Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths _
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Raymond Hodges, Director, Department of Housing
Subject: Authorization to Accept a Grant in the Amount of $100,000 from Silicon Valley Community Foundation on behalf of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to Support Planning Activities for Housing on County-Owned Land
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation to:
A) Adopt a resolution:
1. Accepting the award of a grant from Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), on behalf of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), in the amount of $100,000 to support planning and analysis activities associated with the development of housing on County-owned land; and
2. Authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement and, in consultation with the County Attorney, any related documents, agreements, certificates, or other instruments necessary to administer the grant and fulfill the purposes of the grant; and
B) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) recognizing Unanticipated Revenue in the amount of $100,000 to the Department of Housing to support planning and implementation for housing on County-owned land.
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BACKGROUND:
San Mateo County continues to face a significant shortage of affordable housing, workforce housing, and housing for County employees. At the same time, the County has assembled a portfolio of publicly owned sites with the potential to support future housing development.
To better leverage these publicly owned assets, the Department of Housing is developing a portfolio-based strategy designed to coordinate planning and development across multiple County-owned sites for housing rather than advancing projects individually.
This strategy is designed to support the delivery of at least 1,000 homes across approximately 12-15 County-owned sites. The strategy emphasizes portfolio-wide planning, coordinated stakeholder engagement, and early-stage feasibility work to improve speed, efficiency, and long-term outcomes.
On March 23, 2026, the County of San Mateo was notified that it had been awarded a grant in the amount of $100,000 from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Donor-Advised Fund, administered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to support a comprehensive analysis of County-owned sites with the potential to support future housing development and related planning activities.
These funds will support early planning activities associated with developing housing on County-owned sites, including site capacity analysis, stakeholder engagement, and development of implementation frameworks.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
DISCUSSION:
Coordinating the building of housing on County-owned land represents an opportunity to coordinate housing development across multiple publicly owned sites through a structured, phased planning process.
The proposed grant will support early-stage planning and analysis activities. These planning activities are part of a broader phased implementation strategy intended to build a coordinated housing pipeline across County-owned land.
The County anticipates that the planning work supported by this grant will help establish a foundation for housing development across multiple sites and inform future policy decisions regarding the use of County-owned land.
This grant will be provided in a single payment upon execution of the grant agreement. Progress reporting to the funding partner will occur during the grant period, including interim and final reports documenting progress and outcomes.
Acceptance of this grant supports the County’s broader housing goals by enabling the County to advance coordinated planning activities to accelerate housing production and improve the effectiveness of public land utilization.
The County Executive’s Office and County Controller have reviewed and approved the ATR associated with the acceptance of this grant award.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Housing affordability remains one of the most significant challenges facing San Mateo County. Households with lower incomes, including essential workers, County employees, and residents with special housing needs, often face substantial barriers to accessing safe, stable, and affordable housing.
This new initiative is intended to support a coordinated and equitable approach to housing development by identifying opportunities to serve a range of populations across multiple sites. This includes households at varying income levels, including extremely low-income households and County employees who support critical public services.
By supporting early-stage planning and analysis, this grant helps position the County to deliver housing solutions that promote equitable access to housing opportunities across communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Appropriation Transfer Request will recognize Unanticipated Revenue in the amount of $100,000 from Silicon Valley Community Foundation, on behalf of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to support planning and implementation activities associated with developing housing on County-owned sites. The grant period runs from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027, and funding will be disbursed in one installment upon execution of the grant agreement. There is no additional Net County Cost associated with acceptance of this grant.