The has helped build more internal capacity to take on a lot more housing issues. It has also helped us connect with partners and work together to move policies forward at the local and state level. One example is AB 1487, we were able to work together to advocate for a 25% rural set aside for the eviction prevention fund.

Central Valley Community Advisor

Through the Fund’s support, the Community Advisors built on the relationships made in Stockton in 2019 and developed the Central Valley People’s Housing Coalition, creating a strong formal collaborative of organizers, legal services and policy advocates. Together, they have secured multiple renter protections across counties, protected tenants from unjust evictions, rent increases and deplorable living conditions – with a particular focus on serving undocumented and mixed-status immigrant families.

The Central Valley community partners are now pushing for policy and program changes they initially hoped to win prior to the pandemic. Their successful Right to Counsel campaign would have been unimaginable before the pandemic. They have now leveraged their regional efforts into statewide and even national civic engagement, participating in briefings with the White House Housing Summit on the crucial importance of eviction prevention.