Dwellings Podcast - Season Two

Dwellings is a podcast from the San José Housing Department that focuses on the work the Department is doing to end homelessness, build affordable housing, and strengthen neighborhoods. Episodes feature in-depth conversations with thought leaders from industry, academia, non-profits and the Housing Department.

To find show transcripts, a jargon glossary, and links to featured non-profits, click on the episode title drop-downs below.

Subscribe to Dwellings on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Episode 12: How the Pandemic Impacted Landlords in San José

Episode 11: San José’s ADU Program

Episode 10: Building Disability-Forward Housing

Episode 9: San José’s Housing Element

Show Notes

Episode 12: How Did the Pandemic Impact Landlords?

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted society in many ways, including impacting a large share of renters throughout the state of California. But how did the pandemic impact landlords? On this episode, we’re joined by Elijah de la Campa, researcher with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and Viviane Nguyen, Senior Analyst with the San José Housing Department, to learn about how the pandemic impacted local landlords in San José.

You can read Elijah's working paper and learn more about his research on his website.

If you're a landlord looking to learn more about the Rent Stabilization Program, please check out our Welcome Packet.

Transcript: Episode 12: How the Pandemic Impacted Landlords in San José

Episode 11: San José's ADU Program

Accessory Dwelling Units, also called ADUs, granny flats, or in-law units, create opportunities for property owners to add additional living space to their properties. ADUs are frequently used for family members or as rental properties. On this podcast episode, we sit down with Sarah Shull, the ADU Ally for the City of San José, to learn about the City’s ADU program and how ADUs are one way the City is working to end the housing crisis.

To learn more about the City's ADU program, please visit the ADU program website.

Visit the Mayor's website at SJBackyardHomes.com

Transcript: Episode 11: San José’s ADU Program

Episode 10: Building Disability-Forward Housing

In the state of California, developers are required to build a certain number of apartments and housing units following ADA accessibility requirements. But do those requirements actually make a difference? Is there more that can be done? On this episode, we sit down with Allie Cannington, Manager of Advocacy and Organizing for The Kelsey, and Jacky Morales-Ferrand, Director of the Housing Department, to learn about building inclusive housing for people with (and without) disabilities.

To learn more about The Kelsey and the work they're doing on building affordable, inclusive housing, please visit their website.

Review the Kelsey's Housing Design Standards for Accessibility and Inclusion

Learn more about the Curb-Cut Effect from the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Priced Out (Technical Assistance Collaborative)

Learn more about the various local funding mechanisms for affordable housing:

Transcript: Episode 10: Building Inclusive Housing

Episode 9: San José's Housing Element

Every 8 years, the State of California requires all cities and towns to update their Housing Element, a document that details how and where each city will plan for residential growth within its jurisdiction. On this episode, we’re joined by Ruth Cueto, planner for the San José Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement; and Kristen Clements, division manager for the Housing Department, to learn about the Housing Element process, the City’s Assessment of Fair Housing, and how San José is planning for the future.

To learn more about the City's Housing Element process and review past Housing Element plans, please visit the Housing Element Update webpage.

To learn more about the Housing Element process in other cities in Santa Clara County, please visit LetsTalkHousingSCC.org.

Jargon glossary:

Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA): Identifies the total number of housing units for a region, separated into four affordability levels.
Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG): Regional planning agency for the nine-county Bay Area of California.
Assessment of Fair Housing: In-depth analysis of residential segregation and access to opportunity. State law AB 686 (2018) requires all cities and towns in California include an Assessment of Fair Housing as part of their Housing Element updates. Learn more about the City's draft Assessment of Fair Housing in a recent June 2021 memo.

Transcript: Episode 9: San José’s Housing Element