Civity’s personal-stories method for building cross-cutting “we’re all members of this community” relationships offers a path away from “us-vs.-them” dynamics that can bring housing efforts to a standstill.
Civity connections centered on different housing experiences can provide a foundation for lessening NIMBY “us-vs.-them” potency and making real progress on housing availability. When all community members see each other as important contributors to everyone’s well-being, attitudes and actions change. A civity culture, emerging from cross-cutting relationships, recognizes the overall benefits of new housing to a community as a whole and to a wide range of community members – not only potential burdens to some.
Personal stories are a different – and important – “way in” to the housing conversation and to building support for necessary housing initiatives. Stories invite people simply to listen, rather than pushing them to take a stand. Stories speak to people’s humanity and awareness of lived inter-connection.
There are many comfortably-housed residents who “see” and “hear” less-comfortably-housed community members. Lifting up the stories of comfortably-housed residents offers a potent counter-story to NIMBY exclusion.
Watch and listen to the stories of these comfortably-housed people who want to expand the pool of people who matter and belong in our communities.
Duf
California Resident
Freddie
California Resident
Tom
California Resident
Susan
California Resident
Joe
California Resident
Read the Report
Read Civity Stories: Going to the “Heart” of NIMBY Resistance to Affordable Housing, a groundbreaking new report by Palma Joy Strand and Malka Ranjana Kopell. The report addresses a sticking point in California’s ambitious housing plan. Fair share housing allocations determined by the state have evoked resistance in many local jurisdictions. In particular, NIMBY (“Not In My Back Yard”) responses to expanding the amount and range of available housing can create significant political and legal resistance when generalized plans turn into concrete zoning changes and/or development proposals closer to home.
As we met with people who are part of the statewide effort to address the state’s housing needs, we were inspired by their dedication and vision for the state. The report illuminates the critical role of relationships as an essential component in this work.
Watch the Webinar
The Civity Stories Webinar explores the Civity Stories report. In case you missed the webinar on October 6, 2025, you can watch it here:
The session features a brief presentation of the report followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ben Metcalf, Managing Director of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.
Panelists:
– Wayne Chen, Housing Director, City of Mountain View CA
– Lenny Mendonca, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to CA Gov. Gavin Newsom
– Anu Natarajan, Urban Planner and Housing Expert and Former City Councilmember, City of Fremont CA
– Leora Tanjuatco Ross, California Director, YIMBY Action