Monday, September 28, the City of Foster City approved $400,000, that will be matched by Essex, to keep 46 families in their below-market-rate homes. Without this action, the families would have been legally evicted on December 31, 2020 due to the expiration of a 36-year agreement between the city and Essex.

HLC staff prepared several residents who spoke well on their own behalf and invited Kalisha Webster from Housing Choices to join us to speak on the agenda item, which passed unanimously. Subcommittee members, Vice-mayor Sam Hindi and council member Sanjay Gupta, with Community Development, Planning and City Attorney worked with Essex to negotiate an agreement to cover the cost of the difference between current market rents and the rent due based on 30% of the resident’s income.  However, residents also encouraged the city council to continue to work with Essex, to seek a long term solution for senior and disabled residents to remain in their homes. 

Please contact Stewart Hyland at shyland@hlcsmc.org, for further information.

“I am not speaking just for myself. I am a single mom of two older sons and can take on a second job if I need to pay a higher rent somewhere else. But I am concerned about others, seniors and disabled, who cannot afford to move.”                    

Angela De Leon, Foster’s Landing Resident to Foster City Council

Housing is on the ballot this year and we want to give you the tools to take action! Seize the moment and join us!