Silicon Valley at Home

With just a week out from the election it seems entirely fitting to connect housing to voting. While red, blue, and purple states are different in a number of ways (okay that goes without saying), but with housing the most significant difference is cost-- with blue states winning the high cost title for rents and home prices.

A SPOOKTACULAR HOUSERS’ HAPPY HOUR // Thursday, October 29 @ 5 p.m. // Trick or treat with the CoHo crew at our Halloween-themed social! Come ready for spooky tunes, games, and a costume contest (with prizes!). Get to know CoHo working group members and get a sneak peek into upcoming programs. We encourage fun costumes and festive Zoom backgrounds. // RSVP @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/124376753217

Housing should not be used as a wedge issue in political campaigns. Full Stop. It is particularly egregious for organizations that support housing to send out hit pieces that target housing policy solutions like Opportunity Housing. Shame.

Be like Sharkie and Vote! Ballot Drop Boxes are available throughout the County. Find your closest drop box near where you work, go to school, or while running errands. Don't forget to sign and return your free postage paid return envelope! For more information go to www.sccvote.org/voterschoice. #sccvotes

Well, some good news. Now how do we get the 62% to stand up and vocalize their support?

Homelessness doesn't just impact adults. The number of homeless kids in Santa Clara County increased by 64.8% in one year-- from 2,676 students in 2017-18 to 4,409 students in 2018-19. No doubt that number is higher now.

31% rent drop in San Francisco? Are you seeing that in other parts of the Bay Area?

Consider yourself a houser? Join a movement of housers committed to expanding affordable housing opportunities throughout Silicon Valley! We see you out there it's going to take all of us! #peoplepower #becomeamember Join us https://siliconvalleyathome.org/our-members/become-a-member/

Good news all around from San Jose, working to ensure people have shelter as the weather grows colder and accepting money from the state to create new opportunities for housing-- a contrast from neighboring Milpitas where the Council and community is opposing conversion of a hotel and working to return $20 million in State funding that would house people now living on the streets.

Not saying we have our favorite... Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits Pumpkin Action is now LIVE! Let the bidding begin! Check out the pumpkins here: https://event.gives/bog2020

Then there's rents. We hear all kinds of things. Higher, lower, staying the same? But what we know is that this is unchartered territory. We have to wait and see what happens. Anyone have a crystal ball?

Economic crisis? Well, not for everything. Buying a house in Santa Clara County continues to get harder as the median price rises to more than $1.4 million.

Election Day is now only TWO WEEKS away! We hope you have taken full advantage of our Candidate Forum Series, co-hosted by CA YIMBY, as you have considered your votes this election season. You can find all of the recordings at the SV@Home Action Fund YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/.../UCka31T-MSHzwMJv.../featured You may be wondering: What about the other cities and towns where there weren’t candidate forums? How can I find out where these candidates stand on housing ...and affordable housing issues? The SV@Home Action Fund is here to help! Today we officially present our 2020 Candidate Housing Questionnaire results, featuring Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Campbell, Los Altos, and Los Gatos. We sent a short, five question survey to all City or Town Council candidates. For each jurisdiction, we asked the same first four questions and then one final question that differed by locality. Click here to see the results: https://siliconvalleyathome.org/action.../civic-engagement/

We all need healthy, thriving schools and communities for a prosperous and just society. California succeeds when every child, every school, and every community is given the resources they need to succeed - and that's why we need to invest in our schools and communities NOW. #Vote #YesOn15 to reclaim up to $12 Billion in corporate profits, to be re-invested in local schools and communities.