Strengthening Communities Through Housing Justice

United Way Bay Area’s Ambassador Grant Program supports local organizations that are leading impactful, community-driven solutions for racial, economic, and housing justice. In FY24 (July 2023 – June 2024), our grantees made significant strides in advancing housing justice for families with young children, tenant protections, empowering grassroots leadership, and preventing homelessness through case management and direct assistance.

Here are a few of their stories:

Healthy & Active Before 5 (HAB45) – Contra Costa County

HAB45 is a coalition of early childhood advocates who emphasize the critical link between stable housing and child development. This year, in collaboration with Rising Juntos, they strengthened housing justice efforts by engaging non-housing organizations and families with young children in local policy advocacy.

Impact:

• Winning Tenant Protections:
  HAB45’s advocacy helped pass Antioch’s anti-harassment policy in July 2023, protecting families from retaliation when reporting unsafe housing conditions.
• Securing Rent Stabilization & Just Cause Protections:
  After seven years of advocacy, HAB45 and its partners successfully pushed the Concord City Council to pass rent stabilization and just cause eviction protections in March 2024.
• Expanding the Housing Justice Movement:
  By highlighting the disproportionate impact of housing insecurity on BIPOC and immigrant families, HAB45 brought nontraditional partners into the fight for stronger tenant protections.

Rising Juntos – Contra Costa County

Rising Juntos is a resident-led organization supporting marginalized communities across Contra Costa County to drive racial, economic, and health justice. Their work focuses on housing security, immigrant rights, and ensuring under-resourced communities are seen and invested in.

Volunteer Highlight:

• María, a single mother, faced a no-cause eviction while juggling three jobs. Through Rising Juntos’ leadership training, she developed advocacy skills and became a key voice in the fight for tenant protections. Over eight years, María and fellow Rising Juntos members attended numerous city council meetings, mobilized neighbors, organized direct actions, and engaged with the media to raise awareness.
• Their persistence paid off when the Concord City Council passed rent stabilization and just cause eviction policies in March 2024. María’s leadership highlights the impact of resident-driven advocacy in keeping families housed.

Dixon Family Services (DFS) – Solano County

Serving Dixon and rural Solano County since 1984, DFS offers a comprehensive range of social services, helping families achieve financial stability, secure employment, and find housing.

Impact:

• Hiring a bilingual case manager and receptionist to enhance accessibility for Spanish-speaking clients.
• Offering case management to assist families in securing direct housing assistance, budgeting advice, and enrolling in benefits.
• Preventing evictions—$5,000 in grant funds provided direct rental assistance to nine families at risk of eviction.

A Future Built on Community-Led Solutions

These stories underscore the transformative power of grassroots leadership and community-driven advocacy. By investing in organizations like HAB45, Rising Juntos, and Dixon Family Services, UWBA’s Ambassador Grants help ensure families remain housed, empower themselves, and foster lasting change in their communities.

Together, we are creating a future in which housing justice, economic security, and equitable opportunities to thrive are accessible to everyone.