As part of Mayor Ron Gonzales' 10 positive ways a Mayor can help improve Public Education, his number one initiative is for San Jose to become a "Teacher Friendly City." Gonzales proposes a Teacher Homebuyer Program as a method to combat teacher shortages and to attract and retain high quality teachers. The program provides teachers with a $40,000 no-interest loan to help them purchase their first home. Since the program was established in 1999, more than 200 San Jose teachers have received housing assistance to buy their first home. The First Lady of California, Sharon Davis, speaks highly of the Teacher Homebuyer Program saying, "This city's strong commitment to partnership to improve schools and its innovative programs are achieving results that are helping teachers succeed in San Jose. San Jose is showing other cities in California how to make our state's schools better." San Jose is regarded as the Most Teacher Friendly City in California.

Mark Brogan
City of San Jose
Department of Housing
4 North Second Street
Suite 1350
San Jose, CA 95113

Phone: (408) 277-8486
Web site: http://www.sjhousing.org/program/thp.html