Los Altos proclaims May Affordable Housing Month; SV at Home urges continued action

Mayor Sally Meadows proclaimed May as Affordable Housing Month for the City of Los Altos, citing the city’s pro‑housing designation by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and local policies such as eliminating accessory dwelling unit fees and leveraging city‑owned land for affordable projects. The proclamation, read at the council’s May 12 meeting, framed affordable housing as “a basic human right” and a priority for strengthening community resilience.

Corey Wolbach, civic leadership manager at Silicon Valley at Home, accepted the proclamation and thanked the council for its leadership. Wolbach outlined the nonprofit coalition’s three priorities—“production, preservation and protection”—and said the network would coordinate local events and advocacy during Affordable Housing Month to highlight practical steps cities can take to expand affordable supply and tenant protections.

During public comment that followed, resident Julia Raposa criticized televised commentary she said demeaned people experiencing homelessness and described repeated displacements of a Stockton encampment as an example of the region’s struggles. Raposa said that larger cities have different capacities to respond and warned local leaders against merely shuffling encampments between jurisdictions.

Why it matters: The proclamation is a symbolic recognition that signals council support for housing initiatives; Wolbach’s remarks and public comment underline continuing regional challenges — including supply constraints and how neighboring jurisdictions handle unhoused residents — that the council and local partners said they will continue to address through coordination and program design.

The council did not take policy action on housing at the meeting; staff and local partners were encouraged to continue collaboration and public outreach tied to Affordable Housing Month events.