entities to develop a variety of housing types and convert existing buildings into permanent or interim housing. We'll dive into the details of this initiative and explore its potential impact on communities across the region. On today’s episode, I’m joined by Consuelo Hernandez, Director of the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing. We are going to talk about Project Homekey, a statewide effort to rapidly expand housing opportunities for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. by Dwellings

28 min listen

Episode 19: The January 2023 Storm Event and Homeless Rehousing: We review the City's response to the atmospheric river events in January 2023, which posed a significant threat to unhoused residents at risk of flooding. Ragan and Bea take listeners back to December 2022 – January 2023. With creek levels rising and the danger of mudslides growing, the city prioritized the safety of those experiencing homelessness along waterways. The discussion covers the decision to open evacuation centers, sending emergency workers to notify people living in tents of imminent danger, and the extensive collaboration with partners like the American Red Cross and HomeFirst to manage the logistics of feeding and caring for people. The discussion also includes the innovative thinking that turned a potential tragedy into a unique opportunity to help many unhoused residents find housing after the storms passed. by Dwellings

38 min listen

Episode 14: Addressing Homelessness Among Transition-Age Youth: What does it mean to be homeless as a foster youth after turning 18? Many young adults who have aged out of foster care have nowhere to go and few places where they can seek help. With many rules (some in conflict with one another) creating significant obstacles to housing opportunities, a number of organizations have taken up the cause of advocating for transition-age youth. This group is loosely defined as people 18-24 years old. On today’s episode, I’m joined by Sparky Harlan, a nationally recognized leader in youth services. Sparky is the longtime CEO of the Bill Wilson Center. We talk about homelessness among youth and young adults, and what is being done to address it. by Dwellings

35 min listen

Episode 20: Ministerial Approvals: Tune in to find out how ministerial approval could reshape the housing landscape in San José. We talk with Ruth to learn what ministerial approval entails and how it is helping affordable housing get built faster. The discussion dives into the background and rationale for ministerial approval and how this State-mandated process is helping the City cut red tape and address its housing shortage. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how the process works and how it differs from the typical planning and permitting process. by Dwellings

27 min listen

Episode 24: Heading Home Program - Ending Family Homelessness: Today we look at a community-wide campaign headed by the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing with the goal of ending Family Homelessness by 2025. Heading Home is based on four key strategies that help families stabilize their lives and avoid or exit homelessness. We learn the meaning of “functional zero” and how this campaign moves our community toward that elusive goal. It's no small feat, but with help from partners like Destination: Home, the City of San José, and many non-profit organizations, families won't have to face the daunting risk of homelessness alone. by Dwellings

28 min listen

Episode 21 - Association of Bay Area Governments(ABAG): We explore the dynamics of Bay Area housing policies through the lens of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). We dive into the role of ABAG's Housing Methodology Committee and the creativity required in the planning process for residential development. This includes understanding how the Housing Element and Regional Housing Needs Allocation help municipalities meet their requirements for market-rate and affordable housing. Gain deeper insights into the future of our housing inventory in San José and how ABAG is helping shape a resilient and vibrant future for the Bay Area. by Dwellings

31 min listen

Episode 25: Eviction Prevention Programs in San Jose: The Housing Department’s Rent Stabilization Program oversees the City's rental housing ordinances as well as numerous eviction prevention programs. These programs help tenants and landlords involved in potential eviction cases navigate the process and connect them with resources that may help the parties avoid evictions. Nobody wins when tenants are unable to remain housed. Tune in to find out what the City is doing to reduce the number of evictions and increase housing stability for the betterment of our entire community. by Dwellings

18 min listen

Episode 22: The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) - Tackling the Housing Crisis at a Larger Scale: In this episode, we take a look at the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), a pioneering regional authority addressing the persistent housing challenges in the Bay Area. Kate and Daniel elaborate on BAHFA's origin, its role in the CASA Compact, the three P’s, and its unique status as a regional finance agency created by state legislation in 2019. They highlight BAHFA's capacity to raise revenue for affordable housing throughout the Bay Area, emphasizing collaboration with local jurisdictions. The discussion delves into the intricate relationship between BAHFA, MTC, and ABAG, showcasing their united effort to address the housing crisis and create meaningful solutions, including here, in San José. by Dwellings

48 min listen

Episode 23: Preparing Your Home for an Emergency: When an emergency strikes, the San José Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides leadership and coordinates the City’s response. But what about your response? How can you prepare for an emergency like an earthquake or fire? OEM provides materials and training to help residents like you prepare for the next emergency. Today, we learn about those resources and the steps you can take right now to protect your family and your property from the unexpected. by Dwellings

25 min listen

Episode 26: Renting Has Its Rights: Renting Has its Rights is a campaign to educate the public on the ordinances that cover over 20,000 people in San José. Rachel and Vanessa give us a rundown of the campaign and some frequently asked questions the Rent Stabilization Team has answers to. Rachel will talk to us about what to expect in our push to educate tenants and landlords about our 4 biggest ordinances and the amazing team behind the scenes. At the end, we have frequently asked questions section related to the San Jose Housing Ordinances. This is a widespread effort from the Housing Department to educate and inform the public through billboards, bus ads, social media, and our website. Our website is a great place to start if you want to learn more about Renting Has Its Rights, sanjoseca.gov/rentalrights. by Dwellings

29 min listen

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Episode 23: Preparing Your Home for an Emergency

Episode 23: Preparing Your Home for an Emergency

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