HAC's 24th Housing Hero Awards

Housing Heroes is HAC's biggest event of the year - and you're not going to want to miss it! Now in its 24th year, this annual awards program brings together elected officials, developers, architects, labor leaders, and community advocates from across California for one night to celebrate the people and organizations moving the needle on the state's housing crisis.

This year, we're proud to recognize four pro-housing change makers and organizations for their critical contributions to solving our state's most pressing housing challenges.

California Senator Tim Grayson

Senator Tim Grayson has been one of Sacramento's most productive housing legislators across multiple sessions. He authored a series of laws that address the technical barriers to building homes in California, including Assembly Bill 1174 to strengthen streamlined housing approvals, Assembly Bill 602 to reform the development impact fees that drive up construction costs, Senate Bill 1383 to expand density bonuses, and Senate Bill 410, signed by Governor Newsom in October 2025. Now chair of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, Senator Grayson continues to focus on the impact fee reform and faster approval processes that determine whether housing actually gets built.

Culver City Vice Mayor Bryan "Bubba" Fish and Ed Mendoza, Policy Manager, California YIMBY

In September 2025, Culver City became the first California city to legalize single-stair residential buildings up to six stories, a reform that could unlock small-lot infill housing across the state. Vice Mayor Bryan "Bubba" Fish brought the ordinance forward, and Ed Mendoza of California YIMBY provided the technical expertise and coalition-building that made the case. We are proud to honor them together as a reminder that pro-housing reform is a team effort.

Annie Fryman, Director of Special Projects, SPUR

As Senator Scott Wiener's housing policy lead, Annie Fryman was the primary staffer who designed, wrote, and negotiated Senate Bill 35 and Senate Bill 828, two of the most consequential California housing laws of the past decade. Now Director of Special Projects at SPUR, she is leading rezoning advocacy in San Francisco alongside HAC. Annie has shaped California housing law as much as almost anyone in the state, and we are honored to recognize her work.

California Community Foundation

Under the leadership of President and CEO Miguel Santana, the California Community Foundation has become one of the most consequential philanthropic forces for housing in Los Angeles County. The Foundation was a leading supporter of Measure A, which is now funding hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable housing through the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, where Santana serves as Second Vice Chair. Earlier, as the City of Los Angeles's Administrative Officer, Santana designed the city's first comprehensive homelessness strategy and its $1.2 billion Proposition HHH housing bond. We are grateful for the Foundation's ongoing commitment to housing across the region.

Sponsors receive complimentary tickets based on level - for questions about sponsor benefits please reach out to HAC's Deputy Director Gabrielle Blavatsky at Gabrielle@housingactioncoalition.org.

Interested in sponsoring Housing Heroes? Check out our sponsor benefits.

Thank you to our sponsors below!