Supported in part by nearly $23 million award from the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, Resources for Community Development (RCD) will provide 87 affordable rental homes in the city of Berkeley through the Maudelle Miller Shirek Community project. In addition to large, family-sized apartments and permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless residents, the ground floor of the building will become the headquarters of Healthy Black Families, Inc., a South Berkeley-based nonprofit dedicated to the health of Black families in the community. This project will help Black families and formerly homeless individuals live healthier lives and receive health services through on-site programs and services offered by Healthy Black Families, Inc.,, RCD’s resident services, and the City of Berkeley Mental Health department and third-party service providers.
In 2016, RCD started exploring ways to foster equity and opportunity in communities left behind as the Bay Area prospers. As part of this initiative, RCD engaged South Berkeley community stakeholders to learn the community’s challenges, opportunities, and vision for the future. RCD heard that Black families were experiencing tremendous health and housing disparities in South Berkeley and being displaced at high rates. To address this, RCD started a relationship with Healthy Black Families, Inc. to explore how they could partner to support the community. Their collaboration resulted in Healthy Black Families having an affordable, long-term commercial space on the ground floor of Maudelle Miller Shirek Community.
“With the street level of the Maudelle Miller Shirek Community Building as the new headquarters for Healthy Black Families Inc., there will be a visible, modern, and technology-enabled space that supports these ongoing needs” said Wilhelmenia Wilson, Executive Director of Healthy Black Families, Inc. ”From this 100% affordable housing, easily accessible location (across from Ashby BART station), [Healthy Black Families, Inc.] will be well positioned to connect with, advocate for, support and empower Black families in Berkeley and the surrounding communities as they advocate for and organize around the changes that matter most. Our partnership with [RCD], has been key as we move through the complex process. We are immensely grateful for their support.”