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Social Housing in Our Backyards: West Coast Campaigns Aim for Housing Access for All

Tiffani McCoy (Real Change and House Our Neighbors!), Darrell Owens (California YIMBY), and moderator Ned Resnikoff (California YIMBY) talk about campaigns for social housing and how this model can succeed in the US.

Darrell Owens of California YIMBY talks about California AB 2053 and how social housing benefits everyone in all communities (screenshot from video of session).
Darrell Owens of California YIMBY talks about California AB 2053 and how social housing benefits everyone in all communities (screenshot from video of session).

Sightline Editor

April 12, 2022

This article is part of the series YIMBYtown 2022

The conversation shared below was part of the YIMBYtown 2022 conference, cohosted by Sightline Institute and Portland: Neighbors Welcome.*

Just as public libraries complement bookstores to ensure that everyone has access to books, social housing can help ensure that everyone has access to housing. Social housing plays an invaluable role in alleviating a tight housing market. For renters struggling with housing scarcity, it provides an alternative to traditional private-sector landlords. 

Tiffani McCoy, advocacy director at Real Change and steering committee co-chair of House Our Neighbors!, and Darrell Owens, policy analyst/data analyst at California YIMBY, are leading West Coast campaigns for social housing (Tiffani on City of Seattle Initiative 135, and Darrell on California AB 2053). They discuss how these proposed models differ from public housing and how they can actually help prevent homelessness and close the homeownership gap. They also explore the ways abundant housing advocates can join the efforts to make social housing a reality across the country. Ned Resnikoff, policy director at California YIMBY, moderates the conversation. 

Related: 

*YIMBYtown 2022 occurred April 11–13 in Portland, Oregon, the fourth annual gathering (after some COVID delays) of “Yes in My Back Yard” (YIMBY) community leaders, organizers, planners, policymakers, educators, and housing providers eager to share resources and strategies for building more affordable, sustainable, and equitable communities.

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Sightline Editor

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Sightline Editor

Sightline Institute equips the Northwest’s citizens and decision-makers with the policy research and practical tools they need to advance long-term solutions to our region’s most significant challenges.

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