An innovative approach to easing and ending the crisis of homelessness in Berkeley
This project is a joint development between Berkeley Food & Housing Project and BRIDGE Housing, bringing a continuum of affordable and very low-income housing integrated into the fabric of a vibrant downtown community, rich in transit and services.
The development consists of two distinct entities in one architecturally unified building, designed by award-winning Bay Area architects Leddy Maytum Stacy.
The Hope Center
Berkeley Food & Housing Project’s portion of the development will consist of:
- 32 shelter beds for homeless adult men
- 53 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless and disabled men and women
- 12 transitional housing beds for homeless male veterans (in partnership with the VA)
- Offices for support staff and partner agencies such as LifeLong Medical and Berkeley Mental Health
- A commercial kitchen and dining facility for residents and daily Community Meal
Who will the Hope Center serve?
The Hope Center is designed to serve Berkeley’s very low-income, disabled and chronically homeless population through an innovative integration of housing and onsite support services. Planned in close collaboration with the City of Berkeley, it is a vital part of the overall plan to find housing and a permanent stable solution for the city’s estimated 1000 people experiencing homelessness.
The Hope Center is the project I’m most proud of in my career as Mayor of Berkeley.”
~ Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín
Mayor Arreguín held his 2022 State of the City Address at The Hope Center. Picture here with BFHP CEO Calleene Egan.
The Vision Behind The Hope Center
The Hope Center is not only about housing, it’s about creating a space of safety, sanctuary, dignity and possibilities for human growth. A place in which aspirations and hopes for a better future are represented physically by an abundance of natural light, warm colors, lush green spaces, and common areas that encourage connection, rest, and restoration. The Center is a place where those facing housing insecurity can begin a journey out of homelessness into a community that embodies warmth, welcome, respect, and dignity.
The properties has on-site renewable energy and are targeting a Multifamily GreenPoint Rating of Platinum (see sustainable diagram). Additionally, the project is one of 4 pilot projects in the Bay Area Low-Carbon Concrete Codes Project by BAAQMD.
In its entirety, the project provides the single largest infusion of low-income and affordable housing in the history of Berkeley. The Hope Center is currently the largest permanent supportive housing for the homeless in Berkeley.
It’s location in a transit and service-rich downtown area allows the center’s residents to easily access a range of additional low/no-cost local services, including: legal assistance, disability transportation assistance, senior recreational and social services, and food pantry services.
I’ve been longing to see a project like this that can give our unhoused community a new and positive direction. Thank you for making this a possibility. We at Berkeley Rotary look forward to further opportunities for volunteer service and partnership.”
~ Anne Pardee
Berkeley Rotary Club
Supportive Housing Committee
(Anne and other Rotary members toured the site in February 2021)
Berkeley Way Apartments
The BRIDGE portion of the development contains 89 units of affordable housing, that will be available to the general public at between 50% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI). These are studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom rental units, owned and managed by BRIDGE Housing.
Co-Developers: Berkeley Food & Housing Project, BRIDGE Housing
General Contractor: Nibbi Brothers General Contractors
Architect: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
Financial Partners for Both Developments: City of Berkeley, Berkeley Housing Authority, Alameda County, California Department of Housing and Community Development, National Equity Fund, Merritt Community Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, California Debt Limit Allocation Committee, donations from members of the Berkeley community. Additional funding for the Hope Center: Citi Community Development/LISC-NEF’s Bring Them Homes initiative. Additional funding for Berkeley Way Apartments: PGIM, Freddie Mac, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.
To learn more about how you can get involved, contact us at development@bfhp.org.
