Housing Programs

Housing Programs Overview
The mission of the Housing Program is to foster the creation of high-quality affordable housing at all income levels and for a variety of needs. The Housing staff administers housing policy and programs, and offers information about affordable housing opportunities in the City of El Cerrito.
 

 

 
In August 2017, the City Council adopted the City’s first Affordable Housing Strategy. The Strategy identified four policy pillars, with associated strategies, action items and timelines to proactively achieve the City’s affordable housing goals to protect, produce and preserve housing. Click to view a summary of the policies identified in the Strategy.
 

Click to learn more about community housing resources:
  • Look up resources for finding affordable housing in El Cerrito.
  • Find help with housing issues such as foreclosure or tenant/landlord counseling.
  • Find housing-related City documents.
  • Contact us with another housing-related question

Affordable HOUSING NEWS


SSVF
SHELTER, Inc.’s Supportive Service for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program is excited to announce new funding to support a new housing subsidy service for Veterans in Contra Costa County! The SSVF Program will provide rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of the Veteran household for a period of 24-months to very low-income and extremely low-incomes. The rental assistance is at a fixed rate every month, covering a certain percentage of the rent (35%), regardless of changes in the Veteran household’s income or monthly rent amount. SHELTER, Inc. is excited to now be able to offer this to SSVF Participants as it expands the length of time and amount of rental assistance applied, and allows Veterans more time to achieve long term housing stability. This subsidy can also be combined with state and local housing subsidies. If you know a Veteran who is homeless or at-risk of homelessness (i.e. behind on rent), please have them reach out to SHELTER, Inc.’s SSVF program today at 925-957-7592 for assistance!

Events: Workshops and Webinars


First-time Homebuyer Workshop
Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services
September 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2022 – 6PM to 8PM
If you are a first-time homebuyer and considering homeownership in the Bay Area, this workshop has been designed for you. Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services is hosting a four part workshop series that will help you determine if you are ready for homeownership. Learn how to create a budget, repair credit, and become a successful homeowner. This is a virtual event. Click to register or by visiting https://www.richmondnhs.org/

ECHO Housing
September 24, 2022 – 9AM to 5PM
This virtual workshop will help you determine if you are ready for homeownership, how to select a lender and shop for a home, all about closing costs, and how to be a successful homeowner. Visit www.echofairhousing.org by September 21st to reserve your space. Click to register or by visiting www.echofairhousing.org.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAITLIST OPPORTUNITIES

Click to view September 2022 Affordable Housing Opportunities – All Bay Area Counties (Courtesy of www.openhousesf.org)

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation Logo
The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALC) currently has waitlist openings for several properties in the East Bay. Please visit https://ebaldc.org/how-to-apply/ to learn more. 

The Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa will be opening the Project Based Voucher Waiting List for several properties located throughout Contra Costa County.
This opening is NOT for the Housing Choice Voucher Program but for Project-Based Voucher assisted units in the properties listed on this linked flyer ONLY. Some properties are for Seniors ONLY and some are family properties. For the senior properties, THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD OR SPOUSE MUST BE 62 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO APPLY. APPLICATIONS FROM NON-ELDERLY APPLICANTS WILL BE REJECTED.

The linked Flyers provide the details for the opening. This opening is from 10 AM on June 13, 2022 until 4 PM on September 29, 2022. All open waitlists are for households whose head or co-head is a senior as defined to be 62 years or older. There are units available for leasing and this is a critical opportunity for applicants to be considered for immediate housing. Once fully occupied, applicants will have to wait, until the next opportunity presents itself.

The opening will only be an electronic format and no paper applications will be available. Reasonable Accommodations for elderly or disabled clients can be made for anyone needing individual assistance either by telephone or at our offices at 925-957-7085 or ie@contracostahousing.org.

Click to apply
Click for flyer in English
Click for flyer in Spanish

Click for Home Match, Contra Costa County: Available Rooms Catalog (August 2022)
If you see something of interest, contact Home Match at 925-956-7385 or homematchcontracosta@frontporch.net.


Click to subscribe to our Community Development e-Newsletter and learn about future affordable housing opportunities.

ACCESSING HOMELESS SERVICES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY


Click to learn how to access homeless services or call 211.


TENANT PROTECTIONS: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE


Click to visit Contra Costa Housing Services Collaborative, which offers comprehensive housing services, including tenant/landlord counseling as well as fair housing to County residents at no cost. For legal consultation or representation, please contact Centro Legal at CCTR@centrolegal.org or 510-437-1554.

Image does not exist
INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM
On May 15, 2018, the City Council adopted an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance as identified in the 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy. The Ordinance is effective June 14, 2018 and applies to new development that does not already have completed applications by the effective date. Inclusionary zoning requires new market-rate residential projects to set aside between 10% - 12% of its units for low to moderate-income households or the option of paying an in-lieu fee to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In-lieu fees are earmarked for future affordable housing development opportunities.

Please contact Aissia Ashoori, Affordable Housing Analyst, at 510.215.4361 for more information.

Developer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)