Getting Inclusionary Housing Right

JOIN US VIRTUALLY ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24TH 12PM

Cities across Santa Clara County are considering this powerful tool to build more new affordable homes without subsidy.

But done wrong it can fall short, or even stop the development of new homes in its tracks. Learn how it works, and how to get it right!

Many of our local cities are joining forces right now in a shared nexus study, the wonky and in-depth analysis that assesses the feasibility of local residential development and the potential for developers of market-rate housing to add a share of affordable homes to their buildings.

If cities require too few affordable homes or affordability that’s too shallow, they leave public benefits on the table. Too much, and developers can’t build any housing at all.

Come hear about local cities that are getting it right: successfully using inclusionary housing policies to achieve mixed-income communities, generate funding to subsidize deeper levels of affordability, and gain valuable land for affordable homes!

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October 15, 2025

Where Housing Meets Health: Lessons from the Unity Council’s Fruitvale Transit Village

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On September 24, the Community Roots Collaborative cohort visited the Unity Council and Clínica de la Raza in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood to learn how housing, health, and economic opportunity can serve the community’s needs through culturally relevant community-based development near transit. San José City Councilmember Pamela Campos (District 2) joined the tour alongside representatives from JPMorgan Chase. Together, participants explored the Fruitvale Transit Village—a national model for equitable, transit-oriented development that weaves together affordable housing, small business spaces, and primary health care for all.

Last month, the Community Roots Collaborative (CRC) cohort visited The Unity Council and La Clínica de la Raza in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood to see what it looks like when housing, health, and economic opportunity come together through community organizing and ownership. We were thrilled to be joined by San José City Councilmember Pamela Campos (District 2) and representatives from JPMorgan Chase, who shared our cohort’s curiosity to learn how community-based development can be expanded in Santa Clara County.

Fruitvale Transit Village: Where Health, Housing, and Mobility Converge 

For more than 60 years, the Unity Council has stood as a national model for community-based development. What began as a civil rights organization advocating for marginalized residents has evolved into a community development corporation with deep neighborhood roots, strong cultural partnerships, and a clear vision for equitable, transit-oriented growth.

The tour began at Juntos Fruitvale, a historic Masonic Temple transformed into a vibrant 10,000-square-foot community hub. Through New Markets Tax Credits, a loan from JP Morgan Chase, and CDFI financing, the Unity Council turned an underutilized building into affordable offices and cultural space for local entrepreneurs and nonprofits. The center now anchors the organization’s broader mission to activate community assets and promote economic self-determination.

Just steps away, Clínica de la Raza illustrates how health and housing intersect. As a federally qualified health center, the clinic provides preventive and primary care with multilingual staff and culturally responsive services that reflect Fruitvale’s diversity. Its long-standing partnership with the Unity Council shows that community health begins with community control—over both services and space.

The surrounding Fruitvale Transit Village completes the picture, with Casa Sueños and Casa Arabella providing hundreds of affordable homes for families, veterans, and formerly unhoused residents. 

The Unity Council’s Head Start program provides play-based early childhood education that prepares children for school while supporting families with flexible center- and home-based options. The De Colores Head Start site at Fruitvale Transit Village—steps from Casa Sueños, Casa Arabella, and Fruitvale BART—offers convenient access for working families, with multilingual services available across Oakland and Concord.

Together, these spaces demonstrate what’s possible when housing policy, public health, and economic development are treated as interconnected priorities to serve the community’s needs rather than separate goals.

Lessons for Emerging Community-Based Developers

The Unity Council’s experience offers valuable guidance for grassroots groups in Santa Clara County and beyond:

  • Start small and build credibility through tangible, community-driven programs.
  • Partner early with public agencies, mission-aligned organizations, and CDFIs.
  • Secure flexible funding that allows experimentation and steady growth.
  • Center community voices in every phase of development.

As one Unity Council leader shared, “Owning property gives us the power to decide what happens in our neighborhood.” Pairing community ownership with transit-oriented development has turned Fruitvale into a living model of whole-community wellbeing. It’s a reminder that when communities lead, neighborhoods can grow without losing their roots.

SV@Home extends a heartfelt thank you to Chris Iglesias, CEO of The Unity Council; Aubra Levine, Vice President of Real Estate Development; and Jane García, CEO of La Clínica de La Raza (Oakland), for generously sharing their time, insights, and strategies for advancing community-led development, and for engaging thoughtfully with our tour participants. 

We also extend our gratitude to the Unity Council team for setting up an immersive and inspiring tour experience for our CRC cohort members and special guests!