DEPARTMENT:
Neighborhood and Housing Services Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
Verónica R. Soto, AICP, Neighborhood and Housing Services Department Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED:
Citywide
SUMMARY:
Briefing on anti-displacement efforts to include updates on the ForEveryoneHome Initiative and the city’s exploration of Community Land Trusts.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The ForEveryoneHome initiative is a nationwide anti-displacement and inclusive growth effort undertaken by Grounded Solutions Network (GSN) and sponsored by the Ford Foundation. GSN is a network of policy consultants specializing in anti-displacement and inclusive growth working nationwide. The Initiative’s goal is to help cities develop sound anti-displacement and inclusive growth policies before displacement pressures become too great.
GSN selected San Antonio, Indianapolis, and Winston-Salem to participate in the 18-month initiative through a competitive process. The selected cities will receive peer learning opportunities, over 500 hours of policy consulting and technical assistance, assistance with public meeting facilitation, and the following deliverables:
• A needs assessment that identifies current and emerging housing challenges including causes and consequences for low income communities of color
• An anti-displacement agenda with a racial equity focus
• A detailed implementation plan for a high-priority item from the agenda
The ForEveryoneHome team and staff from Grounded Solutions Network are making progress on the needs assessment and expect to release the assessment in late November. GSN has also hired a local community engagement consultant to center voices of people impacted or likely to be impacted by displacement and housing instability. The first round of community engagement sessions began on October 16th.
In addition to the deliverables and community engagement, the ForEveryoneHome team has participated in two learning tours with our fellow cohort cities. The first learning tour took place in San Antonio in July and the second in Atlanta and Albany, GA in early October. The goals of these learning tours are to share information and challenges and learn from other cities and national experts.
This presentation will also include an update on the department’s work on Neighborhood Empowerment Zones and Community Land Trusts. The City has recently begun to explore both tools as anti-displacement strategies and anticipate they could be included in the second ForEveryoneHome deliverable.
ISSUE:
Staff will give a presentation and request feedback from Commissioners.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.