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

Fair Housing Training
Friday, February 10, 2023 – 10AM – 12PM: ECHO is hosting a Fair Housing Training for renters, housing and service providers. Visit www.echofairhousing.org/events for more information and to register. 

ECHO Housing
First Time Homebuyer Workshop
February 4, 2023 – 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 https://www.echofairhousing.org/homebuyer-class-registration.html to reserve your space.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAITLIST OPPORTUNITIES

Click to view January 2023 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. 

Click for Home Match, Contra Costa County: Available Rooms Catalog (January 2023)

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.

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)