Welcome to Urban Habitat

Urban Habitat builds power in low-income communities and communities of color by combining education, advocacy, research and coalition building to advance environmental, economic and social justice in the Bay Area.

We envision a society where all people live in economically and environmentally healthy neighborhoods. Clean air, land and water are recognized as fundamental human rights. Meaningful employment honors a worker’s right to dignity and a living wage with benefits. Effective public transportation and land-use planning connect people to the resources, opportunities and services to thrive. Affordable housing provides a healthy and safe home for all. And quality education prepares visionary leaders to strengthen our democracy with new ideas, energy and commitment. [MORE]

Program Updates

Yes on the Measure VV Event

Dateline: 
10/15/2008

By Lindsay Imai

Over 50 students, parents, bus riders, and people representing community and faith organizations gathered at the busiest bus hub in Oakland to spread the word about Measure VV and why it needs to pass in this November’s election. The group held a rally and then gave information out directlIMG_2104 by uhflickr.y to bus riders.

If passed by voters in November, Measure VV will fill the gap in AC Transit’s operating budget – preventing service hikes and major budget cuts. If Measure VV doesn’t pass, then the consequences could be devastating to AC Transit’s over 200,000 daily riders- many of whom have no other transportation option and include youth, seniors, working people, and people with disabilities.

Listen to KPFA Wendall Harper's report on the event click Here or listen to KCBS' Bob Melrose click Here

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Affordable Housing Lawsuit Back in Play--No More Excuses from Pleasanton

Dateline: 
07/07/2008

This Opinion piece appeared in The Independent, a weekly newspaper serving the Pleasanton area. Urban Habitat is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the city for it's failure to build the amount of affordable housing as required by law. In response to a City Attorney's comments, Executive Director Juliet Ellis wrote the following Letter to the Editor which appeared in the Independent's July 3, 2008 Edition.

Given his statements last week (Affordable Housing Lawsuit Back in Play, June 26, 2008) Pleasanton City Attorney Michael Roush apparently needs to study up on his basic arithmetic.

As stated in the article, the City has reneged on its promise in the last Housing Element to rezone enough land for some 800 units of lower-income housing by June 2004. An additional 3,277 new units were allocated this month for the next planning period. For Mr. Roush’s benefit, that’s more than 4,000 units now needed, significantly more than the 2,755 units remaining under the 29,000-unit Housing Cap according to the City’s own staff report.

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Appeals Court Rules Affordable Housing Suit May Proceed Against Pleasanton

Dateline: 
06/23/2008
Pleasanton, CA — The California Court of Appeal has reinstated a 2006 lawsuit by affordable housing advocates against the City of Pleasanton, ruling that it was improperly dismissed. “Without question,” the Court wrote, “the City’s duty to enforce the shortage of affordable housing is sharp and the public’s need for such housing is weighty.”

The decision by the three judge appeals panel will let plaintiffs Urban Habitat and low-income teacher and mother Sandra De Gregorio pursue their claims that the City has failed to meet its affordable housing obligations. In a 20-page opinion issued late Friday, the Court reinstated the October 2006 challenge to a range of exclusionary housing measures such as Pleasanton’s Housing Cap and Growth Management Ordinance. The Court also allowed the plaintiffs to go forward with a claim to require the City to zone land for affordable housing and two other claims alleging that the City’s land-use policies unlawfully discriminate against families with children.
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