Press Release: YIMBY Law Launches Housing Element Dashboard to Track Compliance and Housing Production

San Francisco, CA— YIMBY Law has launched a dashboard that tracks Housing Element compliance and the implementation process. This dashboard will provide useful information for advocates, researchers, journalists, and pro-housing organizations who are tracking cities and counties as they implement their housing plans. The dashboard compiles multiple data sources from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as well as the US census. It will allow community members to hold their local governments accountable to meeting their plans and encourage them to permit the minimum number of homes required to accommodate community needs.

“We’re thrilled to launch this tool so anyone can help enforce fair housing plans across the state,” said Jack Farrell, Research Attorney at YIMBY Law. “Cities will no longer be able to get away with not implementing their Housing Elements. Not with so many of us paying attention.”

Housing Elements are plans that every local jurisdiction in California is responsible for making every eight years. These plans must meet their anticipated housing needs based on projected population growth, economic opportunity, and other community factors. These plans must include homes for people and families at every income level, with the number for each income level depending on the community’s minimum need. 

YIMBY Law and YIMBY Action—with the support of several additional pro-housing nonprofits—launched the Campaign for Fair Housing Elements in 2021 to ensure cities and counties across the state create and implement compliant plans that allow for millions of new homes. Since then, YIMBY Law has recruited and supported over 600 watchdogs, filed five Housing Element lawsuits, and sent hundreds of letters informing cities of law violations.

Previously, cities have created unrealistic plans on paper that do not result in new homes. Housing advocates had no resources to track these plans and had to search hundreds of pages of planning documents to hold their cities to account. The dashboard will highlight which cities are falling short and empower advocates to hold them accountable to creating and implementing fair Housing Elements.

Now that all local jurisdictions are required to have approved housing plans in place, the Campaign is launching the dashboard to enable watchdogs, community members, and other stakeholders to monitor key decisions and help identify when localities fall out of compliance. It will also make it easier for the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and YIMBY Law to hold cities accountable when they ignore the law.

YIMBY Law will continue to monitor city and county behavior with the support of dedicated watchdogs and community members to ultimately ensure that the Housing Element process results in hundreds of thousands more homes across the state.
“For decades, exclusionary cities have gotten away with not building housing for anyone other than the wealthy, but recent improvements in Housing Element law and the presence of dedicated watchdogs have changed that,” said Sonja Trauss, Executive Director of YIMBY Law. “With the dashboard, it will be even easier to make sure cities follow through to actually allow homes for people at all income levels.”

YIMBY Law Prevails in Defending Homes for Unhoused People in Millbrae, CA

San Francisco, CA— YIMBY Law and the County of San Mateo have prevailed in their defense of a plan to purchase a La Quinta Inn & Suites with the intent to convert it into affordable homes for unhoused seniors and families. The County will now be allowed to continue buying the hotel and planning homes for dozens of currently unhoused county residents.

“We’re thrilled to see San Mateo County be allowed to continue its plan,” said Sonja Trauss, Executive Director at YIMBY Law. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home, and this project will make that a reality for dozens more people in the county.”

On September 12, 2023, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the plan to purchase and convert a La Quinta Inn and Suites into affordable housing for unhoused seniors and families. The City of Millbrae sued to block the plan on November 13, 2023. On January 8th, 2024, YIMBY Law answered the suit in defense of the County’s plan.

The City argued that Article 34 of the California Constitution—which passed in 1950 and requires local governments to put projects up for a community vote before developing, buying, or funding “low-rent housing”—should apply. This is due to the City speculating that the County planned to use Project Homekey funding to create the homes.

The court ruled that the City’s case was not ripe—meaning the case was not ready for litigation because it relies on future events that may not occur as anticipated, or may not occur at all—and therefore it could not advise on the subject. The court’s decision outlined that the County had not yet submitted an application for the funding needed to convert the hotel and allow residents to rent the homes. Due to the court’s decision, the County’s purchase of the La Quinta Inn & Suites may continue. Article 34 will not prevent the project from moving forward at this time, as the project does not currently require voter approval.

YIMBY Law will continue to monitor the City of Millbrae’s behavior regarding this project to ensure homes can be created for unhoused seniors and families in San Mateo County. YIMBY Law applauds the County of San Mateo for moving forward with the project and defending it in court.
“This building will benefit the community much more as housing than as a hotel,” said Leora Tanjuatco Ross, California Director at YIMBY Action and YIMBY Law. “Article 34 is a racist scar on our State Constitution and it should not get in the way of the development of these much-needed homes.”

Press Release: YIMBY Law Announces National Expansion to Enforce Pro-Housing Laws Across the US

San Francisco, CA— Today, YIMBY Law has announced plans to expand its pro-housing law enforcement across the country. The organization will hire two additional staff to support the expansion, including a Research Attorney and a Legal Associate. This expansion will allow cities and counties across the country to be held accountable for following state laws supported by and passed by YIMBYs.


“We’re excited to expand our work to support more housing across the country,” said Jae Garner, Communications Director at YIMBY Law. “YIMBY Action chapters and other pro-housing groups have asked for legal support and we’re looking forward to being able to provide it.”


Since its founding in 2019, YIMBY Law has enforced and facilitated the implementation of pro-housing laws in California. It has won over ten lawsuits and appeals, led the Campaign for Fair Housing Elements, and sent hundreds of warning letters to cities and counties that have violated state housing laws. In the first few weeks of 2024, YIMBY Law has filed two lawsuits against the City of Los Angeles for illegally delaying 100% affordable housing projects.


YIMBY Law’s expansion will build on recent pro-housing state law wins in states with YIMBY Action chapters and provide support for housing projects that are proposed throughout the US. YIMBY Law will write support letters, provide technical assistance to advocates and city officials, and where necessary, file lawsuits to ensure cities and counties follow pro-housing laws. Support can be requested via YIMBY Law’s website.

YIMBY Law is accepting applications for its two new positions, Research Attorney and Legal Associate. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, February 25th, 2024 at midnight Pacific Time. 

“Housing law enforcement is sorely needed, especially in places where pro-housing laws have recently passed,” said Sonja Trauss, Executive Director of YIMBY Law. “We’re looking forward to holding more cities accountable and making sure we achieve abundant, affordable housing everywhere in the US.”