The Palacio Podcast

For Josh Butler, Housing Long Beach, His Fire was Born at Home

5 years ago Feature, The Palacio Podcast

If you spend any time with Housing Long Beach Executive Director Josh Butler, you are immediately struck by his fiery commitment to his principles. Justice, fairness, and a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves are just some of what drives and frames his mission in life. Ask him why he continues to push for affordable housing in spite of political and personal attacks on him and his organization, Josh Butler will point to his upbringing being raised in a liberal household. His parents were biracial who taught him about equity and equality.

“I also grew in a Jewish household…[and] very much learned about the Holocaust and what happens when people are maligned in the community when people are forced to hide in shadows and that’s just something I cannot stand for. It’s not something I believe in.”

Josh Butler is also a renter in Long Beach, he explains.

“I’ve also been afraid to ask my landlord to make a basic repair because I don’t want my rent to go up. So, I understand what renters are going through in Long Beach.”

Josh Butler, Housing Long Beach

It is that empathy and commitment to justice taught by his parents that pushes Josh Butler to keep going in the fight for housing equity. PalacioMagazine.com recently sat down with Butler to discuss the affordable housing crisis in Long Beach and statewide.

Read the proposed Rent Control Ordinance HERE.

Since the May interview with Josh Butler, much has happened with the petition drive for a Rent Control measure on the November 2018 municipal ballot. On Thursday, June 21, Josh Butler gave PalacioMagazine.com an update.

For more on Josh Butler and Housing Long Beach

Visit HERE

Josh Butler moved to Long Beach in 1992, where he began attending California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and majored in Political Science. Josh grew up playing soccer and served as a coach for Long Beach Youth Soccer Organization while a student at CSULB. At the University, Butler served as President of the campus chapter of Model United Nations. He then went to work here in Long Beach at Disabled Resources Center where he served as Community Educator advocating for and organizing the disabilities community into action on many issues. One such issue was affordable housing. It was there that Josh Butler saw first-hand the impact of the lack of affordable housing was having on people with disabilities. That caused the organization to become active and involved in advocating for affordable housing setting the stage for Butler’s eventual role as Campaign Manager for the Long Beach Housing Trust Fund Coalition. The campaign successfully resulted in the City of Long Beach established a Housing Trust Fund in 2006.

After leaving Disabled Resources Center, Josh Butler joined the staff of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske where he served as Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, Butler gained insight into the municipal structure and the multiple goals and competing interests that City Council Members worked to address. Working under Gerrie Schipske provided Josh Butler an opportunity to continue working in the Long Beach community. Before joining Housing Long Beach, Butler was Director of Community Engagement at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.