Alameda County Board of Supervisors Awards EBALDC $75K American Rescue Plan Community Needs Cash Aid Grant

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2022

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation Receives $75,000 American Rescue Plan Community Needs Cash Aid Grant from Alameda County Board of Supervisors, District 5

Funds to Support EBALDC Community Services and Property Maintenance Challenged by Pandemic Rental Income Losses  

Oakland, California – The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) has received a $75,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant administered through Alameda County’s Supervisorial District 5 Community Needs Cash Aid Program. Assigned by the County’s Fifth District Supervisor Keith Carson, the funds are earmarked to cover EBALDC’s pandemic-related lost rent revenues currently totaling $1.2 million. They will help to maintain a key EBALDC role—supporting the health and safety of residents, small business tenants, and neighbors in Oakland and the East Bay.

“EBALDC is a respected and integral part of Alameda County’s housing and neighborhood services landscape,” said District 5 Supervisor Keith Carson. “Key to maintaining EBALDC’s healthy neighborhood mandate, this grant will address the lost revenues that are needed to keep essential community services and building maintenance going as we all continue to grapple with pandemic challenges.”

_{Prosperity Place Apartments, Oakland Chinatown}

EBALDC’s Resident Services and Economic Opportunities teams have been instrumental in assisting households who have disporportionately endured economic and health challenges during the pandemic and have have fallen behind in rent. Working with individuals to access emergency rental programs, financial coaching, food distribution, and even diapers has helped keep residents housed and healthy. While recouping approximately $1M in rental payments has helped EBALDC uphold its commitment to providing residents with life-enhancing services and property maintenance during the pandemic, our resident properties alone still have approximately $1.2M in outstanding rental debt, as residents deal with on-going economic challenges further exacerbated by the pandemic and inflation.

“Thanks to Supervisor Keith Carson’s foresight and generosity, EBALDC will be able to continue to abate the needs of our residents hit hardest by this pandemic,” said Sean Sullivan, EBALDC Board Chair.

In District 5, where the majority of EBALDC’s residents are people of color (84%) and where 34% live below the poverty level, outstanding rents total over $200,000.

“Laura—my financial coach at EBALDC’s SparkPoint Oakland—was such a great resource in helping me obtain rental assistance,” says A. Taylor, a resident of Prosperity Place in Chinatown. “She was knowledgeable in all aspects to successfully get me the help that I needed. She went above and beyond in asking the right questions so that I could keep a home for my family. I appreciate all her efforts.”

_{San Pablo Hotel, Uptown Oakland}

Pursuing a healthy neighborhoods model, EBALDC’s comprehensive approach to community development features four pillars: 1) Expand affordable rental housing options; 2) Expand income and wealth-building opportunities; 3) Increase resident and community engagement; and 4) Support strong neighborhood partnership networks. Comprehensive services for low-income households and individuals range from financial capability building and coaching, asset building programs, youth development programs, and resident services.

“Our most vulnerable residents are at risk in this challenging economic climate triggered by the global pandemic and now escalating inflation,” said Elle Fersan, EBALDC’s Executive Vice President of Resource Development and Communications. “We are grateful to Supervisor Carson’s apportioning ARPA funds to support our District 5 communities and individuals during a time of uncertainty.”

EBALDC’s downtown headquarters and nine properties are situated in Alameda County’s District 5. With additional properties in Oakland, Emeryville, Richmond, and San Pablo, EBALDC comprises 257 reclaimed affordable housing units and over 2,450 developed units of affordable housing that serve more than 6,000 people annually. Over 300,000 square feet of commercial property is under EBALDC’s management, making it the largest nonprofit commercial landlord in the East Bay.