Meet the Redwood City Housing and Human Concerns Committee

Apply today for one of SIX available seats on the Housing and Human Concerns Committee

Every member of our community deserves to live, work, and play in a safe and vibrant community. Have you ever wondered how the City makes decisions about policies, programs, and community services related to housing and quality of life? Do you have an interest in supporting improved access to housing and human services in Redwood City? Consider applying to serve on the Housing and Human Concerns Committee.

The Housing and Human Concerns Committee is comprised of seven members who serve four-year terms. The Committee’s goal is to advocate for quality of life improvement for the Redwood City community and to ensure human needs, as set forth in the General Plan, are given adequate consideration in the decision-making process. The Committee focuses on generating improved service and appropriate policy for social services and encouraging social responsiveness in legislation, zoning, police powers and recreation programs.

The committee’s current priority areas of focus include:

1. Housing Programs: Developing the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships, and Human Services Financial Assistance (HSFA) programs

2. Tenant Protections: Studying and guiding the implementation, assessment, and enhancement of tenant protections in partnership with Partnership for the Bay’s Future (PBF) Challenge Grant Fellow and City Staff

3. Housing Preservation: Research and propose policies for the preservation of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing (UAH) in partnership with the PBF Challenge Grant Fellow and City Staff

4. Basic Human Needs: Monitor needs/gaps in basic human needs and provide support to organizations providing basic human need services

5. Affordable Housing Production: Explore and advance policies and methods to produce more affordable housing

Here’s what some members have to say about serving on the HHCC:

“Serving on [Housing and Human Concerns Committee] HHCC for the past six years has provided me the opportunity to give back to my community and has also given me a much better understanding of city government. I feel proud that City Council really looks to HHCC to propose possible solutions to the housing challenges Redwood City faces. We also advise Council annually on funding for human service agencies that provide crucial assistance to some of our most vulnerable residents. HHCC has researched and proposed many important policies that Redwood City has adopted in recent years. These include inclusionary zoning (that ensures a percentage of all housing built is affordable) and the Safe Parking program for those living in their vehicles. We’ve also played a key role in investigating new ideas for maintaining naturally occurring affordable housing units. Policy is an ongoing process, and I look forward to more work to improve housing and human services in Redwood City.” — Housing and Human Concerns Committee Chair Margaret Becker

“Serving on the [Housing and Human Concerns Committee] HHCC for the past five years has been a great experience for me. Working with community members, community based organizations, City staff, and other stakeholders, I have gotten to see the great progress we can make together in addressing some of the most critical issues affecting our Redwood City community. While affordable housing, housing stability, and homelessness remain huge challenges for us to overcome, Redwood City has really been a model in our county for pursuing new, community-responsive ideas and I feel honored to have been involved in this important work through the HHCC. In these past several years, our committee has worked to bring the voices and ideas of many of our underrepresented neighbors into these critical conversations and I am hopeful that new members on the Committee can help us continue to expand those relationships and invite more and more people to the table. Please come join us!” — Housing and Human Concerns Committee Vice Chair Kate Hiester

Housing and Human Concerns Committee meetings are held regularly on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. with additional special meetings and sub-committee meetings held as needed. Community members who have background or interest in areas such as (but not limited to) housing, community organizing and advocacy, public health, or a general interest in serving our community are encouraged to apply!

Find out more!

· Attend a Housing and Human Concerns Committee meeting

· View previous meeting agendas and minutes

· Review the current Housing and Human Concerns work plan

· Read the BCC Handbook

· Ask a current member of the Housing and Human Concerns Committee about their experience

· Check out other available advisory body positions

· Contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information!