Community Stabilization Fund Established to Combat Displacement & Homelessness
Everyone, no matter who they are, should have an opportunity to live and thrive in San Jose. That is why we stand in support of the Community Stabilization Fund that was announced today as part of the Development Agreement between Google and the City of San Jose.
After Google announced that it would develop a campus in Silicon Valley, the Law Foundation joined the Station Area Advisory Group, comprised of 38 member organizations appointed by city council to provide input on the impact of the project on local communities, land use, development and transportation. Alongside community partners such as Silicon Valley Rising, Somos Mayfair, Latinos United for a New America, and Working Partnerships, we successfully advocated for protections for residents at risk of being displaced by the development and called for the creation of good, fair-wage jobs.
The Community Stabilization Fund will ensure that as Google builds properties and hires new employees to live and work in San Jose, those most acutely at risk of displacement will benefit, specifically Latinx and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) communities in East San Jose and Downtown San Jose. The Fund sets aside dollars to prevent displacement, as well as to support economic opportunity for all people in San Jose. We are especially proud that the Fund will be governed by community members, including those with lived experience from East San Jose and Downtown. This will ensure that race equity issues are central to how the Fund is managed. We hope that this Fund serves as a model for future development projects, and inspires companies to take a deeper look at their social responsibility programs to ensure that communities of color are able to live and thrive in Silicon Valley.