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. He is a Bay Area native and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. In March of 2020, Ken transitioned into his current position as an Organizer and is excited to help build towards a more equitable San Mateo Country through his affordable housing advocacy. He previously served as the Operations Manager for the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust and interned at both KCAssociates and Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation.
Contact: Kchan@hlcsmc.org