Housing Programs

Housing Programs Overview

The mission of the Housing Program is to foster the creation of high-quality affordable housing at all income levels and for a variety of needs. The Housing staff administers housing policy and programs, and offers information about affordable housing opportunities in the City of El Cerrito.

In August 2017, the City Council adopted the City’s first Affordable Housing Strategy. The Strategy identified four policy pillars, with associated strategies, action items and timelines to proactively achieve the City’s affordable housing goals to protect, produce and preserve housing. Click to view a summary of the policies identified in the Strategy.
 

Click to learn more about community housing resources:

  • Look up resources for finding affordable housing in El Cerrito.
  • Find help with housing issues such as foreclosure or tenant/landlord counseling.
  • Find housing-related City documents.
  • Contact us with another housing-related question

Affordable HOUSING NEWS

Events: Workshops and Webinars

First Time Homebuyer Workshop
 Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services

July 6, 13, 20, 27, 6pm-8pm 
If you are considering homeownership in the Bay Area, this workshop has been designed for you. To register, click here or visit www.richmondnhs.org.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAITLIST OPPORTUNITIES

Click to view June 2023 Affordable Housing Opportunities – All Bay Area Counties (Courtesy of www.openhousesf.org)

Click below to learn how to access homeless services or call 211.

English

Spanish

Youth

Veterans 

Are you or someone you know a Veteran experiencing homelessness? If so, Insight Housing provides Supportive Services for Veteran Families located in Contra Costa County. Please call 925-957-6042 or visit www. www.insighthousing.org for more information.

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation Logo
The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALC) currently has waitlist openings for several properties in the East Bay. Please visit https://ebaldc.org/how-to-apply/ to learn more. 

Click for Home Match, Contra Costa County: Find an affordable home in the community you love with Home Match. Browse their Available Rooms Catalogs for Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, and San Francisco. If you see something of interest, contact Home Match at 925-956-7385 or homematchcontracosta@frontporch.net.

Click to subscribe to our Community Development e-Newsletter and learn about future affordable housing opportunities.

ACCESSING HOMELESS SERVICES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Click to learn how to access homeless services or call 211.


TENANT PROTECTIONS: 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Click to visit Contra Costa Housing Services Collaborative, which offers comprehensive housing services, including tenant/landlord counseling as well as fair housing to County residents at no cost. For legal consultation or representation, please contact Centro Legal at CCTR@centrolegal.org or 510-437-1554.

INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM
On May 15, 2018, the City Council adopted an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance as identified in the 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy. The Ordinance is effective June 14, 2018 and applies to new development that does not already have completed applications by the effective date. Inclusionary zoning requires new market-rate residential projects to set aside between 10% - 12% of its units for low to moderate-income households or the option of paying an in-lieu fee to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In-lieu fees are earmarked for future affordable housing development opportunities.

Please contact Aissia Ashoori, Affordable Housing Analyst, at 510.215.4361 for more information.

Developer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)