Housing Assistance in Alameda  

• Foreclosure Prevention and Assistance

City of Alameda First-Time Home Buyer Programs

• Free Home Buyer Workshops

• Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program

• Alameda County Mortgage Credit Certificate

• Housing Authority of the City of Alameda

• Rent Review Advisory Committee

• Minor Home Repair Program

• Housing Rehabilitation Program

• Rental Rehabilitation Program

• Substantial Rehabilitation Program

• Partners in Neighborhood Pride

• Alameda Co. Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

• Homeless Prevention

• Emergency Shelter

• Fair Housing and Housing Counseling
• Affordable Housing Information

Housing Assistance in Alameda:

The City of Alameda offers a variety of housing assistance programs for renters, homeowners, and first time homebuyer. For most programs, participants must meet income eligibility criteria. Click here for current income limits. (03/08)

Foreclosure Prevention and Assistance:

Help is available for households who are having trouble making mortgage payments, at risk of foreclosure, or already in the foreclosure process. Click here for information about the different resources available. (02/08)

First-Time Home Buyer Programs:
  

Hundreds of people have taken advantage of the City's Home Buyer Workshop. The workshops cover the complete home buying process including the following topics:

Overview of the Home Buying Process

• Credit & Budgeting
• Qualifying for a Loan
• The City's Downpayment Assistance Program
• The Loan Application/Preapproval Process
• Selecting a Home
• Role of the Real Estate Agent
• Home Maintenance
• Foreclosure Prevention

Workshops are conducted by First Home, Inc. and participants must register to attend. Please register by calling 888.572.1222 x110, or Click here to register.

The next workshops are scheduled for:

• April 26, 2008

(02/08)

Downpayment Assistance Loans - Now Available
The Downpayment Assistance Program offers generous financial assistance to first time homebuyers looking to purchase a home in Alameda. The program provides loans from $50,000 to $80,000 and is available to households with a wide range of incomes. Eligible uses of program funds include downpayment and/or closing costs for the purchase of a single family residence anywhere in Alameda.

This program is being administered by First Home, Inc. For more information, please call First Home directly, at (888) 572-1222 ext. 110. Click here to visit their website.

To view the Down Payment Assistance Program brochure, click here. (10/07)  

The Mortgage Credit Certificate Program (MCC) is a federal program that helps first-time homebuyers to qualify for mortgage loans. MCCs give homebuyers a “dollar for dollar” tax credit against federal income taxes equal to up to fifteen percent (15%) of annual mortgage interest. By effectively reducing monthly mortgage payments, MCCs give homebuyers greater ability to qualify for and support a mortgage loan. Program participants are subject to limits on maximum household income and maximum home purchase price. If the home buyers’ tax liability is lower than their available MCC tax credit, they can carry forward the unused tax credit for three additional years.

The MCC program for the City of Alameda is administered by the Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department. The County has administered the MCC program since 1989, assisting home buyers in traditionally high-cost housing markets throughout Alameda County. Since 1994, 110 households have been assisted through the MCC program in the City of Alameda. From 1999 through 2003, seven Alameda households were assisted through the Alameda County MCC for more information about the MCC program, or to obtain a list of participating lenders, contact the Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department office at (510) 670-5246, or visit their website at www.acgov.org/cda/mcc_program/. (02/04)

The (AHA) owns and/or manages 573 housing units throughout the City of Alameda and manages more than 1,600 Housing Choice vouchers that are given to low income residents to use in the private market. This rental subsidy offsets the cost of housing so that households pay no more than 40% of their income for rent. To visit their website Click Here. (05/04)

For more information about the RRAC, including past meeting agendas, click here.
(2/04)

The Housing Rehabilitation Program helps low-income Alameda homeowners repair and improve their homes. Low-interest loans are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be used to correct substandard and/or health and safety conditions (including lead-based paint hazards), to extend energy conservation, or to repair or replace major systems in danger of failure. For more information, send an E-mail or contact the City’s Development Services Department at (510)749-5800. (03/08)

The City of Alameda is a member of the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. This Joint Powers Agency is partially funded by a $10/per unit assessment on residential units constructed before 1978. The Program provides information and technical assistance to prevent lead poisoning and reduce residential lead hazards such as lead-based paint, soil and dust. People of all income levels are eligible for free lead paint test kits, environmental testing, abatement planning, and referrals for blood lead screening. For more information, please contact the information hotline at 1-800-B-Lead-Safe, or visit their web site at: www.aclppp.org. (12/21/2000)

The ACCESS Program (Alameda Continuum of Community Emergency and Social Services) provides case management, referrals, and direct services for individuals and famlies at risk of homelessness. ACCESS offers short-term assistance to help low and moderate income Alameda households pay for utility bills and rent, and provides emergency food, baby supplies, and bus tickets. ACCESS also provides budget counseling, access to child care vouchers, and referrals to other social services. The program is operated by the Red Cross with City funding. For more information, call (510) 814-4200. (8/7/03)

The Midway Shelter in Alameda offers emergency shelter, job readiness and housing placement assistance, and counseling for women and children. For more information on obtaining shelter or to volunteer at Midway, or for referrals to other Alameda County shelters for men, women, or children, call 1-866-A-WAY-OUT.

The Family Violence Law Center is a nonprofit organization providing legal support and crisis intervention services for victims of domestic violence and their children. They offer 24-hour telephone crisis counseling, including coordination with collaborating shelters to facilitate immediate placement when possible. The Center is contracted by the City to provide legal counseling and accompany victims to court to secure restraining orders. For more information, call (510) 540-5370. (8/7/03)

The City of Alameda is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing. Sentinel Fair Housing is contracted by the City to counsel tenants and landlords on their rights and responsibilities, mediate landlord / tenant disputes, and investigate complaints of housing discrimination. For more information, call (510) 836-2687. Also check your local branch of the Alameda Free Library for a copy of California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities or go to: http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/ landlordbook.

To view a list of resources for renters, click here. (8/20/03)

Affordable Housing Information

Eden I & R is a non-profit agency that provides free information and referrals on housing and social services. They also maintain a computerized database of over 43,000 housing units in Alameda County. Individuals and families seeking housing can call their Community Housing and Information Network line at 2-1-1 or (888) 886-9660 from outside Alameda County. You may also visit their website at www.edenIR.org. (03/08)