Universal Goal: All individuals and families have safe, stable, and affordable housing and reliable income that covers their expenses while building wealth throughout their lifetime and for future generations

Residents need pathways to quality jobs with medical and retirement benefits, career advancement opportunities, and limited barriers to entry. While the delivery of job training and job placement services to unemployed or underemployed residents in impacted communities is critical, there are limited living wage job vacancies for entry-level and lower-educated candidates. Many job seekers need immediate income to make ends meet and may find it challenging to take on additional job training or schooling. Regardless of employment status and earnings, all individuals and families need safe, stable, and affordable housing to thrive. It’s critical that those in crisis or facing financial hardship are aware of and have access to resources to meet immediate housing needs while working towards long-term housing stability.

SPCC consultations with community organizations and workforce development partners serving our impacted communities highlighted the following strategies as those with the most potential to generate more living-wage jobs and open on-ramps to quality career pathways for local low-wage workers.

• Anchor Institutions: Anchor institutions are public, private, and nonprofit employers that play a crucial role in the local economy and are committed to the local community.  Many anchor institutions, including universities, hospitals, government agencies, and large corporations, are a fixture in our county. They provide stable employment and benefits, spend locally, and generate local economic opportunities with close ties to the community. Anchor institutions can leverage their financial resources and social influence to serve as catalysts for equitable economic opportunities, policies, and initiatives that support our most impacted communities.
• Local Career Pipelines: Career pipelines are mapped pathways for individuals to enter into living-wage job opportunities with career pathways to progress from entry-level positions to higher-paying jobs within an industry or organization. These pipelines aim to promote local employment, address skill gaps, provide training and mentorship opportunities, and support career advancement—ultimately supporting individuals and families to build wealth over time and advance shared prosperity. This work includes identifying career entry points into industries or organizations with future growth potential, and the technical training, professional certifications, continuing education, or soft skills needed to support career progress. The career pipeline may identify or create pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and job or career readiness programs, internships, or entry-level positions that require minimal qualifications but provide opportunities for skill development and on-the-job training. When employers remove unnecessary requirements  for entry into jobs, it further reduces barriers for local employment.
• Employee Ownership and Entrepreneurship: Support for employees and entrepreneurs involves providing access to capital, business development resources, and operational guidance to help individuals take on business ownership and start, sustain, and grow enterprises. This type of assistance can help fill crucial gaps for communities who have been historically excluded from lending and support networks. Specialized programs for worker cooperatives (COOPs) and other mechanisms for employee ownership can strengthen career pathways for all workers while adhering to legal and regulatory documentation requirements. Assistance could also take the form of low-interest loans, grants, and microfinancing options, as well as training in business planning, marketing, financial management, and compliance. Lowering barriers to entry and offering ongoing technical assistance for entrepreneurs can foster a more inclusive local economy, create jobs, and strengthen community wealth-building opportunities.

• Housing Stabilization: Housing stabilization supports include policies, programs, and resources designed to help renters and homeowners maintain safe, secure, and affordable housing. These supports aim to reduce the risk of displacement and housing insecurity, and may include increased access to rental data, rental assistance, mortgage relief, legal aid for eviction prevention, policy interventions, home repair grants, and financial counseling to help households stay current on housing payments. These resources help ensure residents have access to timely interventions, particularly during economic downturns or personal financial crises. By addressing immediate housing needs while promoting long-term stability, these efforts help preserve community ties, prevent homelessness, and provide a foundation for families to thrive.

Universal Goal: All residents have access to opportunities to pursue their personal goals, and voice and agency to influence larger policies and actions that affect their lives

San Mateo County must foster inclusive governing and promote community power. Demographic surveys indicate that communities of color, low-income communities, and younger residents are underrepresented across dozens of the County’s boards and commissions. Anecdotally, this underrepresentation is mirrored across many of the counties’ other local governmental jurisdictions. Local leadership development programs can be enhanced or expanded to reach underrepresented communities, and recruitment into open positions can be more intentional to reach diverse audiences.

SPCC consultations with local community-based organizations working to advance fair and just governance highlighted the following strategies to achieve broad reach across the counties’ various cities and towns. These strategies leverage and expand on existing programs and nascent initiatives to diversify leadership and strengthen collaboration between local governments and the communities they serve.

• Pipeline for Diversifying Representation in Elected and Appointed Positions: Mobilizing the next generation of leaders from underrepresented communities promotes diversity and inclusion in governance and gets us closer to a government for the people by the people. Appointed boards and commissions are the formal infrastructure for government to bring community voice and guidance to decision-makers. Leadership development programs can introduce and prepare aspiring leaders from under-resourced neighborhoods to understand the campaign process and employ strategies for engaging constituents and mobilizing community members. Pipelines for youth, transitional-aged youth (age 15-25), and emerging leaders may include mentorship or internship opportunities or positions as staffers or advocates for local elected officials.  Also, local institutions recruiting for open boards and commissions can diversify community voice in advisory and decision-making roles by being more intentional at understanding gaps in their representation, engaging diverse communities in effective ways, and removing barriers to participation.
• Technical Assistance for Existing Representatives: Appointed and elected representatives on boards and commissions from underserved communities do not always have access to the resources and support systems they need to elevate their leadership and capacity to represent their communities or their issues. Providing technical assistance and training for existing representatives who work in support of under-resourced and underrepresented populations can help advance fair and just public policy. For example, technical assistance efforts could develop internal processes for making data-driven decisions to influence equitable resource allocation, improving community engagement, and building effective community partnerships. 

Universal Goal: Everyone feels the respect, dignity, and wellbeing that comes from a sense of belonging and contributing to and being appreciated across all settings and demographics

San Mateo County must foster an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported by their local community and government. The county’s cultural diversity is a strength, and a shared narrative can foster the collective vision that all individuals and families are welcome in San Mateo County. Individuals also feel valued when their communities and local government provide help when it’s needed most.

The SPCC community conversations indicated the continued difficulty of our most impacted residents to connect to the various services and systems of supports to help meet their basic needs like food and housing. For individuals and families in need, having trusted, local community partners who are culturally and linguistically competent and that also have a comprehensive knowledge of local resources and assistance programs serve as a lifeline. Many residents are unaware of available support services and need help both identifying resources and navigating the complex systems when a variety of organizations and agencies are involved. Once benefits are secured, they are challenged by potential benefits cliffs: when a slight increase in earned income can render an individual or household ineligible for benefits, leaving them worse off than before.

With input from community conversations and consultations with local agencies serving our most impacted residents, four strategies were identified to promote belonging and acceptance among community members and improve awareness, coordination, and navigation of critical assistance.

• Narrative Change: Cultivating Belonging and Understanding: Narrative change —cultivating a culture of belonging and understanding in our community—is a priority of the SPCC as a countywide consortium and for each of the SPCC members’ organizations. Changing the narrative is critical to the success of all three of the prosperity goals because it will help everyone feel included and invested in the County’s efforts. Narrative change includes the development and outreach of strong messages that effectively share a vision where all community members are valued and can fully participate in civic, economic and social opportunities, with the understanding that this helps everyone in the county thrive. Narrative change includes sharing stories of community members, hosting webinar series, and generating other public-facing content, all with the goal of cultivating a culture of belonging and fostering an understanding of the shared humanity that holds us together across differences.
• Community Resource Mapping: Community resource mapping involves identifying and locating the programs, services, and supports that help residents move toward economic stability and opportunity. It focuses on identifying resources that meet community needs, such as job training and career development; access to transportation; childcare options; housing support; and financial assistance. It also helps identify service coverage, gaps, duplication, and access barriers. Community resources can then be included in tools such as directories, databases, or maps of service locations. Comprehensive and up-to-date community resource mapping helps local organizations and agencies coordinate efforts and allocate limited resources to best serve residents.            
• Navigation Support (Promotoras): Latino/e/x residents are the largest demographic currently utilizing HSA programs in San Mateo County and are the largest racial/ethnic group living below the California Poverty Measure (42% of individuals below the California Poverty Measure are Latino/e/x). The Promotoras model can provide needed assistance to help this priority population navigate the complex system of benefits. Promotoras are community members with specialized training that provide peer-to-peer, culturally relevant education and advocacy and serve as a liaison between the community and human services and other service providers, sharing on-the-ground learnings and areas for improvement. 
• Benefits Calculator: Benefits programs provide a critical safety net for vulnerable individuals and families. But as recipients increase their earned income, it’s difficult to anticipate the timing and magnitude of benefits loss. Job seekers may accept a position without realizing their benefits will be reduced or may avoid seeking or accepting opportunities due to fear or uncertainty of benefits loss. A benefits calculator is an online tool that models the potential scenarios for benefits eligibility to maximize benefits and better plan for job opportunities. The tool can assist job seeker service providers in helping clients plan for career advancement and social service providers as they provide case management support and advice to clients.

As the primary source of income and economic security for most Americans, jobs and wages affect a person’s prospects for upward mobility. Rewarding work provides a reliable income source to help people build savings and better weather life’s challenges, but it’s not just about wages. Rewarding work also enables people to gain skills and experience so they can advance to higher-paying jobs, build wealth, support their families, and improve their children’s prospects. It also helps a person feel accomplished, dignified, and that they have autonomy and power over their life.  

Select strategies and promising practices include:  

• Anchor institutions: Partner with major employers to connect local job seekers with employment opportunities, invest in workforce development, and procure locally   

• Career pipelines: Identify pathways for individuals to progress from entry-level positions to higher-paying and more fulfilling jobs 

• Employee ownership and entrepreneurship: Provide supports for employees and entrepreneurs to start or take ownership of, sustain, and grow their own businesses 

• Financial education and counseling: Provide coaching, tools, and education to help improve short-term and long-term financial wellbeing 

• Government fines and fees: Reform government-levied fines and fees that disproportionately burden low-income residents 

• Guaranteed income programs: Provide cash assistance to residents, such as through guaranteed income programs or local tax credits 

• Housing stabilization supports: Leverage policies, programs, and resources to help renters and homeowners maintain safe, secure, and affordable housing 

• Infrastructure investments: Invest in local infrastructure like roads, public transit, parks, and schools, create jobs and enhance longer-term employment opportunities for residents 

• Living wage ordinance: Require that all employers in a jurisdiction pay wages adjusted to local cost of living. Learn about San Mateo County’s Living Wage Ordinance 

• Public procurement preference: Give preference to local, local small, and local micro vendors when evaluating solicitations. Learn more about San Mateo County’s Local, Local Small, and Local Micro Business Preference Ordinance. 

• Workforce development: Create pathways to living wage jobs and support workers in developing skills and building careers, such as public-sector apprenticeships 

Explore more from Urban Institute and Results for America. 

Communities that support upward mobility have local governments that are attentive to the needs of all community members and residents who are deeply engaged in collective decision-making. Responsive local governments empower the people they serve by ensuring their concerns are addressed. By allocating resources equitably, they ultimately help improve residents’ economic prospects. Further, residents feel more valued and respected in their communities when public institutions that are intended to serve and protect communities act with justice and empathy. 

Select strategies and promising practices include:  

• Evidence-based policing: In partnership with communities, use research and data analysis to set goals and identify targeted strategies  

• Local government workforce: Invest in hiring, recruiting, training, and compensation of local government workers 

• Non-police emergency response: Use trained behavioral health professionals to provide emergency support services focused on health and de-escalation 

• Participatory budgeting: Adopt direct democracy practices like participatory budgeting to empower community members and encourage them to participate in local governance 

• Prevent gun violence: Limit access to firearms and raise awareness of gun safety best practices 

• Reduce barriers for voters: Expand the number of voting sites and site hours, offer mail-in, early, and absentee voting  

• Reentry supports: Facilitate residents' transition to full-time employment through subsidized jobs and wraparound support services for those recently released from jail or prison 

• Strong social safety nets: Reduce obstacles to accessing public benefits programs 

Explore more from Urban Institute and Results for America. 

Education—from prekindergarten through postsecondary—provides a crucial avenue to economic and social mobility. High-quality preschool programs, elementary schools, and high schools boost academic achievement, college enrollment, and adult success. They also provide children and teens with diverse social networks and shape their social identity and sense of belonging. Those who obtain postsecondary education continue to build these skills and expand their prospects for upward mobility. 

Select strategies and promising practices include:  

• After-school and out-of-school care: Create quality enrichment opportunities and programs for children and youth outside of school hours 

• Child care and early education programs: Provide children ages 0-5 with quality care and learning environments 

• Child care and educator workforce: Train, recruit, and retain a diverse workforce of educators and caregivers to deliver quality programming to children and youth 

• Home internet access: Provide financial assistance or subsidies for the cost of internet service and devices 

• Public Wi-Fi expansion: Create and expand free public options for accessing the internet in public spaces like libraries 

• Scholarship programs: Address financial barriers that prevent students from applying to or enrolling in college 

• School attendance: Create programs that help address barriers to student attendance, prevent dropouts, and provide alternative pathways to high school graduation 

• Youth employment: Provide paid internships and employment to high school students and transitional-aged youth outside of school or during the summer 

Explore more from Urban Institute and Results for America. 

Good and stable health helps people of all ages surmount life’s challenges, excel in school and on the job, ensure their families’ well-being, and fully participate in their communities. Safe neighborhoods with low levels of environmental contaminants reduce people’s risk of health complications that may undermine school or work performance. High-quality and accessible health services can help parents get their children needed care through critical formative years and enable adults to obtain tests that screen for early detection of diseases, which can reduce long-term health care costs and give people power and autonomy over their lives. 

Select strategies and promising practices include:  

• Address barriers to care: Identify strategies that address barriers that prevent access to health services, such as virtual visits, mobile clinics, or school-based health centers 

• Green infrastructure: Invest in green infrastructure such as permeable pavements, as well as green spaces like parks that improve air quality 

• Health system navigation: Create programs that assist residents in obtaining health insurance, navigating care, and improving health literacy 

• Healthcare workforce: Invest in building a high-quality workforce of culturally competent health workers, and incentivize health professionals to work in underserved areas 

• Mental health services: Increase access to mental health services, including substance use treatment and prevention 

• Prenatal care: Improve access to prenatal care such as expanding the use of birth centers, and create support and education programs that focus on prenatal care 

• Reduce carbon footprints: Public-sector operations can transition to clean energy sources such as electrifying bus and vehicle fleets and government-owned buildings  

• Workplace safety: Create paid sick leave laws and other policies to enhance worker well-being 

Explore more from Urban Institute and Results for America. 

Neighborhoods play a central role in upward mobility because they affect households’ stability and well-being and their access to social and economic opportunities. Neighborhoods are where children experience critical stages of socioemotional and physical development, social ties form, and people access resources and life opportunities. Being able to find and afford quality housing, living in a diverse community where one feels welcomed and respected, and having equitable access to local resources are all essential aspects of opportunity-rich and inclusive neighborhoods. 

Select strategies and promising practices include:  

• Affordable housing: Subsidize affordable housing development, establish incentives for developers to create affordable units, and explore ways to leverage publicly owned land 

• Affordable rental housing: Preserve long-term affordability of rental units by providing subsidies or other incentives to compensate the owner 

• Community development: Support community development in high-poverty neighborhoods, such as investing in schools, transportation, and job creation 

• Eviction protections: Enact just cause eviction laws so landlords can only end a tenancy for “at fault conditions” such as failing to pay rent, violating lease terms, or illegal activity 

• Homeownership opportunities: Provide down payment or closing-cost assistance and expand access to financing, such as through the use of subsidized or shared appreciation, so create affordable homeownership opportunities 

• Land use reform: Reform zoning and land-use policies, streamline permitting processes, and create incentives for developers to build new housing and allow for more diverse, high-density, mixed-income communities 

• Permanent supportive housing: Create long-term housing coupled with support services for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness 

• Property tax reform: Reform property taxes and property assessment processes to ensure they do not disproportionately burden low-income residents 

• Public transportation access and quality: Invest in expansion, quality, and frequency of public transportation systems and services 

• Rental assistance: Provide rental assistance to residents and incentivize landlords to rent to tenants receiving assistance 

Explore more from Urban Institute and Results for America.