The City of San Jose retained RSG in 2024 to establish and administer a uniform Relocation Assistance Program. RSG reviewed the City’s existing relocation policies and resources related to the Housing Crisis Act (Senate Bill or “SB” 330) and Ellis Act to enact improvements that streamline the City’s implementation of both laws. For the Housing Crisis Act, RSG drafted comprehensive Developer Guidelines that explain SB 330 relocation and replacement housing requirements. RSG outlined the City’s process developers must follow to demonstrate compliance and obtain a building permit. As a companion document, RSG drafted Standard Operating Procedures to explain internal policies and procedures related to SB 330 to City staff. RSG also drafted standard relocation notices, claim forms, and a claim database. For the Ellis Act, RSG drafted Relocation Procedures that explain requirements and procedures to City staff and consultants. RSG also made suggestions to improve existing City forms based on our experience implementing relocation for other clients.
RSG provides ongoing relocation consulting services on an as-needed basis. If a property owner or developer will displace a tenant, the City can call on RSG to serve as a relocation coordinator. RSG will interview tenants to survey and analyze their relocation needs to comply with the City’s Ellis Act Ordinance and the Housing Crisis Act. RSG will also draft relocation plans and notices required by law. Upon approval of the final Relocation Plan for a project, RSG will provide status updates, prepare relocation documents, conduct a Housing Valuation Study to determine comparable rents, provide comparable referrals, coordinate tenant counseling needs, and process relocation payment claims.
In 2022, San Jose embarked on a process to evaluate their current Rent Stabilization Program which includes a 1) Tenant Protection Ordinance, 2) Apartment Rent Ordinance, 3) Ellis Act Ordinance, 4) Mobilehome Rental Ordinance, and 5) Housing Payment Equality Ordinance. RSG assisted the City by analyzing demographic and housing trends in the City compared to similar jurisdictions as well as hosting a series of community engagement workshops targeted at property owners and tenants. The goal of the outreach was to gather feedback on the existing program to better understand the specific challenges and needs of the rental housing community. The City used community input and RSG’s data analysis to develop a data-driven 3-year Strategic Plan that sets goals, identifies metrics, and clearly demonstrates whether the Rent Stabilization Program is meeting the intended purpose. This Strategic Plan will be used to report on Program effectiveness and to make policy recommendations going forward.