Organization: CALIFORNIA YIMBY
Mission: CALIFORNIA YIMBY'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA IS AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY. WE ADVANCE OUR MISSION BY: - ADDRESSING AND CORRECTING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IN CALIFORNIA HOUSING LAWS, AND IN RELATED LAWS AND REGULATIONS; - EMPOWERING CALIFORNIANS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENGAGE THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS ON HOUSING AND RELATED POLICIES; - ENSURING THAT CALIFORNIA HOUSING LAWS AND LOCAL REGULATIONS ARE EVIDENCE-BASED, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE; AND - DRAFTING AND ADVOCATING FOR PROVEN LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ACCELERATE THE PACE OF HOME BUILDING.WE BELIEVE THAT AN EQUITABLE CALIFORNIA BEGINS WITH ABUNDANT, SECURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE FOCUS ON HOUSING AND LAND USE POLICY AT THE STATE LEVEL TO ENSURE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS AND CITY LEADERS HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO ACCELERATE HOME BUILDING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
Activities: CALIFORNIA YIMBY ADVOCACY: ADVOCACY AND GRASSROOTS PARTNERSHIPS AND ORGANIZING PROGRAMCALIFORNIA YIMBY ESTABLISHED GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING TEAMS ACROSS THE STATE, FOCUSED ON PROMOTING SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING SHORTAGE WITH VOTERS IN KEY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THESE ORGANIZING EFFORTS HELPED US GROW OUR MEMBER LIST TO OVER 60,000 MEMBERS STATEWIDE, COVERING EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE AND A MAJORITY OF THE STATE'S 482 MUNICIPALITIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR GRASSROOTS EFFORTS, WE DEVELOPED "GRASSTOPS ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, THINK TANKS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, UNIONS, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES.
CALIFORNIA YIMBY LOBBYING: LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL PROGRAM, LOBBYING GRASSROOTS AND DIRECTCALIFORNIA YIMBY HELPED CRAFT LEGISLATION THAT COULD HELP END THE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND SOLVE THE STATE'S HOUSING CRISIS. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE BILLS DESIGNED BY OUR STAFF, ACADEMICS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS CO-SPONSORED LEGISLATION ADVANCED BY OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLIES IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE. THROUGH OUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES, WE ATTRACTED OVER 60,000 MEMBERS TO CALIFORNIA YIMBY ACROSS THE STATE. OUR MEMBERS CONTACTED THEIR LEGISLATORS AND TOLD THEM OF THEIR HOUSING STORIES AND ASKED THEM TO SUPPORT SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS.
CALIFORNIA YIMBY EDUCATION: EDUCATION AND OUTREACHCALIFORNIA YIMBY CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FOCUSED ON INFORMING POLICY MAKERS AND THE ELECTORATE ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND WAYS THEY COULD ACT TO SOLVE IT. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN-PERSON CONVENINGS WITH HOUSING POLICY EXPERTS, POLICY MAKERS, SCHOLARS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS; COMMISSIONING AND/OR PROMOTING ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON HOUSING POLICY AND RELATED TOPICS; THE CREATION OF DIGITAL TOOLS, INCLUDING WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS; AND TRADITIONAL/NEW MEDIA OUTREACH AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.THESE EFFORTS RESULTED IN SEVERAL PUBLISHED REPORTS AT LEADING HOUSING POLICY THINK-TANKS AND PRIVATE-SECTOR FIRMS, ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE MEDIA COVERAGE IN LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL MEDIA. OUR ONGOING MEDIA AND PRESS ACTIVITIES IN 2019 HELPED REDEFINE THE SCALE OF THE POLICY RESPONSE NECESSARY TO SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS. AS A RESULT OF HUNDREDS OF MEDIA ARTICLES ABOUT OUR EFFORTS IN CALIFORNIA, ZONING REFORM HAS BECOME A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE NARRATIVE ON SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING SHORTAGE.
NTEE category: Housing & Shelter
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building