As California’s housing crisis continues, cities and counties throughout the state are wrestling with ambitious state mandates and increasing community frustration about both the lack of affordable housing and the potential neighborhood impacts of housing production.

Local government leaders are finding it more important than ever to engage their residents in meaningful dialogue about housing solutions that are tailored for their individual communities. In response, the Institute for Local Government (ILG) just launched its Housing and Public Engagement Toolkit, a new resource to help California local governments establish more trust and transparency by collaborating with and engaging their residents on housing-related issues.

The toolkit offers public engagement strategies and techniques to address community concerns related to housing, as well as regional case stories, policy considerations and funding opportunities for cities and counties across California.

The toolkit was developed as part of a partnership with the California Department of Housing and Community Development Department (HCD), the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and Placeworks. The interactive resource provides strategies that can be adapted to the unique circumstances of each city, county or community.

The fee toolkit is accessible online at www.ILGHousingToolkit.org. A printer-friendly version will be released soon.