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  • Bond and Revenue Measures
  • Measure O: Affordable Housing Bond
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Measure O: Affordable Housing Bond

Measure O provides funding for affordable housing projects for low- and middle-income households. 

About Measure O

Measure O provides $135 million of funding from bond revenue to pay for affordable housing projects. Berkeley voters passed Measure O in November 2018 with 77.5% approval. The original ballot question read:

Shall the measure to issue $135 million in bonds to create and preserve affordable housing for low-income households, working families, and individuals including teachers, seniors, veterans, the homeless, and persons with disabilities; subject to citizen oversight and independent audits, be adopted?

Status

The City is funding an array of affordable housing projects with $111 million in Measure O funds. These projects will create at least 900 new units and a 44 shelter beds for low- and middle-income individuals, families, seniors, teachers, veterans, formerly unhoused people, and people with disabilities.

The City plans to fund additional projects by issuing a third round of bonds, up to $17 million. City Council has prioritized two projects for the next round of funding: Supportive Housing in People’s Park and St. Paul Terrace.

View Measure O projects

Progress on affordable housing projects

Affordable housing projects funded by Measure O are providing housing for low- and middle-income members of the Berkeley community. Four projects are complete or substantially complete, creating 177 new units of affordable housing and a 44-bed homeless shelter.

Jordan Court opened in North Berkeley in spring of 2022. This project created 34 affordable studio units for low-income seniors, with 12 set aside for formerly homeless seniors. (Measure O funding: $3.5 million) 

Berkeley Way is scheduled to open in Downtown Berkeley in 2022, and includes three sub-projects that received $13,820,423 in Measure O funding: 

  • The Hope Center homeless shelter will have 32 beds for homeless individuals and 12 transition beds for homeless veterans. (Measure O funding: $6.9 million, including $5.3 million in loans already disbursed)
  • The Hope Center permanent supportive housing will have 53 apartments for people with disabilities or other special needs who would benefit from support services. (Measure O funding: $6.7 million, including $6.2 million disbursed)
  • The Berkeley Way Apartments will have 89 units of affordable housing, consisting of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments. (Measure O funding: $179,000)

Three additional projects are in progress (either under construction or in predevelopment with site acquisition completed) and will create 204 units of affordable housing:

  • Maudelle Miller Shirek Community in South Berkeley will have 87 units of housing, consisting of studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. (Measure O funding: $12.9 million, including $2.3 million disbursed)
  • Blake Apartments in West Berkeley will have 63 units of housing, consisting of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. (Measure O funding: $9.1 million, including $7 million disbursed)
  • 1740 San Pablo Ave in West Berkeley will have 54 affordable homes for families. (Measure O funding $7.5 million)

Two projects have funding reserved but construction has not yet begun:

  • Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) Workforce Housing Development in West Berkeley will have 110 apartments, with leasing preference for BUSD employees. (Measure O funding: $24.5 million)
  • Plans are in development for 400-plus units at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART sites. (Measure O funding: $40 million) 

Additionally, Council prioritized two proposals for $17 million from the next issuance of Measure O bonds:

  • Supportive Housing in People’s Park
  • St. Paul Terrace

Management and oversight

The Department of Health, Housing, and Community Services manages Measure O funding. Funds are distributed through the Housing Trust Fund, which pools funds for affordable housing construction from a variety of sources and makes them available to developers through one single application process.

The Housing Advisory Commission and City Council review and approve projects to receive Measure O funding. Oversight was previously provided by the Measure O Bond Oversight Commission, from April 2019- March 2021.

Related Documents

Document
  • Affordable Housing Projects Funded by Measure O and other sources (283.14 KB)
Document
  • Measure O Implementation Recommendations 1-15-2019 (4.25 MB)
Document
  • FY 2020 Tax Rate Fund - Measure O 06-11-2019 (965.56 KB)
Document
  • Resolution 69306-Issuance of $38M General Obligation Bonds for Measure O-02-25-2020 (1.61 MB)
Document
  • Rescinding Housing Trust Fund Guidelines and Adopting New Guidelines-01-19-2021 (11.1 MB)
Document
  • Work Plan FY 2021Measure O Bond Oversight Committee-04-20-2021 (1.37 MB)
Document
  • Measure O Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for BUSD-Sponsored Educator Housing-04-20-2021 (2.15 MB)
Document
  • Issuance of $40,000,000 General Obligation Bonds for Measure O-04-26-2022 (53.97 MB)
In this section
Bond and Revenue Measures
  • Measure T1
  • Measure O
  • Measure P
  • Measure FF
  • Measure M
  • Measure F
  • Measure B & BB

News

Ashby BART station

Oct. 3 meeting: new plaza, street design at Ashby BART station to better serve community

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Provide comments on the draft plan to create more housing in Berkeley

Front of Berkeley Way housing

Learn about two affordable housing buildings opening in Berkeley

Photo of the Berkeley Way housing

Apply by Feb. 23 for one of 88 new permanently affordable apartments in downtown Berkeley

More News
Department of Health, Housing, and Community Services
Email: HHCS@cityofberkeley.info
Phone: (510) 981-5400
affordable housing

Create affordable housing and housing support services for our most vulnerable community members

View Our Strategic Plan

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