Berkeley City Council Allocates $20 Million for Affordable Housing and Supportive Housing Projects
June 14, 2023
BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATES $20 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS
The funding will help create and preserve 170 units across three developments.
BERKELEY, CA - Last night, the Berkeley City Council approved the allocation of just over $20 million for three affordable housing developments in South Berkeley. Combined, the three developments will provide 170 units of affordable housing, with a majority of the units reserved for households with very low income.
“Increasing the stock of affordable housing in Berkeley is critical to maintaining and protecting the diversity and vibrancy of our City”, said Mayor Jesse Arreguin. “This funding is a continuation of our commitment to providing stable housing to our most vulnerable residents”.
Ephesian Legacy Court
The bulk of the approved funding, $14,531,301, was allocated to Ephesian Legacy Court, being developed by Community Housing Development Corporation in partnership with the Ephesian Church of God in Christ, which is providing the land for the development. The project, located at 1708 Harmon Street, would provide 8o transit oriented units for seniors. 75% of the units will be available to individuals earning 50% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), and the remaining units are for seniors and/or homeless individuals at or below 30% AMI. The AMI for Alameda County is $103,550 for an individual, and $147,900 for a household of four people.
In January 2023, the Council endorsed SB 4, the Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act, which streamlines the development of 100% affordable housing projects on land owned by religious institutions (known as “Yes in God’s Backyard” or YIGBY) and independent institutions of higher education. The bill is currently pending approval at the State Legislature. Two affordable housing developments on land owned by religious institutions totaling 42 units have been completed in Berkeley over the past couple years, and two more totaling 149 units, including Ephesian Legacy Court, are in the pipeline.
Woolsey Gardens
$1 million was allocated for predevelopment of Woolsey Gardens, which will provide 65 units of limited equity housing. 41 of the units will be residential condominiums and 24 units will be shared cooperative housing. It will cover a wide range of affordability, from 30%-120% AMI. The project, at 3120-3130 Shattuck Avenue, will be owned by the Northern California Land Trust.
Russell Street Residence
$4.5 million was allocated for the purchasing and rehabilitation of the Russell Street Residence, a 17-bed board and care operated by Insight Housing (recently renamed from Berkeley Food and Housing Project (BFHP)), located at 1741 Russell Street, and two adjacent lots at 1743 and 1747 Russell Street, each with a four-bedroom single family home. The main building hosts formerly unhoused individuals diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness and the adjacent properties providing housing for people with disabilities experiencing homelessness. These properties are in need of repairs and system upgrades, and without this funding, Insight Housing would not be able to purchase the property nor renew its lease, which would likely result in the displacement of these tenants. Funding the acquisition of Russell Street will preserve critically-needed supportive housing in Berkeley for people with a disability or mental illness who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
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