Ken Chan, Senior Organizer

Housing Story:

My family of four got its start in San Jose where we lived with our relatives in a small 3-bedroom home before settling in one of this country’s first planned integrated communities in Sunnyhills, Milpitas. Economic and racial diversity in my neighborhood took a hit when it began to feel the effects of our region’s lack of quality affordable homes in the 2010’s – where I began to hear the same narrative over and over again from people who were moving in with much higher wages, but who couldn’t afford to live near their places of work:

  • “Renters aren’t real residents”
  • “People who can’t maintain their lawns don’t deserve to live here”
  • “I deserve to be here more because my job actually contributes to the economy“

While anyone who wants to live in my community should be able to, it shouldn’t be at the cost of those who are already there. This is why I organize.

Bio:

Ken Chan initially joined the HLC team in March of 2017 as our Operations Manager. 

In March of 2020, Ken transitioned into an Organizer position and now serves as HLC’s Senior Organizer. In this role, Ken oversees our Endorsement Committee and has successfully advocated for the creation of 6,314 homes (2,111 affordable) throughout San Mateo County. Managing HLC’s Policy Committee, Ken works to build a strong coalition of San Mateo County-based housing leaders by bringing together a broad coalition of housing experts and community members with lived experience to discuss, learn, and recommend endorsement of local and state policies that make it easier to build affordable homes. At the regional level, Ken has advocated for a more equitable distribution of the Bay Area’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers, works to increase awareness and to hold our cities accountable to the Surplus Lands Act, and is the San Mateo County lead advocate for the upcoming potential $10 billion regional housing bond. Finally, in his efforts to bring in and help develop more People of Color (POC) with lived experience to the non-profit affordable housing profession, Ken has helped HLC’s local partners in their hiring process as well as successfully recruiting seven (6 POC) current and former HLC Staff. 

He previously served as the Operations Manager for the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, interned at both KCAssociates and Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, and developed a love for saying “no” from his extensive customer service background. Ken is a Bay Area native and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture.

Contact: Kchan@hlcsmc.org