Affordable Housing
Protecting Renters, Building Affordable Housing
Skyrocketing housing costs have put tenants, especially those that are low-income, senior and disabled - more and more at risk. And it has become virtually impossible for young families to become homeowners in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
To make a difference, Senator Leland Yee has worked hard to protect tenants, promote new affordable housing development, and fund housing assistance programs.
Protecting Tenants Rights
For San Francisco and San Mateo County to remain diverse and vibrant, rent control and tenant protections are essential. Seniors, low-income families and the disabled are especially vulnerable. In Sacramento, Senator Yee has been a strong, consistent voice on the side of renters.
• Strongly supports rent control.
As a San Francisco Supervisor, State Assemblyman & State Senator, Leland Yee has made clear that he strongly supports existing rent control and opposes efforts to weaken or undermine tenant protections.
• Rent Control for Section 8 Housing.
Supported legislation to extend San Francisco’s rent control ordinance to units covered under Section 8, thereby providing protection to a previously vulnerable population of people.
• Return of Security Deposits.
Helped strengthen law requiring landlords to return unused security and provide an itemized accounting of deductions
• Substandard Conditions.
Helped tenants force landlords to repair substandard conditions after a housing code enforcement officer has provided notice and prohibited eviction if conditions are not fixed.
• Landlord Retaliation.
Worked to provide additional protections to tenants against a landlord who retaliates against a tenant for the tenant’s exercise of his or her rights or to influence the tenant to vacate the rental premises.
Encouraging Affordable Housing
Senator Yee has strongly supported efforts to encourage the development of affordable housing and to offer down payment assistance to first-time home buyers.
• Supported San Francisco’s Proposition A Housing Bond.
Endorsed and campaigned for housing bond that would have helped build affordable housing and help first-time buyers purchase homes.
• Development Incentives.
Supported law that grants density bonuses and other incentives to a developer who agrees to construct housing that is affordable for persons of low income.
• Teacher Housing.
Voted to expand the Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program to include classified (non-teaching) school employees who work at low-performing schools in order to help recruit and retain qualified school staff.
• Removed Barriers to Low-Income Housing.
Strongly supported a law prohibiting a local government from rejecting or discriminating against a housing development because it consists of multifamily housing for low or moderate income persons.
• Senior Housing.
To create new options for seniors in need of affordable housing, Senator Yee supported legislation to increase funding for new senior housing projects.
• Addressing Housing Shortages.
Supported laws requiring cities build affordable housing developments in communities suffering major housing shortages, and legislation holding counties accountable for providing sufficient affordable housing for residents.
• Down Payment Assistance.
Repeatedly voted for funding for down payment assistance for low-income first time buyers.
Helping the Homeless
Working in partnership with San Francisco city officials and Democrats in Sacramento, Senator Yee has strongly supported efforts to provide housing for the homeless in the Bay Area and throughout California.
• Disabled Homeless Housing.
Supported law that requires the state Department of Housing and Community Development give priority in the Multifamily Housing Program people with disabilities who are at risk of homelessness.
• Homeless Veterans.
Expanded emergency shelters for homeless veterans.
• Emergency Housing.
Voted for $5.3 million additional funding for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, which makes operating grants to local agencies for homeless shelters.
