Resources

Scroll down or click the links below to view our curated resources:

Tenants’ Rights and Resources

Menlo Together has hosted a few tenant-focused events, and recognized a need for better access to information related to tenants rights and community resources. In addition to this list, consider calling United Way’s information and referral service at 2-1-1 or online at www.211bayarea.org/sanmateo.

👇 See below for how to connect, learn and act to build a community where tenants can thrive.

⚖️ Tenant Rights in Menlo Park, Redwood City and East Palo Alto

City of Menlo Park (English and Spanish)
City of East Palo Alto
Redwood City

🛟 Community Support Resources for Tenants:

Samaritan House
- Free food, medical services, shelter, counseling or referral services by appointment
- Phone: 650-347-3648
- Website: https://samaritanhousesanmateo.org

Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto
- Free legal assistance for low-income families experiencing issues related to housing, immigration, workers’ rights, records clearance, and consumer protection.
- Phone: 650-326-6440
- Website: https://clsepa.org/contact/

Bay Area Legal Aid – San Mateo County
- Legal Advice Line for free legal advice and referrals in all languages. They do not provide advice on crime related issues.
- Phone: (800) 551-5554
- Website: www.baylegal.org/get-help/

Fair Oaks Community Center
- Services include rent assistance, utility payment assistance, food assistance, other emergency assistance and other support services.
- Phone: (650) 780-7500
- Website: www.smc-connect.org/locations/fair-oaks-community-center

El Concilio of San Mateo County
- Helps underserved, low-income, non/limited English speaking residents apply for financial assistance for utilities. Provides mental health referrals and other quality of life support services.
- Phone: (650) 373-1080
- Website: www.el-concilio.org/programs

Faith in Action Bay Area
- Resources, Information, and Help-lines in English and Spanish
- Phone: (203) 666-4472
- Website: https://faithinactionba.org/resource/

Take Action!

SB 567 – The CA Homelessness Prevention Act (2023) – Contact Jess Hudson jhudson@uwba.org to be informed of next steps.
Join the FIGHT:
- Sign the YUCA petition in support of the “Opportunity to Purchase Act (OPA)” here.
- Sign Faith in Action Bay Area’s Redwood City Housing Platform Petition here.
- Sign the Menlo Together Petition to support City Action on Tenants Rights, here
- Sign the Housing Leadership Council petition to support Tenant Rights and Affordable Homes in unincorporated San Mateo County here

Connect and Learn

In May 2023 Menlo Together, YUCA, HLC and Faith in Action presented a forum called “Tenants Belong” in which we heard stories and ideas for how to achieve housing justice, from local tenants. Achieving housing justice will take all of us. We invite you to connect and engage in the fight.

📰Read about the “Tenants Belong” event here (Spanish) and here (English).

Engage with YUCA by following their activities on Facebook and Instagram
Follow Faith in Action here. Reach out for a conversation by emailing fiaba@faithinactionba.org or calling 203-666-4472.
Engage with Menlo Together by subscribing to our newsletter, attending our events, and joining one of our working groups. Reach out for a conversation by emailing info@menlotogether.org
Join Housing Leadership Council or subscribe to the HLC newsletter member. Reach out for a conversation by emailing kchan@hlcsmc.org

Our Local History of Housing Segregation: The Color of Law, Menlo Park Edition

View the recording from our January 15, 2021 workshop or updated slide presentation from 2022.

Go deeper:
- Check out Kate Bradshaw’s Uneven Ground series in The Almanac for more local history.
- Read The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, watch a 17-minute animated video summary of the book, or listen to Rothstein’s October 3, 2019 presentation hosted by One San Mateo.
- Read Alex Shafran’s The Road to Resegregation: Northern California and the Failure of Politics for a Bay Area-wide analysis.

Learn more about the history of race:
- Listen to Scene On Radio’s Seeing White podcast series.
- Listen to the New York Times‘ 1619 podcast series or read the 1619 interactive magazine.
- Read Debby Irving’s Waking up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race.

Take Action:
- Host a Color of Law: Menlo Park Edition workshop for your group (email us for more info).
- Sign the “More Homes Downtown” petition to show support for additional, and more affordable, homes near transportation and shopping.
- Watch for Menlo Together events to learn more about the Housing Element process and get engaged.

Civics 101: Turning Ranting into Advocacy

In September 2020, community members gathered to teach and learn together. Community leaders and journalist Kate Bradshaw told the story of how residents of Menlo Park have educated themselves, protested, organized communication to City Council, and informed the public through local journalism. In response, the city alleviated potential drastic budget cuts to services at the Onetta Harris Community Center and childcare.

Here is the video of the event as well as presentations on the timeline of events, city budget basics, and how to participate in city government decisions. You can also read our blog post about the initiative.

General Meeting Videos

October 3, 2021

June 6, 2021

March 7, 2021

Partner Engagement Opportunities

Climate:
- Learn more about Climate Resilient Communities
- Join Menlo Spark
- Learn about the Menlo Park Climate Team

Housing Element:
- Learn about the Campaign for Fair Housing Elements
- Receive email updates from Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
- Attend Menlo Park Housing Commission meetings in person or by Zoom (sign up for email notifications)

Belle Haven Empowered Kitchen Table Chats (for Belle Haven residents)

Reimagining Public Safety
- Catch up on the Alternatives to Policing education series
- Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition summit video on de-policing traffic safety

Menlo Together Newsletter Archives

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