Why Living Where We Work Matters
One of the biggest challenges Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View face isn’t just the cost of housing, it’s the growing distance between the people who make this community work and the place itself. That distance may seem like a personal inconvenience, but it has real consequences for all of us.
If your child’s teacher has to drive an hour to get to school, or the firefighter on duty can’t afford a home in the town they protect, we lose more than convenience. We lose connection. The rhythm of a community is built on chance encounters, shared routines, and local trust.
A local police officer recently told us, “I’m proud to work here. I just can’t afford to live here.”
When the people who shape a city are also part of its daily rhythm, we see each other as more than our roles. We see each other as neighbors. Many of us remember seeing our teachers at the grocery store and our coaches at the hardware store. Neighbors we knew both by name and by role. Proximity builds empathy, trust, and accountability. It’s how communities become human.
That’s why the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation is launching the Live Where You Work Challenge. We’re looking for concepts that strengthen our local ecosystem and reflect creativity, collaboration, and care for our community, ideas you’re excited to champion and help bring to life.
You don’t need to be a housing expert or have a fully formed plan. This challenge is designed to support early-stage ideas paired with committed leadership. If you see the problem and believe there could be a better way, we want to hear from you.
One selected idea will receive a $25,000 grant and may also receive fiscal sponsorship to provide the support and infrastructure needed to turn a promising idea into real impact.
We are strongest when the people who serve this city can also belong here. If you care about preserving that sense of connection, I invite you to share your ideas.
Learn more at lamvcf.org/live-work or email grants@lamvcf.org