Housing Trust Fund
Affordable housing developers and land trusts can apply for funding for housing projects through Berkeley’s Housing Trust Fund.
Berkeley’s Housing Trust Fund pools funds for affordable housing construction from a variety of sources with different requirements, and makes them available to developers through one single application process. Affordable housing developers and land trusts can find funding opportunities on this page as they become available.
The Housing Trust Fund and Small Sites Program Guidelines outlines the process and guidelines for how the City operates the Housing Trust Fund. Funding recipients will follow the standard Loan Terms, unless variations are granted by the City Manager or City Council.
Funding opportunities for affordable housing developers
MLK House – Request for Proposals (RFP) for New Owner/Operator
Date: July 19, 2023
The City is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit applications for an organization to rehabilitate, own and operate the Martin Luther King House (MLK House), located at 2942-2944 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
The goal of this RFP is to identify a new owner/operator that:
- Will serve a population that is appropriate for the property and supportive services available
- Has experience operating shared housing
- Is capable of securing new, sustainable operating and services funding sources
- Is capable of rehabilitating the property
Applications must be emailed by 4:00 pm, Thursday, September 7, 2023, to Jenny Wyant at JWyant@berkeleyca.gov. Please email any questions by August 30, 2023.
City of Berkeley MLK House RFP Application Materials
- Request for Proposals (RFP) and Application Instructions
- Application Workbook
- Council Authorization of the MLK House RFP
- 2017 MLK House Loan Agreement
- 2017 MLK House Regulatory Agreement
- MLK House RFP Q & A's - Updated September 1, 2023
Funding awarded
The affordable housing projects listed below have received funding from the City of Berkeley’s Housing Trust Fund.
New Construction Projects with Development Funding Reservations
| Project | Sponsor | Units* | Total City Funds Reserved | Projected Sources of Funds | Status |
|
Maudelle Miller Shirek Community (2001 Ashby) |
Resources for Community Development (RCD) |
87 |
$17,000,000 |
Measure O (2nd issuance), General Funds (U1), LHTF |
Under Construction |
| The Grinnell (2527 San Pablo Avenue) | Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) | 63 | $12,000,000 | Measure O (1st issuance), General Funds (U1), LHTF | Under Construction |
| 1740 San Pablo Avenue | BRIDGE Housing | 54 | $7,500,000 | Measure O (1st issuance) | Acquisition / Predevelopment |
| BUSD-Sponsored Educator Housing | Berkeley Unified School District/SAHA/Abode | 110 | $24,500,000 | Measure O (2nd issuance) | Acquisition / Predevelopment |
|
St Paul Terrace* (2024 Ashby Ave) |
Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC)/St. Paul AME | 50 | $12,250,000 | HTF, TBD | Predevelopment |
| Ephesian Legacy Court (1708 Harmon Street) | CHDC/Ephesian Church of God in Christ (ECOGIC) | 80 | $3,556,400 | HTF, TBD | Predevelopment |
| Supportive Housing at People's Park | TBD | 119 | $14,359,593 | TBD | Predevelopment |
*St Paul Terrace: The City has submitted an application to the State of California’s Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) Program, and if awarded, LHTF funds will be allocated to this project. Learn more about reserved funding for St Paul Terrace.
Renovation Projects with Development Funding Reservations
| Project | Sponsor | Units* | Total City Funds Reserved | Projected Sources of Funds | Status |
| 1685 Solano Avenue | Bay Area Community Land Trust (BALCT) | 13 | $3,900,000 | HTF, General Funds (U1) | Under Construction |
| 2321-2323 10th Street | Northern California Land Trust | 8 | $1,620,640 | General Funds (U1) | Acquisition / Predevelopment |
| Lorin Station | South Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation (SBNDC) | 14 | $730,742 | CDBG | Predevelopment |
| Rosewood Manor | SBNDC | 35 | $1,792,491 | CDBG and HTF | Under Construction |
| MLK House | Resources for Community Development (RCD) | 12 | $1,178,974 | PLHA | Contract Pending |
| Ashby Lofts | Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) | 54 | $850,000 | PLHA | Contract Pending |
| Golden Bear Homes Homekey Project | Memar Properties/Bay Area Community Services | 44 | $8,463,535 | PLHA, General Funds (Measure P) | Under Construction |
