The Housing California 2025 Annual Conference highlighted the urgent need for Solidarity in Action to address housing instability and economic inequality. Manuel Pastor’s plenary speech emphasized solidarity economics as a path toward a more inclusive and cooperative society. A panel on Placed-Based Community Development: Elevating Community Voices for Scalable Impact explored key strategies, including meeting community needs, fostering partnerships, building leadership capacity, and developing sustainable business models. Insights from organizations like the Black Cultural Zone, Coalition for Responsible Community Development, Little Tokyo Service Centre, and Mission Economic Development Agency reinforced that successful community-based developers prioritize trust, collaboration, and long-term investment to serve the community’s needs. Strengthening these efforts is essential for advancing housing justice.
The Housing California 2025 Annual Conference brought together housing leaders, advocates, and community developers in Sacramento to emphasize this year’s theme, Solidarity in Action. Manuel Pastor, a University of Southern California professor, delivered a plenary speech and spoke about his work on Solidarity Economics. He emphasized that economic systems must shift from self-interest to mutual cooperation to tackle growing inequality in our communities. Rising housing costs and income inequality are forcing families out of our communities. Now is the time to build connections and community. We must unite, organize, and support each other to build power at the grassroots level.
The panel on Placed-Based Community Development: Elevating Community Voices for Scalable Impact featured established and emerging community-based developers in California. SV@Home, through the Community Roots Collaborative, is working to activate this ecosystem in Santa Clara County. The panel shared key insights on four essential areas: community needs, collaboration and partnerships, capacity building, and business models to help scale their impact.
Community Needs
Community-based developers (CBDs) focus on addressing the comprehensive needs of their communities. While housing is central, other factors like arts, culture, education, workforce development, and economic opportunities are equally important. The panelists stressed the importance of understanding a community’s history and identity. The organization can build a sense of belonging and empower residents by mapping these elements.
For example, the Black Cultural Zone (BCZ) in East Oakland integrates arts and culture to strengthen community identity. It provides leadership training and wellness programs to promote long-term stability. Addressing housing instability requires a holistic approach that includes economic empowerment, access to education, and cultural preservation.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Collaboration is the cornerstone for community-based developers. Mark Wilson from the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) in South Los Angeles gave Little Tokyo Service Centre (LTSC) a heartfelt shout-out for believing in CRCD’s vision and mission and being instrumental in its founding. The panelists emphasized that trust is the foundation of successful partnerships. CBDs must work closely with residents, local government agencies, businesses, and civic leaders to build credibility. A holistic approach that includes housing, job training, and youth services requires multiple partnerships. By forming strong partnerships, CBDs ensure resources reach those most in need in the community.
Capacity Building
Successful CBDs invest in leadership development within the community. Capacity building involves equipping local leaders with the skills and knowledge to sustain long-term change. The panelists highlighted that organizations must reflect the lived experiences of the people they serve.
Carolyn Johnson of BCZ emphasized that it is essential for BCZ to compensate fairly for the community members’ time to be involved in the work. Many CBDs serve low-income communities where volunteer labor is not a sustainable option. Investing in workforce development strengthens the entire ecosystem. CRCD shared that their goal is for households to earn family-sustaining wages, not just prevailing wages. The Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in San Francisco focuses on financial literacy and homeownership programs to build generational wealth for Latino families.
Business Model
A sustainable business model is critical for community-based development. Many CBDs start as nonprofit organizations but diversify their revenue through social enterprises, public contracts, and real estate projects. The first housing development project is often the most challenging, making partnerships with established developers a smart and essential strategy to consider.
CRCD began with a city contract for graffiti abatement, which later evolved into job training and affordable housing development. MEDA has expanded through a mix of lending for small businesses, real estate, and service-based revenue. The key takeaway from the panel was to start with what is familiar and what the community needs, build credibility, and then scale operations.
Community-based developers are rooted in their communities and respond to their unique needs. Their work goes beyond housing, addressing economic and social challenges holistically. To be successful, CBDs must build trust, invest in leadership, collaborate with partners, and establish sustainable business models. The future of housing justice depends on strengthening these grassroots efforts and ensuring that development serves the people who need it most.