Housing Services Office

Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services established a Housing Services Office in 2007 through the utilization of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding.  The Office strives to achieve the following broad goals for the BHCS system and our target populations: 

1)  Increase the availability of a range of affordable housing options with appropriate supportive services so that individuals can “choose”, “get”, and “keep” their preferred type of housing arrangement;

2)  Minimize the time individuals spend living in institutional settings by increasing and improving working relationships among housing and service providers, family members, and consumers;

3)  Track and monitor the type, quantity, and quality of housing utilized by and available to BHCS target populations;

4)  Provide centralized information and resources related to housing for BHCS consumers, family members, and providers;

5)  Coordinate educational and training programs around housing and related services issues for consumers, family members, and providers;

6)  Work toward the prevention and elimination of homelessness in Alameda County through active participation in the EveryOne Home plan implementation.

Documents on this web site reflect the policies, procedures, and efforts of Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services.  The City of Berkeley operates its own distinct mental health division that collaborates with our Housing Services Office.  Information about the City of Berkeley’s Mental Health Division can be found on their City of Berkeley – Health and Human Services – Mental Health Division website.

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Introducing Merritt Crossing, Oakland, CA, by Affordable Housing Associates.

The Housing Services Office of Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services is pleased to announce an affordable housing opportunity for seniors 55 years or older in downtown Oakland. Affordable Housing Associates (AHA) is the developer and operator of the 70 unit community of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy on June 1, 2012.

Affordable rents are income restricted in accordance with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, the Section 8 Project-based Voucher program, and other regulatory agreements. The rents range between $485 to $1,038. More than half of the apartments will have project based Section 8 vouchers and the rent will be based on the occupants’ income. In addition, there are five (5) apartments reserved for Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) eligible households. MHSA units are designated for households or individuals that are currently homeless and have at least one individual who has a serious mental health issue that qualifies under MHSA.

Please feel free to call Affordable Housing Associates at 510.306.1605, if you have questions or need help in filling out the application. In addition, more information about this important project can be found at: http://www.merrittcrossingapts.com/

Click HERE for the application for the development and the MHSA eligibility certification form. The MHSA eligibility certification form and the documentation should be returned to the Housing Services Office at:


HSO, Merritt Crossing Apartments
2000 Embarcadero Cove, Ste. 400, Box 55
Oakland, CA 94606

The Merritt Crossing application from Affordable Housing Associates should be postmarked by Friday, January 6, 2012, and mailed to:


Merritt Crossing Apartments
Post Office Box 629
Oakland, CA 94604

Please liberally share this information with prospective applicants. Again, the application deadline is Friday, January 6, 2012.