COPA is a housing preservation tool for smaller rental properties, which requires a landlord who wishes to sell their rental property to first notify a Qualified Non-Profit, pre-approved by the city to convert properties to permanent affordable housing. These nonprofits will then have the opportunity to express an interest in property, and then have a period of time to put together an offer for the property. The landlord is not obligated to accept the offer, but they usually must allow that nonprofit to match their preferred offer when it goes on the market.
The San Jose City Council asked for the development of this policy as part of the Citywide Anti-displacement Strategy in 2020. The policy development work for the COPA policy was supported by a “Challenge Grant” from the Partnership for the Bay’s Future with SOMOS Mayfair as a community partner. Through the Challenge Grant, the City has been able to create a draft framework for a COPA program. The policy has been developed through extensive community stakeholder meetings sponsored by the City, and a parallel series of community meetings sponsored by SOMOS Mayfair. With the feedback of these meetings, San Jose City Council are expected to decide on the parameters of a COPA program in April.
Come learn more about San Jose’s COPA proposal, and share your thoughts.
Featured Speakers
Andrea Portillo, Community Organizing and Policy Manager, SOMOS Mayfair
Andrea Portillo was born and raised on the east side of San Jose. As the daughter of two Mexican immigrant parents, she grew up with a clear understanding of the support and resources her family and predominantly migrant community needed but often lacked. She received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations with a minor in Latin American studies from Mount Holyoke College, and her master’s degree in Migration Studies from the University of San Francisco. Her previous non-profit experience working directly with immigrant families and youth fueled her passion for exploring equity-based policies, programs and services that bridge the gaps between legislation and the realities of migrant communities like her own.
Heather Bromfield, Partnership for the Bay’s Future Fellow for the City of San JoseHeather Bromfield is a Partnership for the Bay’s Future Fellow working with the Policy Division at the San Jose Housing Department, where she specializes in COPA. Her prior work experience includes time in the nonprofit sector, where she worked on affordable housing policy, and in the private sector, where she worked as a consultant for public agencies on real estate, economic, and housing issues. Heather is a firm racial equity advocate and is committed to creating values-driven, well-researched policy. Heather has degrees in Urban Planning and Political Science and was a Fulbright scholar.
Moderated by Khanh Russo, Vice President of Policy and Innovation, San Francisco Foundation Khanh Russo serves as the Vice President of Policy and Innovation and Sr. Director for the Partnership for the Bay’s Future at the San Francisco Foundation. In this role, he leads a policy & innovation agenda focused on accelerating racial equity, economic inclusion and systemic change towards a more just society. Khanh’s expertise focuses on advocacy, power building, grantmaking and policy. Previously, Khanh lead San Jose Mayor Liccardo’s strategic initiatives focused on education, workforce development, innovation, performance management and budget. He also worked in the private sector leading social responsibility initiatives for Cisco Systems and Kaiser Permanente. Khanh received his MS in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and B.S. from Santa Clara University.
SV@Home’s Policy in Action @ Home series (PIA, formerly the Housing Action Coalition or HAC) is a monthly, informal brownbag discussion convening Housers to engage on hot housing topics. Every month, we select a topic or current event, bring in an expert to give a brief presentation or interview, and then open up the discussion to ask questions, float new ideas, and identify potential areas for shared action.
SV@Home strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please email Emily@siliconvalleyathome.org