Affordable Housing Funding

On February 1, 2012, the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency dissolved, and the City of Emeryville became the Housing Successor Agency responsible for overseeing the expenditure of all funds remaining in the Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Asset Fund LMIHAF). Funds can be expended towards the development of housing affordable to and occupied by households earning 80 % or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), with at least 30% of these remaining funds expended for the development of rental housing affordable to and occupied by households earning 30% or less of AMI and no more than 20% of these remaining funds expended for the development of housing affordable to and occupied by households earning between 60% and 80% of AMI. No more than 50% of funds can be expended towards Senior Housing.

Additional Information

Dissolution of Redevelopment

City Council established the Affordable Housing Fund subsequent to the dissolution of the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency. The City Council’s policy has been to allocate 20% of residual receipts from the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund ( RPTTF) to support the City’s affordable housing programs. Residual RPTTF, colloquially termed boomerang” funds, are the City’s portion of real property tax increment generated in redevelopment areas after the payment of enforceable obligations of the former Emeryville Redevelopment Agency. City Council has temporarily paused the allocation of 20% of residual receipts to the Affordable Housing Fund as of July 1, 2025. 

Within Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 9, the City established an affordable housing impact fee fund for the purpose of receiving and disbursing certain monies to address the housing needs of extremely low, very low, low, median and moderate-income households. The fees collected under this article and all earnings from investment of the fees shall be expended exclusively to provide or assure continued provision of affordable housing in the City to meet the housing needs of the City’s workforce through acquisition, construction, development assistance, substantial rehabilitation, financing, rent or other subsidies, or other methods, and for costs of administering programs which serve those ends. Any non-residential project, for which a discretionary permit or building permit is required, must pay the housing impact fee, which is based on the square footage of the project. Residential rental projects for which the developer opts not to provide affordable housing units in compliance with Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 9 must also pay the affordable housing impact fee, based on the number of residential units.

In June 2016, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors placed a General Obligation Bond on the ballot to increase affordable housing countywide. In November 2016, 73% of voters supported Measure A1. Measure A1 generates $ 580,000,000 for a range of affordable housing projects and programs in Alameda County. Of this amount, $225,000,000 is designated for Base City Allocations” based on city population. The City of Emeryville’s Base City Allocation is approximately $2.5 million.

Additional Information

Measure A 1 Bond

Background

On February 6, 2018, the City Council directed staff to place a $50,000,000 affordable housing bond on the June 2018 ballot. On February 20, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 18-20 calling a special election for June 5, 2018, to issue general obligation bonds to finance the development of affordable housing projects. On June 5, 2018, during a Special Election, over2/3rd of Emeryville voters approved Measure C.

Measure C allows the City of Emeryville to issue $ 50,000,000 in bonds with an estimated average levy of 4.912 cents per $ 100 of assessed value, generating approximately $3,422,000 annually to pay for debt service on the bonds over 27 years to provide affordable housing. Measure C supports the City’s Housing Element and General Plan policies by financing affordable housing development costs for extremely low, very low, and low-income households as well as for persons with special needs.

On March 2, 2021, the City Council adopted an Affordable Housing Bond Administration and Expenditure Plan, which governs implementation of the $50 Million in Measure C Housing Bond funds. 

On May 11, 2023, the City of Emeryville sold $50,000,000 in General Obligation Federally Taxable Social Bonds for Housing Projects to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.  

Purpose

The purpose of issuing the bonds is to finance the costs of providing and/or enhancing the acquisition or improvement of real property in order to provide affordable housing for extremely low, very low, low and middle-income individuals and families, including vulnerable populations such as veterans, seniors, local artists, the disabled, current or former foster youth, victims of abuse, people experiencing homelessness and individuals suffering from mental health or substance abuse illnesses. Projects to be financed through Measure C may include:

• The acquisition or improvement of real property to produce new affordable housing projects
• The rehabilitation of existing multi-family projects that are affordable to extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income families and individuals
• Acquisition of additional affordability commitments in new, privately developed mixed -income projects for veterans, seniors, the disabled, current or former foster youth, victims of abuse, people experiencing homelessness homeless and individuals suffering from mental health or substance abuse illnesses
• Help low and middle-income households, including local artists, purchase homes and stay in the community with first time homeowner loans
• Prevent displacement of vulnerable populations in Emeryville, including extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income households, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities
• Provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness

Accountability Measures

The following accountability measures are made a part of Measure C:

• The specific purpose of the bonds is to finance the costs of the Project .
• The proceeds from the sale of the City's bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure, and not for any other purpose.
• The proceeds of the Bonds will be deposited into an Improvement Fund to be held by the City.
• The City Manager of the City shall file an annual report with the City Council of the City which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the Project.
• All funds would be legally required to be spent in the City, by law no funds cannot be taken by the State.
• All expenditures will be subject to oversight by an independent oversight committee, composed of individuals appointed by the City Council to confirm that Bond expenditures are consistent with the intent of Ordinance 18-002.

Bond Oversight Committee

The City Council has appointed the Budget Advisory Committee to serve in the capacity of the Bond Oversight Committee. The Budget Advisory Committee would be responsible for oversight of all financial transactions and ensuring the bond funded projects complied with the object and purpose of the bonds.

Housing Committee

The Housing Committee, which is a standing Community Advisory Committee, is currently responsible for providing input and recommendations regarding City policies and priorities related to the City’s housing policies and program. This committee would continue to serve in that role and provide review and recommendations for the Affordable Housing Plan, the housing program guidelines, and funding recommendations in response to any competitive program’s Notice of Funding Availability.

Resources

Resolution No. 18-20(PDF, 2MB)

Resolution No. 18-21(PDF, 1MB)

The City of Emeryville is part of the Alameda County Urban County under the guidelines of the CDBG program administered through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Cities must have populations of 50,000 or more in order to directly receive CDBG entitlement funds.  Because Emeryville’s population is below this threshold, its CDBG funds are provided through Alameda County’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCD).  The other cities comprising the Alameda County Urban County are Albany, Dublin, Newark, and Piedmont.

Alameda County HCD uses a formula for allocating funds among the Urban County jurisdictions. The formula is based upon the percentage of population under the poverty level and the percentage of substandard housing in each jurisdiction. Each year, upon notification from HUD of the Alameda County Urban County grant amount, the County informs the City of its share.

CDBG funds are to be used to improve urban communities by offering decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons. 

Program Description

City acquisition of existing Below Market Rate Homeownership units at risk of foreclosure or if the unit's affordability restriction will terminate if not sold during the homeowner's required resale marketing period.

Funding Allocation

• Total Funds: $1,578,373
  • Measure C Fund: $1,178,373
  • Affordable Housing Fund: $400,000

Program Administrator

City of Emeryville, Economic Development & Housing Division

Program Description 

Assists Low to Moderate Income, First-Time Homebuyers in purchasing a home in Emeryville. Eligible borrowers can receive down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a deferred loan.

Funding Allocation

• Total Funds: $1,950,000
  • Measure C Fund: $1,820,000
  • Affordable Housing Fund: $130,000

Program Administrator

 Hello Housing

Additional Resources

First Home Emeryville

Program Description

Fund new construction of rental units on development sites with a city interest. Units will serve Very Low, Low, and Moderate-Income households, including seniors, Transitional Aged Youth, individuals with disabilities, and formerly homeless.

Funding Allocation

• Total Funds: $41,166,684
  • Measure C Fund: $27,179,891
  • Affordable Housing Fund: $4,812,506
  • Affordable Housing Impact Fund: $734,329
  • Alameda County A-1 Fund: $2,519,198
  • Low-Mod Income Housing Asset Fund: $5,920,760

Approved Projects

^{TAY - Transitional Aged Youth; PSH - Permanent Supportive Housing}

Program Description

Funding to permit strategic acquisition or development of properties for very low to moderate income units.

Funding Allocation

• Total Funds: $8,319,804 (Measure C Housing Bond)

Program Administrator

City of Emeryville, Economic Development & Housing Division

Approved Projects

^{TAY - Transitional Aged Youth}

Program Description

Provides funding to existing multifamily projects that serve low-income households that need to address the repair or replacement of major essential systems that are beyond their useful life or need improvement of their efficient use.

Funding Allocation

Total Funds: $TBD (CDBG)

Program Administrator

TBD

Program Status

CDBG funding is pending approval from the Alameda County Board of Supervisor. Program guidelines are under development. Check back for additional information.

Program Description

Provide rental property owners with loans to make needed improvements to units occupied by income eligible tenants. 

Funding Allocation

Total Funding: $4,050,000 (Measure C Housing Bond)

Program Administrator

TBD

Program Status

Program guidelines are under development. Check back for additional program information. 

Program Description

Provide loans to make accessibility or aging in place improvements to individual homes or to make accessibility improvements in common areas of multi-unit buildings. 

Funding Allocation

• Total Funds: $258,996.14 (Pro-Housing Incentive Pilot)

Program Administrator

City of Emeryville, Economic Development & Housing Division

Program Status

The EALI Program is currently closed and all funds have been expended. 

Programmatic Outcomes

Program Description

Funding to support a capitalized reserve, for projects that serve very low- and low-income households and have insufficient reserves, to address needed repairs, as identified in a Physical Needs Assessment.

Funding Allocation

Total Funds: $266,250 (Pro-Housing Incentive Pilot)

Program Administrator

City of Emeryville, Economic Development & Housing Division

Program Status

The Operating and Maintenance Reserve Fund is currently closed and all program funds have been expended. 

Programmatic Outcomes