The Housing Element is part of San José's Envision 2040 General Plan, a community-based plan that serves as the blueprint for the City's growth. The Housing Element identifies the city’s housing needs and opportunities and establishes goals and strategies to inform housing decisions. 

The Housing Element is updated every eight years and must be certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Maintaining a housing element that complies with HCD reporting requirements is important to the City's eligibility for state and regional funding for housing, transportation, and parks. 

On January 29, 2024, HCD certified the City of San José’s 2023-2031 Housing Element. The Housing Element is comprised of six chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction to the Housing Element
  
  
• Chapter 2: Housing Needs & Assessment of Fair Housing
  
  
• Chapter 3: Housing Goals and Strategies
  
  
• Chapter 4: Constraints on Housing
  
  
• Chapter 5: Adequate Sites for Housing
  
  
• Chapter 6: Energy Conservation
  
  
• Appendices:
• A: Demographic Profile/Housing Needs
• B: Assessment of Fair Housing
• C: 5th Cycle Accomplishments
• D: Housing Program Resources
• E: Constraints on Housing
• F: Site Inventory
• G: Site Inventory: Pipeline projects 
• H: Public Outreach
• I: Anti-Displacement Strategy
• J: General Plan Policies—Energy Conservation
• K: Comparables

The Housing Element must include specific components per state law. For the first time — in response to AB 686, the "Affirmatively Further Fair Housing" law, this next update (Cycle #6) must include an assessment of fair housing; a site inventory that helps dismantle housing segregation; and programs that "affirmatively further fair housing." 

1. Housing Needs Assessment: Examine demographic, employment, and housing trends and conditions that affect the housing needs of the community.
   
   
2. Evaluation of Past Performance: Review the prior Housing Element to measure progress in implementing policies and programs.
   
   
3. Housing Sites Inventory: Identify locations of available sites for housing development or redevelopment to ensure that there is adequate capacity to address the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
   
   
4. Community Outreach and Engagement: Implement a robust community outreach and engagement program, with a particular focus on outreach to traditionally underrepresented groups.
   
   
5. Constraints Analysis: Analyze and recommend remedies for existing and potential governmental and nongovernmental barriers to housing development.
   
   
6. Policies and Programs: Establish policies and programs to fulfill the identified housing needs. 

Jerad Ferguson, Planning Division, Principal Planner:
Jerad.Ferguson@sanjoseca.gov

Kristen Clements, Housing Department, Division Manager: 
kristen.clements@sanjoseca.gov