Employee Housing Security Initiative
377 Brookside Drive Pilot Project
“The people caring for Richmond should be able to live in Richmond.”
Why This Matters Now
Housing costs are pushing the people who care for Richmond out of the community. Our staff, many who were born and raised here, deserve the opportunity to live, grow, and build their futures in the city they serve.
The Vision
A pathway to a long-term, replicable model of housing stability is rooted in community ownership. By renovating 377 Brookside Drive and launching a five-year housing program with the Community Housing Development Corporation, a local low-income housing developer, we can build the foundation for lasting stability and prove a model that can grow across Richmond.
What This Project Delivers
This five-year affordable homeownership initiative includes:
• A community-based advisory committee to ensure equitable participant selection, transparency, and ongoing program oversight.
• Professional property management and resident support provided through a trusted affordable housing nonprofit partner with more than 50 years of experience serving low-income communities.
• Comprehensive financial empowerment services, including financial literacy training, credit repair assistance, and first-time homebuyer education and coaching.
• An escrow savings account of up to $75,000 for each participating household, funded through a portion of monthly lease payments to help create a pathway to homeownership.
• A scalable and replicable model that can be expanded to additional Urban Tilth homes and future affordable housing developments in Richmond, creating opportunities for many more dedicated residents to build long-term stability, wealth, and belonging in the community they love.
Help Us Turn This Vision Into Reality
This pilot meets an urgent housing need while creating a replicable model for workforce stability, wealth-building, and long-term community-rooted housing security. Together, we can support the people who serve our communities by helping them stay, thrive, and build futures where they live and work.
With the right partners, this model can expand to future staff households, additional mission-aligned properties, and collaborations with groups like Richmond LAND.
Join us in creating lasting housing solutions.
To learn more & help make this pilot possible, contact: Doria Robinson at 510.788.5886 or doria@urbantilth.org