Menlo Park Housing Commission votes to join May 16, 2026 Housing and Community Resource Fair

Menlo Park Housing Commission Chair Schwitzer and commissioners voted Dec. 3 to participate in a city‑organized Housing and Community Resource Fair scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Bell Haven community campus.

The vote formalizes staff’s recommendation that the commission support a fair focused on affordable‑housing information, tenant rights and related community services. Management Analyst Ariana Milton told commissioners the event would expand the 2024 fair model — which included nonprofit booths, on‑site signups for the city’s below‑market‑rate (BMR) interest list and third‑party assistance from Housing Inc. — and be framed as a “housing and community resource fair” to attract broader participation from services such as mental‑health, financial‑assistance and childcare providers.

“We’re proposing a 2026 housing and community resource fair that is tentatively scheduled for next year on Saturday, May 16th, 2026 at the Bel Haven community campus,” Milton said during her presentation, and staff asked the commission to help vet and invite organizations, promote the event and decide how commissioners will participate on the day of the fair.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the fair can reach residents facing displacement and help connect people to legal aid, rental assistance, homelessness services and other supports. Several commissioners emphasized prioritizing outreach to the Bell Haven neighborhood and nearby residents to align the event with the city’s anti‑displacement goals.

During discussion, commissioners suggested grouping exhibitor types into practical categories — legal resources, housing supports/services and below‑market lenders — and urged staff to invite homelessness service providers such as Life Moves and Samaritan House, as well as housing organizations like MidPen Housing and Habitat for Humanity. Commissioners also described logistical elements from the 2024 fair — tents, tables, a staffed BMR sign‑up laptop, light entertainment and hourly drawings — as models to encourage foot traffic.

Commissioners and staff discussed outreach channels and timing: the city weekly digest, digital billboards, the city’s Nextdoor and other social media platforms, tabling at community events or farmers markets and preparing a media kit roughly six weeks before the fair. Commissioners also discussed adding partner departments (library, senior center, BHCC) and volunteers for bike parking/rodeos to make the event family‑friendly and accessible.

The motion, moved by Chair Schwitzer and seconded by Commissioner Osler, directed the community engagement ad hoc committee to prepare a list of pre‑engagement ideas, asked all commissioners to refer housing‑resource organizations to staff, and continued further planning to the commission’s Jan. 7, 2026 meeting. The motion passed on a roll call vote with six yes votes and one absence.

Votes at a glance: The commission also approved two routine items during the meeting. The Nov. 5, 2025 meeting minutes were approved (motion by Commissioner Wong, seconded by Commissioner Dumont) on a roll call vote with six yes votes, one absence. The commission approved its draft 2026 meeting calendar on a separate roll call vote, also passing with six yes votes and one absence.

Next steps: Staff will work with the community engagement ad hoc committee to assemble outreach ideas and a preliminary exhibitor list. The ad hoc committee will report back and the full commission is scheduled to continue the discussion at its Jan. 7, 2026 meeting, where commissioners indicated they may vote on implementation steps.

Reporting note: Quotes and attributions are taken from the meeting transcript. The commission recorded no public commenters on Dec. 3, 2025.