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 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.