Housing Anti-Displacement
What is displacement?
Displacement occurs when people need to relocate from their homes or neighborhoods due to a variety of factors that are often out of their control. These factors could include eviction, rising housing costs, deteriorating building conditions, neighborhood redevelopment or gentrification.
Per the approved 2023-2031 Housing Element and the approved 2024 Environmental Justice Element, the City of Menlo Park will develop an Anti-Displacement Strategy, with a particular focus on the Belle Haven neighborhood. Anti-displacement is a plan of action to prevent people from leaving their homes and neighborhoods and ensure that those currently housed can stay in place. Anti-displacement strategies are laws, policies, or programs that intend to counteract the displacement pressures felt by some households.
How will the City of Menlo Park create its Anti-displacement Strategy?
The City, in collaboration with The Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County, is preparing an Anti-displacement Strategy. As a first step, the team is evaluating the tools that the community identified during the Housing Element and Environmental Justice Element processes. The team will be presenting these tools at two upcoming meetings for additional community feedback and prioritization. These tools will help frame our Anti-displacement Strategy to present at a future study session to City Council in early 2025.
How can I get involved?
Attend the community meeting on Nov. 7 or 14 at the Belle Haven Community Campus to prioritize anti-displacement tools. We welcome all community members to share their thoughts on displacement and what they believe will most effectively combat it.
When:
- Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:30 – 8 p.m. (Spanish language only)
Location:
Belle Haven Community Campus
100 Terminal Ave.
Menlo Park
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Ways to get involved
- We want your input! Join our future community meetings on Anti-Displacement to share your feedback so we can learn about what matters to you.
Timeline
- On March 20, 2024, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified the City of Menlo Park 2023-2031 Housing Element(PDF, 29MB). It is in substantial compliance with state Housing Element law. Certification is a significant milestone for the City’s Housing Element and is essential to Menlo Park’s efforts to meet the housing needs of its residents across all income levels.
- In the 2023-2031 Housing Element, Program H2.E specifically highlights the City of Menlo Park’s need for an Anti-displacement Strategy. Menlo Park will develop an Anti-displacement strategy, particularly in the Belle Haven neighborhood.
- On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted the City’s first Environmental Justice Element(PDF, 36MB). During the community engagement and outreach process, the community identified access to safe, sanitary, and stable housing as a top priority. The Environmental Justice Element includes a similar program, including additional tools to consider, and to ensure that the Anti-displacement Strategy supports households and neighborhoods in underserved communities.