Stockton, like many cities across the nation, is facing sharply declining levels of affordable housing and a growing number of people experiencing homelessness. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated this crisis. The City is working to alleviate housing insecurity among its residents, including increasing and preserving affordable housing, creating protections for tenants, and addressing discrimination in voucher programs. The Mayor’s Office in Stockton engaged FUSE Executive Fellow Anjali Menon, who worked to implement local strategies to address the critical areas of housing and homelessness.
Anjali collaborated with community organizations in the field and worked with the city manager’s office to present a framework for identifying and prioritizing all housing and homelessness initiatives. She also managed the application for Project Homekey, a program that allows cities to apply for funds for permanent housing. From organizing the relevant stakeholders to drafting the city council memo that passed successfully, Anjali saw the program through from end-to-end, ultimately resulting in the successful acquisition of a $4.3 million grant from the state to purchase and convert a local motel into permanent supportive housing for Stockton residents.
