The Solution

How can we create opportunities for affordable housing? By doing it together.

Generation Housing is uniquely positioned to be a strong, independent cross-sector voice in favor of increased supply and diversity of housing. Generation Housing will increase the political and community will for increased housing by educating elected and appointed officials and our community about the link between housing and quality of life in the North Bay.

Generation Housing (GH) will convene, organize, and build bridges between various stakeholder groups to align their efforts in support of housing development. GH will be a fierce advocate for policies, programs, land use, and funding that will lead to an increased supply of housing. GH will grow an educated and responsive action network to support pro-housing policies and GH-endorsed housing development projects.

Priority Actions

Stylized image of a building's corner with balconies, shown in a high-contrast purple and teal color scheme against a plain background.

Zone for People

End exclusionary zoning by 2024. Create more diverse and more affordable housing by allowing up to 4-plex housing in single-family zones and expand zoning for Missing Middle small apartment complexes. This also empowers homeowners to maximize the value of their property, and takes a step toward righting the wrong of decades of discriminatory zoning practices.

Fast and Fair

Streamline housing development by integrating Design Review Boards into Planning Commissions. This accelerates housing projects while still ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making.

Incentivize Affordability

Support near-term construction of Affordable and affordable-by-design workforce housing by right sizing fees and adopting fees based on square footage. This is an imperative offset to current economic forces making development financially infeasible.

People & Planet over Parking

Let developers and their tenants make climate-smart decisions on parking needs by eliminating costly and heavy-handed parking mandates. This promotes a more sustainable approach to housing without passing on additional costs to residents.

Generation Housing supports these housing innovations for our community

Infill, Transit-Infill, Transit-Oriented and Multi-Family Development

Smart development creates vibrant communities, reduces commute times and our carbon footprint, and preserves our open space. Strategies to accelerate the development of these types of units are needed to ensure that they include units a range of affordability levels.

Missing Middle Housing

Diverse housing options, such as duplexes, fourplexes, and bungalow courts fit seamlessly into low-rise walkable neighborhoods and support walkability, locally-serving retail, and public transportation options.

ADUs

ADUs are a cost-efficient way to increase the supply of affordable housing, particularly in counties like Sonoma with a large stock of single family housing.