Summary

On May 9, a panel discussed the recent implementation of a suite of housing preferences by the City of Berkeley that prioritizes particular households when applying for affordable housing opportunities. Unlike a preference policy focused solely on those who live or work in Berkeley, which does not yield equitable outcomes, the City prioritized households with children and those impacted by BART construction, foreclosures, eviction, historic redlining, or homelessness.

Given the complexity of implementing layers of housing preferences, the City turned to the Doorway Housing Portal, built on Bloom Housing, to develop a seamless digital application process. This process included geo-based features that allow applicants and property managers to determine eligibility. The technology, in the hands of organizations like Healthy Black Families, will allow for better outreach to families eligible for housing preferences to apply and gain housing in Berkeley. This panel included speakers from the City of Berkeley, Healthy Black Families, and Resources for Community Development (RCD) – with moderation from BAHFA/Doorway.

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Participants

Panelist: Wilhelmenia Wilson, Executive Director, Healthy Black Families

Panelist: Nick Griffin, Director of Asset Management, Resources for Community Development

Panelist: Anna Cash, Housing Policy Specialist, City of Berkeley

Moderator: Barry Roeder, Doorway Principal, BAHFA/Doorway