Measure O: Affordable Housing Bond

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:

Status

The City completed three of the planned four issuances of the Measure O bond. Of the total $135 million, about $23.5 million in Measure O funds has been allocated to affordable housing developments. These projects will create at least 1,000 new units and 44 shelter beds for low- and middle-income individuals, families, seniors, teachers, veterans, formerly unhoused people, and people with disabilities. The remaining Measure O funds will be used to support projects already in the City’s pipeline. 

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.

Completed Projects

Six projects are complete, creating 327 new units of affordable housing and shelter space with 44 beds.

Jordan Court opened in North Berkeley in spring of 2022. This 35-unit project created affordable studio units for low-income seniors, with 12 set aside for formerly homeless seniors. (Measure O funding: $3.5 million) 

Berkeley Way opened in Downtown Berkeley in 2022, and includes three sub-projects that received over $13.8 million in Measure O funding: 

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

The Grinnell (formerly known as Blake Apartments) in West Berkeley was completed in June 2024 with 63 units of housing, consisting of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. (Measure O funding: $7.3 million)

Projects in Progress

Three additional projects are in progress (either under construction or in predevelopment with site acquisition completed) and will create 214 units of affordable housing:

• The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) Workforce Housing Development in West Berkeley will have 110 apartments, with leasing preference for BUSD employees. Construction began in June 2025. (Measure O funding: $26.5 million) 
• St Paul Terrace in South Berkeley will have 50 units of housing for low-income families earning between 20% and 60% AMI. Construction began in April 2026. (Measure O funding: $12 million) 
• 1740 San Pablo Ave in West Berkeley will have 54 affordable homes for families, including three units reserved for artist households. (Measure O funding: $7.5 million)

Projects in Predevelopment

Several projects have Measure O funding reserved, where construction has not yet begun.

City Council reserved $40 million in Measure O funding to support the development of affordable housing at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART (NBB) sites:

• Affordable housing at Ashby BART is still in the planning stages, but the selected affordable housing developer(s) will have access to up to $20 million in Measure O.
• Affordable housing at North Berkeley BART (NBB) will receive a $26.5 million City subsidy (including $20 million in Measure O) to develop three projects by three different nonprofit housing developers, selected by BART and the City:
  • NBB Lot B Phase 1 with 124 affordable homes 
  • North Berkeley Easy Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) Affordable Housing Project with 60 affordable homes including family housing and permanent support housing units 
  • North Berkeley Permanent Supportive Housing Project Phase 1 with 85 apartments of permanent support housing 

Additionally, Council approved funding reservations for the following projects that will likely include some Measure O funds. The final mix of funding sources will be determined prior to loan closing, based on available funding at that time.

• Supportive Housing in People’s Park
• Ephesian Legacy Court     

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 that receive Measure O funding. Oversight was previously provided by the Measure O Bond Oversight Committee, which met ten times between April 2019 and March 2021.