A $25,000 Bet on Community: LAMVCF Awards Live Where You Work Challenge Grant to The United Effort Organization
The Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation (LAMVCF) has selected The United Effort Organization as the winner of its Live Where You Work Challenge, awarding a $25,000 grant to connect unhoused essential workers and seniors with local homeowners who have available space.
Launched in January 2026, the Challenge asked residents, nonprofits, and community organizations across Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View to propose practical ideas for helping essential workers and long-time residents afford to live where they work.
The Problem
The median home price in Silicon Valley is $1.92 million, nearly five times the national average. Only 1 in 4 first-time buyers here can afford a median-priced home. Studio apartments and ADUs in Mountain View and Los Altos run over $2,500 a month, consuming more than 60% of a $20 hour worker’s paycheck. For seniors on SSI ($1,234/month), that amount doesn’t cover rent at all.
“The people who teach our kids, care for our parents, and keep our streets safe cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. That is not inevitable. LAMVCF created this challenge because we believe our community has both the ideas and the generosity to change it.– Crysta Krames, CEO, LAMVCF
The Idea
The United Effort Organization serves 785 unhoused individuals in Mountain View and Los Altos, many employed locally or are seniors on fixed incomes. Their proposal, “Live Where You Work. Retire Where You Belong,” turns underused housing (spare rooms, ADUs, cottages) into stable placements by pairing tenant contributions with subsidies that make the numbers work for homeowners. A dedicated housing navigator handles screening, lease support, and ongoing case management, reducing risk for homeowners and helping ensure tenancies last. The $25,000 grant will fund the pilot, including a community housing match registry and the navigator role.
The model is drawn from real experience. One UEO client, a part-time, low-wage worker, was placed in a Los Altos cottage, a unit she wouldn’t have qualified for through standard channels. With stable housing, she increased her hours, improved her finances, and eventually moved into a permanent affordable apartment.
“It was inspiring to see so many practical, creative proposals. When people live closer to where they work, the whole community benefits.” — Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Town of Los Altos Hills, Judge
Marc Sidel, a fellow judge, pointed to the ripple effects of getting this right.
“This challenge elevates the dialogue around housing by focusing on what the whole community gains when more of us live where we work: workers reclaim their sense of belonging, long commutes are replaced with civic participation, neighborhoods become more connected, and we all benefit from cleaner air and less congested roads. There is no single solution to our housing challenges, but after reviewing the proposals, I feel energized and hopeful.”
The teacher, the home health aide, the police officer, who keep our communities running, they are part of the fabric of the community. LAMVCF’s Housing Partnership Fund is one way you can help make that possible. Learn more at lamvcf.org.
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About LAMVCF: For more than 35 years, the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation has connected neighbors, resources, and bold ideas across Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View, turning local generosity into something that lasts. Learn more at lamvcf.org.
About The United Effort Organization: About The United Effort Organization Founded in 2020, The United Effort Organization, Inc. is a Mountain View–based nonprofit helping people across Santa Clara County who are unhoused or at risk of homelessness. Through hands-on navigation, direct support, collaboration, and innovative tools, The United Effort Organization prioritizes long-term stability and dignity for all.
Sources
- 2025 Silicon Valley Index, Joint Venture Silicon Valley (siliconvalleyindicators.org)
- LAMVCF calculation based on $2,200/mo studio rent and $20/hr full-time wage ($3,467/mo gross income)
- Social Security Administration, 2025 SSI Federal Benefit Rate