The Bay Area faces deepening housing-affordability challenges. In response, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is working with our partners to promote changes in housing policies to make our region a better place to live.
There is no single or simple solution, but there is broad consensus: We need a coordinated effort to increase housing production at all levels of affordability, preserve existing affordable housing and protect vulnerable populations from displacement. ABAG is working with local governments, regional and state agencies, legislators, housing and business advocacy organizations and community leaders to promote effective housing solutions.
To support these efforts, an expanding library of resources has been developed, with materials created by ABAG, the State of California, Federal partners, local jurisdictions, county collaboratives, professional institutions and nonprofits with focused expertise. Here you will find technical assistance related to:
- The Regional Housing Technical Assistance Program (RHTA): Funded by the State of California via a Regional Early Action Program grant for a three-year period, this program supports the region and local jurisdictions as they successfully respond to state law (housing element updates and related efforts). Here you will find resources about the program's design and key elements (including grants, county collaboratives, trainings, etc.) as well as information about the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process.
- Housing Elements: Including information about state law requirements, tools and resources to facilitate compliance, and resources to help educate your community and decision-makers.
- Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH): Helping to ensure that housing planning, policies and practices ensure fair access to housing and help build more inclusive, diverse and equitable communities.
- Public Engagement: Resources that support jurisdictions and community partners to ensure that those who will be affected by housing planning and decision-making are heard in the process.
- Pro-Housing Policies and Practices: Resources to help advance implementation of state law and respond to local and regional housing challenges, including tools such as inclusionary zoning, form-based codes and objective design and development standards
- Creating Housing Choices: Providing resources to help ensure a broad range of housing types and choices, including accessory dwelling units (ADUs), "middle housing" solutions, cohousing, co-living and emergency shelters.
- Housing Sustainability and Resilience: Helping to ensure that housing planning and decision-making are integrated with hazard mitigation planning other efforts to create a more sustainable and resilient future.