Holiday Happy Housers Party!

Join us for an evening of festive vibes, recognition of collective wins, and end-of-year celebration at SV@Home’s Holiday Happy Housers, our annual holiday party!

Everyone’s invited, especially those who want to connect with the housing community, as we unwind, mingle, and strengthen our resilience for the work ahead.

Expect good drinks, good food, and great people.

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November 13, 2025

Mountain View Takes Steps to Strengthen Its Affordable Housing Program

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Mountain View is exploring important updates to its Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Program to make affordable housing more accessible, flexible, and equitable. The proposed changes would modernize how developers meet affordability goals while preserving options to fund deeply affordable homes citywide.

Earlier this month, the Mountain View City Council reviewed proposed updates to the City’s Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Program, a key policy that helps ensure affordable homes are included in new developments. The meeting gave Council the opportunity to weigh in on proposed amendments before staff brings back a draft ordinance for adoption in early 2026. The update fulfills a Housing Element requirement to revisit the program and ensure it continues to meet the City’s goals for affordability, inclusion, and fair housing.

Mountain View’s Below Market Rate (BMR)1 Program, first adopted in 1999 and last updated in 2019, requires developers to include affordable homes within new housing projects or, in some cases, contribute toward affordable housing elsewhere. The proposed amendments would strengthen the program by; improving accessibility standards, modernizing off-site and land dedication options, and introducing a new preservation-based compliance path that allows developers to rehabilitate and deed-restrict existing housing. Staff also recommended the removal of the in-lieu fee2 as a standalone option, instead using it as a benchmark to measure the value of alternative compliance options. These changes aim to expand flexibility for developers. while ensuring affordable housing remains integrated into all parts of the city.

SV@Home is excited to see Mountain View taking a proactive approach to strengthening its BMR Program. These updates mark an important step toward ensuring that affordable housing is not only produced, but also equitably preserved and seamlessly integrated into mixed-income communities. While we initially had concerns that removing the in-lieu fee option could limit funding for 100% affordable projects, the City has taken meaningful steps to expand and diversify its local funding sources for affordable housing and has several City-assisted affordable developments in the pipeline. We deeply appreciate City staff for their thoughtful work and Council for its continued leadership, and we look forward to seeing the final proposal return for Council consideration in early 2026.

Stay Updated: Follow SV@Home for updates and opportunities to make your voice heard when this item returns to Council in Q1.

  1. Below Market Rate (BMR) – A title commonly attached to local programs that make housing available to lower- and moderate-income households at costs below prevailing market rates. The term can include affordable units produced under an inclusionary housing scheme or produced with subsidy loans.
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  2. In-Lieu Fee – A monetary payment made instead of meeting a regulatory requirement. Commonly used to refer to a fee paid by a developer who does not provide an otherwise required affordable housing unit under an inclusionary housing program.
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