In collaboration with fellow housing advocates we won victories including tenants rights: “Ellis Act”, “Just Cause Eviction.” PACT called voters and knocked doors in support of Prop 10 to extend rent control; this would have repealed the Costa Hawkins Act. In coalition with community partners in the SVRising Coalition helped keep the pressure on Google to make sure the Downtown West project in San Jose addressed concerns raised by community members – the lack of affordable housing, displacement. PACT leaders spoke out at City Council meetings, turned out at rallies and community meetings. Now, 1000 units of affordable housing will come out of this project and a community benefits fund of over $150 million will be created to address issues of displacement, housing instability and economic injustice. Along with local leaders PACT called  for closing of Hillview Airport and reinvesting land towards housing.  During COVID we successfully pushed San Jose City Council to implement an Eviction Moratorium. Most recently with our PICO federations, we were successful in passing SB567 Tenant Protections and SB 4 to allow housing built on faith lands.

Why are faith communities the best to respond to this crisis? Because  congregations and  schools have already stepped up during COVID, providing food pantries, rent relief, and in some of our congregations, even temporary housing. Many of our faith communities continue these programs today as people are still transitioning out of COVID and facing new crises in housing.All of us, coming from our different faiths, know that we are mutually responsible for each other’s well being. Our faith traditions tell us that everyone deserves to live with dignity and a sense of safety and belonging. It’s up to us to create a society where housing is sacred for all. Based on the research we have done, we leaders with PACT have determined that the time is now to pass statewide and local initiatives that will:

PACT Leaders in collaboration with nine statewide federations launched our statewide Moral Economy Agenda in April 2023, with over 700 statewide faith leaders convened at the State Capitol to call on state and local officials to address economic disparities in California. This work is reflected in Santa Clara County through our housing and guaranteed basic income initiatives.