Project Description
The Root team completed one of the first Assessments of Fair Housing (AFH) for San Mateo County approved by HUD. The AFH was a collaborative process between the county, four participating jurisdictions, and two housing authorities. The AFH was approved by HUD without any modifications.
Community engagement activities were conducted with the support of local advocacy organizations using a “Community Engagement in a Box” technique. The Root team conducted a webinar to facilitate local engagement and provided surveys, flyers, community maps, and discussion guides for advocates to use with their constituencies. We also led resident focus groups in four languages and in neighborhoods where residents are most vulnerable to displacement and fair housing challenges. The AFH goals and strategies for each jurisdiction and the region were developed in a policymaker briefing and work session.
Year: 2017
Unique aspect of the study
More than 4,000 residents participated in community engagement for the AFH through a resident survey! The survey targeted residents with the greatest housing needs, including residents on publicly assisted housing wait lists and residents who had faced or were facing eviction.
