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The Places: Affordable Homes

Community-Subsidized Affordable Homes

Quality, affordable homes that are preserved and created by non-profit and public organizations offer a critical resource for our communities. Mission-driven organizations within EBHO’s membership recently developed or acquired the housing communities featured here, incorporating innovative design to address community needs for sustainability, play, art, access, and affordability.

These homes provide hundreds of people a safe place to lay their heads each night, including formerly unhoused youth and adults, youth transitioning out of the state foster care system, parents and their children, veterans, seniors, survivors of intimate partner violence, people with disabilities, and low-income workers.

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Tiny House Empowerment Village (THEV), Oakland

The Tiny House Empowerment Village (THEV) was created in response to the growing epidemic of youth homelessness in the Bay Area. The THEV is led by Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based art and job training program for low-income youth. Homeless youth themselves played a large role in designing and building the village.

YSA had originally hoped to build the THEV in Berkeley to be closer to their studio on Alcatraz Avenue but faced pushback from the neighboring community. After many months of advocacy and relationship-building with Oakland officials, in 2019, the City of Oakland granted YSA a three-year lease of the 633 Hegenberger site where the THEV is located today.

From 2019-2021, over 2000 volunteers have helped build the village, which now includes 26 tiny houses, communal bathrooms and showers, a kitchen yurt, a yurt for gathering and creating art, and community garden. The youth from YSA believed that the THEV should be a place where residents can feel free to express themselves. They called upon young artists from around the bay area to drench the village with colorful murals.

The THEV is integrated into YSA’s existing program, which includes social services, case management, and art and job training programs. The THEV also includes a health clinic to serve the residents and surrounding community. Technically an emergency shelter, the THEV functions as transitional housing where residents can live up to two years. Residents will work with case managers to earn an income and move into permanent housing as soon as possible.

YSA has been documenting the process of planning, building, and operating the THEV. They plan for the THEV to function as a blueprint for other affordable housing projects for homeless youth around the country. 

Funding: YSA raised funds from diverse sources for the project including the City of Oakland, the City of Berkeley, Barretta Family Fund of the Chicago Community Foundation, Episcopal Impact Fund, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Berkeley Pilgrimage Foundation, the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, Witkin Charitable Foundation, Frederick Isaac Philanthropic Foundation, and over 400 individual, business and congregation donors.

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Estrella Vista, Emeryville

Estrella Vista is an affordable mixed-use apartment community in Emeryville, CA, providing studios and one- through four-bedroom apartments for families. The project was supported by a collaboration between EAH Housing, the primary non-profit affordable housing provider, and the cities of Emeryville, Oakland, Alameda County, Oakland Housing Authority, and the Housing Authority of the County of Alameda to provide much-needed housing for East Bay families. Non-Profit Housing Provider: EAH Housing.

Estrella Vista is an affordable mixed-use apartment community in Emeryville, CA, providing studios and one- through four-bedroom apartments for families in a 6-story mid-rise building. Located by the “star” intersection of San Pablo Avenue, W. MacArthur Boulevard, and Adeline Street, and to symbolize the impressive location, a public art structure was integrated in the area that connects the two buildings called “Polaris” (the star). Estrella Vista provides ground level retail on an infill site and is close to transit, shopping and local job centers. The community has several indoor and outdoor common spaces for residents.

EAH Housing is committed to sustainability, and Estrella Vista implements environmentally friendly features such as photovoltaic solar panels, a solar water heating system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient appliances and lighting, water-efficient landscaping, and an emphasis on recycled materials. Additionally, Estrella Vista includes electric vehicle charging stations and a bicycle storage area.

Estrella Vista offers comprehensive resident services focused on wellness and community-building, such as youth programming, digital literacy classes, financial assistance referrals, and food security resources as well as a full-time Resource Coordinator.

Funding Source:
Estrella Vista’s senior debt financing consists of a tax–exempt private activity bond financed loan which was privately placed with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, pursuant to as Master Pledge and Agency Agreement with the California Municipal Finance Authority, the issuer of the bonds. Wells Fargo Affordable Housing Community Development Corporation is the investor/limited partner in this “4%” tax credit equity syndication. The project improvements are on land leased from the City of Emeryville over a 75-year term. Other financing participants are from the City of Emeryville, City of Oakland, Vouchers from Oakland Housing Authority, Vouchers from Housing Authority of Alameda County, HCD, CCRC.

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Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch, Pleasanton

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the first independent, affordable residential community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Tri-Valley area.

Housing Provider: Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) and Sunflower Hill.

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the new construction of 31 studio, one-and two-bedroom affordable homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (“I/DD”) and their families, as well as a 4,500 square foot community center located in Pleasanton, California.  The community includes several amenities including a makerspace room, exercise room, as well as a community room opening onto the large landscaped courtyard with seating areas, multipurpose sport court and bocce ball court. The 1.64 acre property is GreenPoint Rated Gold.

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the culmination of many years of advocacy as well as a successful partnership between two nonprofits: Sunflower Hill and SAHA. Sunflower Hill is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create sustainable and intentional residential communities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Sunflower Hill was founded by local parents with adult children with I/DD who were concerned about the severe lack of housing options that would enable their loved ones to live independently with supports as part of the community rather than in an institutionalized setting. The families had a vision for a community akin to senior living: independent living in a safe, secure setting with friends and activities. These families did not have expertise in affordable housing development however, they successfully advocated to have an inclusionary parcel set-aside as part of the land use approvals for a market rate subdivision and also secured zoning approvals to build a higher-density rental project in a town characterized by low-density single family development. Fast forward several years, and Sunflower Hill in partnership with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates has completed its first development.

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the first independent, affordable residential community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Tri-Valley area which includes the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and surrounding areas of eastern Alameda County.  Buoyed by our initial success, Sunflower Hill has additional developments in predevelopment and aims to build many more affordable communities for people with I/DD.

Independent living options with supports for people with I/DD, are few in number. Such options that are also affordable and without Section 8 or other rental or operating subsidy are truly rare. Because these subsidies were not available, SAHA worked hard to demonstrate to State and local funding agencies that this project could be feasible without operating subsidies and that many I/DD households have sufficient income to afford the affordable rents. In addition, Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch was developed on an inclusionary parcel donated by the homebuilder who was concurrently developing Irby Ranch, a single-family residential subdivision. This project embodies innovation on many levels as it creates supportive rental housing for a special needs population without project-based rent subsidies and is also located in a high-income suburban community characterized primarily by low-density single family homes. We hope that Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch will inspire others to find creative solutions when faced with constrained land and funding resources.

The full-time service coordinator and full-time Residential Programs Manager ensure that the community offers rich and inspiring programing to encourage a full and meaningful life for residents. Sunflower Hill and the Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) offer a wide range of community building and life-enhancing programs and activities as well as service coordination to ensure that residents receive the direct supports they need to live independently and to thrive. Of particular note, the community building includes a commercial kitchen that is being shared by Culinary Angels, a nonprofit caterer whose mission is to provide nutrient-rich meals and nutrition education to people going through a serious health challenge. Culinary Angels uses the commercial kitchen to prepare meals for their clients while also offering a nutritious, affordable, meal plan to Sunflower Hill residents who opt in to the voluntary program.

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Paseo Estero & Vista Estero

Paseo Estero, provides 101 deeply affordable rental apartments for families, and Vista Estero, 110 deeply affordable apartments for seniors. The result of an innovative and highly collaborative public/private partnership, what was once an underutilized and mostly industrial site, is being transformed into a highly livable, walkable, and beautifully designed community to benefit generations to come. Housing Provider: MidPen Housing.

Brooklyn Basin is a new mixed-use, mixed-income district along Oakland’s waterfront, featuring over 3,000 new homes, creative retail, parks, and open spaces along 64 acres, and includes Paseo Estero, which provides 101 deeply affordable rental apartments for families, and Vista Estero, 110 deeply affordable apartments for seniors. The result of an innovative and highly collaborative public/private partnership, what was once an underutilized and mostly industrial site, is being transformed into a highly livable, walkable, and beautifully designed community to benefit generations to come. In 2015, the City of Oakland and Brooklyn Basin’s master developer, Signature Development Group, selected MidPen Housing to be the district’s affordable housing partner.

Paseo Estero and Vista Estero demonstrate the vision and commitment of one of California’s largest and most diverse cities to build more affordable housing for its residents. The communities began construction in December 2018 and completed in December 2020 and will be 100% occupied by residents earning 60% AMI and below by June 2021.

MidPen is committed to sustainable development, including the use of advanced green building methods: recycled content materials; energy and water efficient appliances; photovoltaic and solar thermal systems; and drought-tolerant landscaping. Paseo Estero and Vista Estero received LEED Silver certification.

Paseo Estero and Vista Estero also showcase art pieces and installations from OUSD youth and professional artists from Civic Design Studio with themes of Oakland and community pride.

Residents of Paseo Estero and Vista Estero enjoy onsite services and programs coordinated by MidPen Services.

Paseo Estero and Vista Estero mark the first phase of building affordable housing at Brooklyn Basin where ultimately 465 affordable homes are planned. The fact that so much affordable housing has been allocated is in large part due to the long-time efforts of The Brooklyn Basin Community Benefits Coalition made up of three resident membership organizations: Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC), and Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) who together represent over 2,000 low-income families and seniors in Oakland. Formed in 2004, this coalition – with technical support from Urban Strategies – played an integral role in negotiating an agreement with the City’s Redevelopment Agency that required the construction of 465 deeply affordable homes. This agreement was accompanied by substantial investments of the City of Oakland’s and Oakland Housing Authority’s resources to ensure the properties’ development and ongoing operations.

Financing for the two communities was provided through public and private sources including the City of Oakland, the Oakland Housing Authority, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, the California Municipal Finance Agency, Wells Fargo, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.

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A Tour of Affordable Housing

Watch a tour of three affordable housing communities: Shinsei Gardens Apartments, Alameda; Sunset Creek, Fairfield; West Rivertown, Antioch CA.

The video includes information about why designers made decisions for positive impacts on community relationships, affordability, and sustainability.

Celebrating St. Paul’s Commons

St. Paul’s Commons is a community of residents living in affordable homes built on land and through the efforts of a faith-based community in Walnut Creek, California.

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