Advocacy Earns Big Wins for Abode’s Mission

Abode has spent the past year increasingly engaging in advocacy work, urging state and local leaders to approve laws that aid our mission to end homelessness.

We’re proud that those efforts are paying off.  

First, the California State Legislature voted to continue substantial, dedicated funding for affordable housing and transportation, providing the the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program with $800 million each year until 2045. This was an enormus win for affordable housing advocates like Abode, as well as a testament to the power of persistent advocacy from our peers and community allies.

In addition, we joined other organizations in lobbying lawmakers to approve SB 634, which prohibits the criminalization of providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness. The state legislature agreed and has approved the bill. We were thrilled because this law is so deeply personal and related to our work, as it protects Abode staff and allows us to do the good work we do without fear of legal penalties.

Lastly, we applaud Alameda County Supervisors who listened to housing nonprofits like ours and recently voted to allocate $810 million in Measure W funds. The supervisors will distribute 80 percent of the funds towards homelessness with 20 percent going to other supportive services.

It's so gratifying to see our advocacy efforts pay off with big legislative victories. It’s also encouraging when leaders support our mission with action because – in those instances – the community wins, too.