Affordable Housing Preference Policy

Healthy Black Families Inc. is moving forward the Right to Stay, Right to Return in historic Black Berkeley, by conducting outreach to families who have a legacy in historic Black South and West Berkeley. Our objective is to locate displaced community members, share information about the preference policy.

Maudelle Miller Shirek Community - Ashby and Adeline

 

Affordable Housing Preferences

  1. Displaced due to BART construction
    You, your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent lost their home due to construction of BART in the 1960s-1970s in Berkeley.

  2. Displaced due to foreclosure
    You or a member of your household was displaced due to foreclosure in Berkeley since 2005.

  3. Displaced due to eviction
    You were displaced due to a no-fault or non-payment eviction in Berkeley within the past seven years. 

  4. Families with children
    Your household has at least one child aged 17 or under. 

  5. Homeless or at-risk of homelessness
    You are eligible if either:

    • You are homeless in Berkeley, or homeless with a previous address in Berkeley, and are not already being prioritized for Permanent Supportive Housing (housing with supportive services to help homeless and disabled households achieve stability). 

    • You are at risk of homelessness in Berkeley (for example, you’re staying with friends or family, at a motel or hospital, or you’ve received an eviction notice or will imminently lose your housing).

  6. Current or former resident of redlined neighborhood
    You are a current or former resident of a formerly redlined neighborhood in Berkeley.

  7. Parent or grandparent lived in redlined neighborhood
    Your parent or grandparent lives or lived in a formerly redlined neighborhood in Berkeley. 

Redlined neighborhoods in South Berkeley, West Berkeley, and elsewhere were designated as the riskiest places to issue loans by a federal government agency during the 1930-60s. Redlining devalued properties, in the process undermining housing stability and enabling ongoing displacement.

The City of Berkeley has experienced historical and unprecedented mass displacement of its Black residents and families.

The Affordable Housing Preference Policy’s intention is to create a path for Black families to return to the Historic Black community in Berkeley. This is an initial effort of the City of Berkeley, in repairing harm done to the Black community caused by institutional racism, segregation and redlining. Our mission is to support the city in understanding what it means to repay, repair, rebuild, and restore the Black communities of South and West Berkeley.

 
 

Equity 4 Black Berkeley is engaging community to envision what will be built block by block throughout the corridor.