Support Flowing for Casita Coalition

Within a few months of its incorporation into its own nonprofit, the Casita Coalition has raised nearly $700,000, a strong testament to the belief that small homes can make a big difference. Initiated as a grassroots group of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) advocates that has since evolved into statewide coalition, the Casita Coalition was awarded $400,000 from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, $200,000 from The James Irvine Foundation and $100,000 from The San Francisco Foundation. The grant funds will support the nonprofit’s vision of creating more inclusive communities and improving housing choices for all California families, including hiring a new Director to help scale the organization and ADUs.

Made up of other advocacy and nonprofit organizations, builders, architects, city planners, homeowners and more, the Casita Coalition works to win more legislative and regulatory reforms, provide education and information about ADUs and promote and advance financing mechanisms and more. Casitas (Spanish for small house) are an incredible untapped form of affordable infill housing ideal for seniors, young people, and workers.

The Bay Area Council is proud to be a co-founder of the Casita Coalition and is delighted to see the Coalition carrying forward our shared priority to scale ADUs. The two organizations worked collaboratively with other housing advocates on groundbreaking advocacy over the past several years to ease local regulatory barriers and make it easier, faster and less expensive for homeowners to construct ADUs. Since the passage in 2016 of Council-sponsored SB 1069 (Wieckowski), which ushered in major reforms, ADU applications statewide have surged dramatically. To engage in the Council’s housing policy work, please contact Senior Vice President Matt Regan.