Newark’s Housing Element

Planning for our future

What is a Housing Element?

All cities and counties in California are required to adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community by adopting a Housing Element as part of their General Plan.

The City’s General Plan guides all the ways the city is planned and managed – from our roads and sidewalks to our parks and neighborhoods. The Housing Element is somewhat unique, in that State law requires that it be updated every eight years providing the City with a once in a decade opportunity to proactively plan for meeting housing needs for all segments of the community. In 2024 the City updated its housing policies and actions, as well as identified locations, housing types, and number of homes to be accommodated (but not necessarily built) by 2031.

The 2023-2031 Newark Housing Element includes the following:

  • A detailed analysis of Newark's demographic, economic, and housing characteristics

  • A comprehensive analysis of constraints to producing and preserving housing

  • A review of the City’s progress in implementing housing policies and programs from the current 2015-2023 Housing Element

  • An identification of goals, objectives, and policies, in addition to a full list of programs that will implement the vision of the plan

  • A list of sites that could accommodate new housing, demonstrating the City’s ability to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)

Our Housing Element

Cover of the Newark 2023-2031 Housing Element document
Illustrated graphic of many housing types in a row

The Housing Element Process

Creating more housing—and more diverse housing choices—means:

Young families can find an affordable starter home

Young adults moving out of their childhood home and into the housing market can stay in the cities they grew up in

Our aging population will have more options for retirement, including downsizing, providing housing for on-site health or home care, and staying in their communities

Workers - teachers, firefighters, health care workers, essential workers - can find homes near job centers (which will reduce traffic!)

Your children and grandchildren can stay near you in the communities they feel a part of

More people will have more opportunities, across incomes, to rent or own homes in the places they live, work and love

More housing options will support the diverse communities we are known for.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)

Equity is a driving force throughout the Housing Element planning process. 

California’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) defines Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) as taking meaningful actions to explicitly address, combat, and reverse disparities resulting from past patterns of segregation to foster more inclusive communities.

Photograph of a multigenerational group of people smiling, standing in front of the front door of a home

The Housing Element Update ensured that policies, programs, and site selection reflect the intention behind affirmatively furthering fair housing. Historic and current land use policies and planning play a key role in the ability of individuals and families to live in neighborhoods with opportunity, including academically and culturally supportive schools, a wide variety of living wage jobs, and convenient access to transit and services. The Housing Element Update process deployed a multi-faceted approach to affirmatively further fair housing using the following approaches:

  • Inclusive and Equitable Outreach

  • Assessment of Fair Housing

  • Analysis of Sites Inventory

  • Identification of Contributing Factors

  • Goals and Meaningful Actions to AFFH

For more information and AFFH Findings, please refer to the Newark Housing Element AFFH Chapter.

Programs and Policies

Newark developed a comprehensive plan with seven major goals to further affordable housing production and housing mobility, increase opportunity and protect residents from displacement.

The accompanying policies and programs have an implementation timeline of:

  • Immediate (0-3 years)

  • Mid-term (3 to 5 years)

  • Long-term (5-8 years)

  • Ongoing programs

The City will track program progress through the identification of responsible department and performance metrics through the 6th cycle. The following summarizes each goal and major policy with implementing programs and quantified objectives detailed in the full Housing Element. 

We’re here to help.

Illustrated graphic of many housing types in a row