YIMBY Action started out as a group advocating for housing in San Francisco, one of the worst cities in the U.S. in terms of housing cost and availability. Since then, we’ve teamed up with people in other growing cities and towns across the U.S. who saw housing become more expensive and scarce in their communities. Now, YIMBY Action has chapters from coast to coast of the US. Through our network, chapters get access to training, tools, and a community of other people passionate about housing.
Our board, staff, volunteers, and donors (nicknamed “YIMBYs”) are all passionate about housing. Some are architects, city planners, and homebuilders—truly passionate about the buildings in which we live. Even more YIMBY members are simply everyday people who have experienced and seen the negative impacts of scarce and expensive housing.
YIMBYs have experienced housing struggles that are all too common, like:
For many, becoming a YIMBY is a way to try to fix the systemic problems that have affected them personally.
One reason I support YIMBY: I got mold sickness from living in a crappy apartment that was all I could afford on a nonprofit salary. A year+ of stomach issues and panic attacks! No one should have to destroy their health to live near their job.
Gill Pressman
Director of Development, YIMBY Action
Many YIMBYs have experienced challenges finding and affording housing. Many YIMBYs also care about housing because of how it overlaps with other causes they care about. The housing shortage is bad for people, reinforces existing inequalities, hurts the environment, and stalls the economy.
Housing is the most important issue of our time. I’ve worked in poverty alleviation my whole career and all roads lead to housing when it comes to the root causes of wealth inequality, educational inequality, and health inequality.
YIMBY Member
YIMBYs see scarce housing as the result of shortsighted and discriminatory laws, which we know we can change when enough citizens speak up and vote.
We advocate for research-backed policies to increase the supply of housing, both market-rate housing and government subsidized housing. Our policies are informed by pragmatism; we focus on solutions that can lower the cost of housing without competing for scarce public dollars, and that get rid of red tape in favor of more effective, streamlined regulations.
Policies change when people make noise about it—when they show elected officials that they care.
YIMBYs get politicians to care by showing up to local hearings, writing petitions, calling and writing representatives about bills, and meeting with them in person. We support pro-housing candidates when they run for office, knocking on doors and making phone calls to help them get the votes they need to win.
While not universally true, we recognize that historically, the YIMBY movement has attracted and engaged people who have been shielded by the most extreme impacts of the housing shortage by virtue of our race, socioeconomic status, and other advantages. We are actively working to include and elevate diverse and less privileged people in our organization. You can read more about our equity practices in our Equity Vision Statement.
Join the Movement
When you support YIMBY Action, you become part of building a future where every person has access to a safe, affordable home near jobs, services, and opportunity.
