Unlock Equity & Income with an Accessory Dwelling Unit.
The Keys To Equity Program provides design and financing services to Oakland homeowners that would like to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their property. We are excited to announce our open enrollment period will be accepting applications on a rolling basis!
Keys to Equity is proud to announce the enhancements to our program
- The acceptance of homes in living trusts
- An increase in Debt-to-Income limit – Now up to 48%
- A reduction in origination fees – Now 1.5% of the total loan amount received from Self Help Federal Credit Union
- And the ability to buy down your interest rate up to 1% on the Self Help mortgage product
What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?
An Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU is a residential unit that can be added to an existing home, whether in the form of a garage, a freestanding cottage, or a part of the main house that has been converted into an additional unit.
The program is intended to support both the creation of new ADUs, as well as the renovation and legalization of existing unpermitted ADUs. The feasibility of ADU projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
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What can an ADU
be used for?
Housing
Creates additional units and provides housing for friends, family, or members of the local community.
Income
It can provide monthly rental income and add value to your property.
Flexibility
The property owner can live in the ADU and rent out the main house or vice versa.
Who is Eligible?
• City of Oakland homeowners
• Homeowners who occupy their property
• Properties that can accommodate an ADU
Program Overview
Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS) is excited to assist you in exploring an opportunity to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your property. The program is intended to support both the creation of new ADUs, as well as the renovation and legalization of existing un-permitted ADUs.
Keys to Equity was developed in collaboration with Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS), Self-Help Federal Credit Union (Self-Help), the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the City of Oakland, and the San Francisco Foundation (SFF) to help simplify and streamline the process for constructing ADUs.
The program provides one-on-one guidance through the development process and a suite of benefits for eligible homeowners, including ADU architectural designs, analysis of your finances and assistance obtaining a loan, access to a customized financial product, design + permitting, and construction management.
This program is intended to create more housing in areas that are at-risk of greater displacement and expand access to wealth-building for homeowners, with a focus on Black homeowners and those who have been disproportionately impacted by systemic racial and economic inequities within the housing system. Read the Press Release >
This program is intended to increase access for communities of color that have had a history of redlining and wealth-stripping, with a focus on assisting Black homeowners in Oakland.
Education
Customized learning modules and counseling to understand construction management, financing options, and landlord responsibilities.
Financial Counseling and Lending
Analysis of your finances and assistance obtaining a loan, with access to a customized ADU financing product.
Project Management
Access to a program coordinator to assist in the design, permitting, construction management, and tenanting process for your ADU.
Design and Construction Management
Access to selected ADU architectural designs and affordable construction services.
Education
Customized learning modules and counseling to understand construction management, financing options, and landlord responsibilities.
Financial Counseling and Lending
Analysis of your finances and assistance obtaining a loan, with access to a customized ADU financing product.
Project Management
Access to a program coordinator to assist in the design, permitting, construction, and tenanting process for your ADU.
Design and Construction Management
Access to selected ADU architectural designs and affordable construction services.
Learn how to operate and manage your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) with our easy-to-follow free educational modules.
January 17th, 2024 at 6 pm – Overview
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Overview
January 24th, 2024 at 6 pm – Module 2
Financing your ADU
January 31st, 2024 at 6 pm – Module 3
How to work with your GC and Architect Learn all about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
February 7th, 2024 at 6 pm – Module 4 & 5
Managing Tenants/Landlord Legalities for an Accessory Dwelling Unit
February 14th, 2024 at 6 pm – Module 6
Wrap Up! Learn all about ADUs
ADU Grant Program | CalHFA
The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grant Program will create more housing units in California by providing a grant to reimburse pre-development costs associated with the construction of the ADU.
Frequently Asked Questions
ADUs are secondary residential units that share a lot with a larger, primary home — whether in the form of a free-standing backyard home, a converted garage, an expansion to the existing house, or a part of the main house that has been converted into an additional unit.
Keys to Equity, which was developed in partnership with Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS), Self-Help Federal Credit Union (Self-Help), the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the City of Oakland, and the San Francisco Foundation (SFF), is a new program in Oakland that streamlines and simplifies the process for constructing an ADU on your property.
The program is currently designed to assist homeowners with a single family home who live in the City of Oakland. The property must be homeowner-occupied.
The Keys to Equity program open enrollment period has ended. The program ran from December 15th to February 15th, 2023. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out our interest form.
This program can help with the construction of a new ADU, as well as the renovation and legalization of existing unpermitted ADUs.
The program lender SHFCU will required that you are on tile for 12 months.
The program lender SHFCU will require that your discharge is over a period of 12 months minimum to get financed.
ADUs are secondary residential units that share a lot with a larger, primary home — whether in the form of a free-standing backyard home, a converted garage, an expansion to the existing house, or a part of the main house that has been converted into an additional unit.
Keys to Equity, which was developed in partnership with Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS), Self-Help Federal Credit Union (Self-Help), the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the City of Oakland, and the San Francisco Foundation (SFF), is a new program in Oakland that streamlines and simplifies the process for constructing an ADU on your property.
The program is currently designed to assist homeowners with a single family home who live in the City of Oakland. The property must be homeowner-occupied.
The Keys To Equity Program provides design and financing services to Oakland homeowners that would like to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their property. We are excited to announce our open enrollment period will be accepting applications on a rolling basis!
If you are interested in learning more, please fill out our interest form.
This program can help with the construction of a new ADU, as well as the renovation and legalization of existing unpermitted ADUs.
The program lender SHFCU will required that you are on tile for 12 months.
The program lender SHFCU will require that your discharge is over a period of 12 months minimum to get financed.
The Keys to Equity Program is Brought to You by Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services.
Since our founding in 1981 by a dedicated group of low-income residents, Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS) has worked to reverse the adverse effects of systemic segregation, redlining, disinvestment, and blight.
Throughout its history, RNHS has served over 10,000 families to increase access for communities of color across the East Bay.
Our mission is to promote investment in and revitalization of under-resourced communities in the East Bay.
Through the combined efforts of local residents and businesses, financial institutions and government, RNHS works to overcome homelessness and the displacement of low-income residents, and provide the tools for low-income households and people of color to achieve financial equity.
Our mission is to promote investment in and revitalization of under-resourced communities in the East Bay.
Our work is rooted in the belief that the affordable housing conversation does not stop at renting: we promote and support community members to explore the feasibility of homeownership. Download the Homeowner’s Journey PDF >
Our Partners
Program Partners
Program Design Partners
Contact Us
If you have more questions, email us at domanic@eastbaynhs.org.
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