Who are we?

The Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County (HLC) was created when a group of nonprofit leaders and service providers began discussions about the housing crisis, as well as the deeply entrenched obstacles to affordable housing development in communities throughout San Mateo. Those conversations led to HLC’s incorporation as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2001. HLC was founded to build a network of people who support the development of new housing, to build community support for housing, and to advocate for policies that address the root causes of the housing shortage.

Today, HLC is a membership organization that works with our partners to preserve and expand the range and supply of adequate, accessible, and affordable housing for residents and workers of San Mateo County. We organize to ensure everyone who works here, lives here, or grows up here can obtain a suitable home.

Mission:

Housing Leadership Council works with communities and their leaders to create and preserve quality affordable homes.

Vision:

HLC envisions a San Mateo County that works together to build inclusive, equitable, and healthy communities where all people can access safe, affordable homes and the resources needed for their families to thrive.

Our Values:

Equity

We believe in housing justice. It is our collective responsibility to foster inclusive communities where all people can afford stable housing and live in safe, healthy communities.

Respect

We respect and support each other, the communities we serve, and the environment. We strive to be present for all of our responsibilities, including work, community, family, and self.

Inclusion

We are committed to building trusted and honest relationships with community residents, housing developers, business leaders, our elected leaders, and dedicated government partners. Our power is in our ability to authentically listen to all voices, bring people together, find common ground, and foster inclusive communities.

Learning Mindset

We will constantly evolve and get stronger through continuous improvement, dedication, and hard work. We embrace reflection and learning as part of our commitment to developing effective teams, high-impact strategies, and vibrant communities.

Connection

We know housing, racial justice, health, education, transit, and the environment are all interconnected. We see our opportunities and challenges holistically. We are committed to working with broad coalitions for effective solutions.

Compassion

We are passionate, empathetic, and dedicated to this work that comes from the heart. We are community builders that recognize people with housing barriers are powerful, informed, legitimate voices with significant expertise, capable of making critical decisions.