Building the Knowledge, Tools & Leadership Capacity to Shape the Bay Area’s Housing Future
The Bay Area is at a pivotal moment for local leadership on housing. New state laws, a major housing agency reorganization, regional financing tools, and growing community needs are reshaping the responsibilities of local elected officials. Housing Forward is a focused, high-impact leadership series that equips councilmembers with the clarity, confidence, and practical tools to navigate this evolving landscape and make informed, values-driven housing decisions.
An Exclusive Space for Elected Leaders
Designed exclusively for local elected officials, this series creates a confidential environment for honest conversation, shared learning, and practical problem-solving with peers navigating similar housing challenges. Through five core webinars, an on-the-ground project site tour, and a full-day ULI UrbanPlan workshop, participants gain both deep policy insight and hands-on, experiential learning.
Quick Jump to Events
Watch Videos of Past Events
CHANGING HEARTS & MINDS: BUILDING TRUST IN HOUSING CONVERSATIONS
Friday, September 11, 2026
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Housing decisions are as much about values, trust, and public leadership as they are about policy. Elected officials are often called on to explain difficult choices, respond to misinformation, and lead through contentious conversations where community concerns and competing priorities can quickly become polarized. This session will equip elected officials with practical strategies to communicate complex housing and land-use decisions with greater clarity, build trust across differences, and navigate challenging public conversations with confidence.
Virtual Workshop
Register Today!- Cory Wolbach, Civic Leadership Manager, SV@Home
- Supriya Yelimeli, Communications Officer, East Bay Community Foundation
- Tara Sreekrishnan, Communications Consultant
- Edie Irons, Director of Communications, All Home
Learning Outcomes
- Use values-based narratives to communicate across differences
- Communicate rezoning and Housing Element decisions with greater clarity
- Address community concerns and misinformation effectively
- Practice leadership approaches that foster transparency and trust
KEEPING COMMUNITIES WHOLE: STRATEGIES FOR HOUSING STABILITY
Friday, October 9 2026
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
As housing costs rise and neighborhoods change, local leaders face difficult questions about how to preserve affordability and help longtime residents remain in their communities. Explore how cities can respond proactively to displacement pressures while supporting housing stability, preserving existing affordable homes, and ensuring that community change does not come at the expense of the people who already live there.
Virtual Workshop
Register Today!- Shanti Singh, Legislative & Communications Director, Tenants Together
- Emily Ramos, Tenant Protection and Empowerment Associate, SV@Home; Mayor, City of Mountain View
Learning Outcomes
- Identify effective preservation tools, including CLTs, co-ops, and acquisition funds
- Understand tenant protection models that support vulnerable households
- Use data to identify displacement risk and prioritize interventions
- Integrate preservation and anti-displacement strategies into Housing Element programs
Videos of Past Events
Housing the Middle
March 13, 2026
Teachers, nurses, first responders, and essential workers increasingly can’t live in the communities they serve. This session explores zoning reforms, public land strategies, employer partnerships, and financing tools that expand housing options for middle-income workers and build vibrant, mixed-income neighborhoods.
- Ian Carlton, Founder of MapCraft
- Wayne Chen, Housing Director, City of Mountain View
- Chek Tang, Founder, T-Square studio
- Meea Kang, Board Chair, Infill Builders Council
FINANCING THE FUTURE
July 10, 2026
Today’s housing challenges require cities to think differently about how affordable housing gets funded, financed, and delivered. This session will explore practical tools and partnership models that can help local governments unlock new capital, stretch limited public resources, and move both new development and preservation projects forward. Panelists will discuss emerging approaches such as public-private-philanthropic partnerships, regional housing finance tools, loan guarantees, and community capital models, with a focus on how elected officials can evaluate, support, and advance financing strategies that meet local housing needs.
- Rebecca Foster, CEO of the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund
- Noni Ramos, CEO, Housing Trust Silicon Valley
- Kevin Zwick, Deputy Director of Housing, San Mateo County
- Lydia Tan, Strategic Advisor, BAHFA
- Elizabeth Wampler, Executive Director, LISC Bay Area
HOMES FOR EVERYONE
June 12, 2026
This session explores social housing approaches, such as cost-based rental models, limited-profit development approaches, and governance structures that create inclusive, stable, mixed-income communities at scale. As cities across California grapple with affordability, displacement, and growing pressure on middle-income households, we’ll examine how long-term housing stability can be supported through new approaches to financing, ownership, and public stewardship.