Post Type
Oakland Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act campaign
About the Campaign
The Moms4Housing Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) helps low-income and working class families stay in their homes and neighborhoods by giving them the first chance to purchase a property when their landlord puts it up for sale.
The Bay Area is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis. Gentrification and displacement are affecting nearly every low-income neighborhood of color in Oakland. Many tenants are rent-burdened, meaning they are spending over 30% of their income on housing costs. TOPA gives renters a fair shot to own their own home in an overly competitive housing market. And it works — in Washington, DC, TOPA has helped preserve 4,300 units of affordable housing. TOPA is one way that everyone can work together to slow displacement and homelessness. When our most vulnerable neighbors have stable housing, everyone wins.
As part of the Oakland TOPA Coalition, Public Advocates has provided support in drafting legislation, creating fact sheets, and more.