Alameda County’s

HelloADU

Accessory Dwelling Unit Program

Application Form

Thank you for your interest in applying to Alameda County’s HelloADU program, Hello Housing’s ADU program sponsored by Alameda County (the “Program”). Please note, the information you submit on this application will be used to determine whether you are eligible to participate in the program, as well as help us learn about your interest and how ready you are to start your ADU project. The application consists of seven sections and should take you about 15-20 minutes to complete. We really appreciate your time and willingness to share more about yourself and the goals of your ADU project.

If you meet the minimum eligibility for the Program, you will receive an email confirming your eligibility. If you do not meet the initial eligibility requirements, you will receive an email explaining why you do not meet the basic program eligibility requirements. Please keep an eye out for emails that may go to your spam folder if you submit your application and you do not receive an email response.

All applications that are received will be added to a waitlist in the order that they are received. We will reach out to households on the waitlist as funding permits.

Visit www.helloadu.org for more information.

Please complete all pages of this application. Incomplete applications may be deemed ineligible.

If you have questions or need assistance completing this application, please call us at (415) 704-8715 or email helloadu@hellohousing.org.

Section I. General Information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Confirm Email Address

Phone

Street

City

State

Zip Code

Hello Housing believes that fair and equal access to housing opportunities and programs is critical to supporting diverse communities where people thrive. To know how we are doing, we need to collect demographic information of our applicants. And, we need to collect this information in a way that can be compared with other publicly-available information.

Please be assured that this information is only used in the aggregate and is not used in any way to determine your household’s eligibility for any program offering. By providing this information, you are helping us better understand the reach and impact of our programs in the communities we serve, which in turn leads to more effective housing solutions.

Primary Applicant Demographics

Please enter information about the primary applicant below.

Gender

Are you living with a disability?

YesNo

Are you under 18 years of age?

YesNo

Employment Status

Marital Status

Education

Are you a Veteran

YesNo

Race (select all that apply)

American Indian or Alaska NativeBlack or African AmericanMiddle Eastern or North AfricanWhiteAsian - ChineseAsian - FilipinoAsian - Asian IndianAsian - VietnameseAsian - KoreanAsian - JapaneseAsian - Other Asian Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - Native HawaiianNative Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - SamoanNative Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - ChamorroNative Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - TonganNative Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - Other Pacific Islander Latino or Hispanic - Mexican/Chicano/ChicanaLatino or Hispanic - SalvadoranLatino or Hispanic - GuatemalanLatino or Hispanic - Puerto RicanLatino or Hispanic - CubanLatino or Hispanic - Other Latino/HispanicOther than the aboveI understand the reason for asking and I still choose not to respond

Other Asian (specify)

Other Pacific Islander (specify)

Other Latino/Hispanic (specify)

Other than the above (specify)

Primary Language

Your answers below help us make the program more accessible to applicants who speak different languages. Your answers will not be used in any way to determine your eligibility for this program.

Do you speak a language other than English at home?

Yes No

If yes, what is this language?

Other Language

How well do you speak English?

How did you hear about the Program?

If "Other", please provide additional information:

Would you like to subscribe to Hello Housing's ADU e-newsletter "The Bright Spot", which provides updates on resources to help homeowners add rental units to their homes.

Yes, please! By checking this box, you agree to receive periodic emails from Hello Housing with resources related to Accessory Dwelling Units, Junior ADUs and lot splits. You may unsubscribe at any time.No, not at this time

Are there additional members in your household?

YesNo

Include all adults AND children living at least 50% of the time in the household. For minors to count in your household size they must be claimed as a dependent on the most recent tax return of one of the adult household members OR one of the adult household members must be able to provide evidence of at least 50% custody of the minor.

How many additional people will be on your application (not including yourself)?

Household Member Demographics

Please enter information about any additional household members below.

First Name

Last Name

Gender

Is this person living with a disability?

YesNo

Is this person under 18 years of age?

YesNo

Employment Status

Marital Status

Education

Is this person a Veteran

YesNo

Race (select all that apply)

Other Asian (specify)

Other Pacific Islander (specify)

Other Latino/Hispanic (specify)

Other than the above (specify)

Primary Language

Your answers below help us make the program more accessible to applicants who speak different languages. Your answers will not be used in any way to determine your eligibility for this program.

Does this household member speak a language other than English at home?

Yes No

If yes, what is this language?

Other Language

How well does this household member speak English?

Number of ADDITIONAL household members added

Program

Campaign Name

Campaign ID

Section II. Basic Eligibility

Please complete every question to the best of your ability. Do not leave any question blank in order to submit a complete application.

1. Alameda County's HelloADU Program is currently only available in the Unincorporated Areas of Alameda County. Do you currently own a home in one of the following Unincorporated Areas?

(Ashland, Cherryland, Castro Valley, Castlewood, Fairview, Happy Valley, Hillcrest Knolls, Sunol and San Lorenzo as well as the unincorporated areas of Hayward, South Livermore and East Pleasanton)

YesNo

2. Alameda County's HelloADU program is only available to homeowners who own a single-family home that can accommodate an ADU or a Junior ADU (JADU). Do you own a single-family home on which you want to add a new ADU or JADU unit?

YesNo

3. Do you own and occupy the home that you are adding a new unit to?

Yes, I own and occupy the home where I want to add a new ADU/JADU unit.No, I do not own and occupy the home I want to add an ADU unit to.

4. Participants in the Program must be willing to rent the new ADU or JADU for a period of no less than 3 years. Units can be rented to a family member, a friend, or a community member as long as there is a bona fide lease in place. Alternatively, applicants can move into the new unit and rent out the main home. You are not required to charge rent for the unit (especially if you plan to support a family member), however if you do plan to charge rent, the newly created ADU or JADU will be subject to a rent limit based on the Area Median Income rent limits used by Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department, which are typically adjusted on an annual basis. As an example, rent limits for 2024 are as follows: $2,200 for a studio unit, $2,300 for a 1-bedroom unit, and $2,800 for a 2-bedroom unit. Are you comfortable with the above requirements as a condition of participation?

YesNo

5. Participation in the Program will require that you have a plan in place to pay for the design and construction of your new unit. Do you have a plan in place to pay for your new unit?

YesNo

If yes, how do you anticipate paying for it based on what you know today? Please mark all that apply.

With cash/personal savingsHome equity loanHome equity line of creditRefinance of the main homeBorrow from retirement account (401K, Pension, IRA, etc)Loan from family or friendsOther (please specify)

If "Other", please provide additional information:

Section III. Informational Survey Questions

Please complete each question below to the best of your ability. Answers to these questions will help Hello Housing learn more about your project and your goals.

Units can be rented to a family member, a friend or a community member as long as there is a bona fide lease agreement in place. Alternatively, participants can choose to move into the new ADU/JADU and rent the main home.

1. Please indicate your short-term intended plan for meeting the rental requirements.

I plan to rent to a family memberI plan to rent to a friend of the familyI plan to rent to the open market I am not sure at this time who I plan to rent the unit to, but I am willing to meet the minimum requirements as noted above.

2. Long-term (after 3 years), what is your intended use of an additional unit on your property? (Please indicate all that apply)

I want to house a family member, like a parent, child, or sibling I want to have space for a caregiverI am primarily interested in a second unit as an investment and wealth building opportunityI want a second unit to downsize to as I age in placeI want to house a community member pressured by high housing costs, like teachers, at affordable rentsNone of the aboveOther

If "Other", please provide additional information:

3. With what you know today, please check the box of the type of ADU/JADU you are interested in adding to your property. (Please check all that may apply)

Detached, free-standing cottage in the backyardAttached, new addition to the main homeConversion of an existing space within the home resulting in a separate entry to the unit, an efficiency kitchen and access to a bathroomConversion of a garage attached to the main homeConversion of a garage that is detached from the main homeBasement ConversionOther

If "Other", please provide additional information:

4. What is the estimated size of the ADU/JADU desired?

Studio ~250-500 sq. ft.One Bedroom ~550-750 sq. ft.Two Bedrooms ~750+ sq. ft.I am not sure at this time

5. What is your approximate annual household income?

Please include the combined income of all adults in your household

6. Based on what you know today, how much are you prepared to spend to add a new unit?

$100,000 to $150,000$150,000 to $200,000$200,000 to $250,000$250,000 to $300,000$300,000 to $350,000$350,000 to $400,000+

7. Have you consulted with a lender?

YesNo

If so, please indicate which lending institution(s) you have spoken with.

Section IV. Participant Readiness

8. Have you ever met with a professional (General Contractor, Architect, City/County staff) about your project before?

YesNo

If yes, what may have prevented you from moving forward with your project?

9. How far into the development process are you with your ADU/JADU project? (Please check all that may apply)

Haven't begunStarted talking with lendersStarted looking at designsHired a designerPlans drawn but no yet submitted for reviewDesign is currently being reviewed by the CityBidding out the project to general contractorsAbout to start constructionI have started construction

10. When we work with households, we find that there are times that decision makers have very different visions of when and how to proceed with a project, which is expected and normal. Are all of the decision makers in you household in agreement about the type of project and readiness to start? (Please select the statement below that most applies to your current experience).

We have had initial conversations but have not been able to find agreement yetWe have started this conversation and have agreement in some areasWe have talked about our vision and have agreement in most areasWe have agreement and share the same vision

11. Tell us about any circumstances that may be driving a date by which you need the new unit to be ready. (i.e. an aging family member in need of care, a space for a caregiver is needed by a certain date, an adult child moving back home or being displaced from current housing, etc.). If there is not a specific issue driving your project's timeline, simply indicate this below by typing "N/A."

12. Have you undertaken a major home improvement project before? (i.e. permits were required, project costs of at least $25,000).

YesNo

If yes, please tell us about the project and what your experience was like.

13. Do you have young children, family members with limited mobility, pets or family household members who have environmental sensitivities to dust or debris that might have trouble during construction?

YesNo

If yes, please tell us more about the situation.

14. Are you ready to give up certain parts of your home during the construction period? (i.e. driveway, yard, street parking, garage etc...)

YesNoI am not sure

15. Have you ever been a landlord before?

YesNo

If yes, please tell us about your experience.

In an effort to ensure that the project moves smoothly through each phase, there may be times on a workday (M-F) where the project team will need to meet with you. In some cases, this meeting will need to take place on site, but in many cases these meetings can take place through both phone or video conferencing for ease in everyone's schedules.

16. Do you have flexibility to meet with the team during the workday (M-F) to advance the project?

Yes, I have some flexibility to connect on during the workday (M-F).No, I am only available to commit time during the evening or weekends

Section V. Site Conditions

Conditions at the home can impact the costs and the type of ADU/JADU you hope to build. Please answer the questions below to help us better understand what some of these conditions might be so we can plan accordingly.

17. Do you know of any un-permitted work completed on your home that may need to be addressed?

YesNoI am unsure

If yes, please describe.

18. Are there any open code violations on your property?

YesNoI am unsure

If yes, please describe.

19. Is your property located in a FEMA-designated flood zone (100-year floodplain)?

Yes, my home is located in a flood zoneNo, my home is not located in a flood zoneI am unsure

20. Is your lot generally flat, modestly sloped in one direction, or on a steep hillside or cliff?

If "Other", please provide additional information:

21. Will the location of your ADU/JADU require the removal of large trees or rocks?

YesNo

If yes, please describe.

22. Will the location of your ADU/JADU require the removal of any man-made structures?

YesNo

If yes, please describe.

23. Do you have a septic system on your property?

YesNo

Section VI. Applicant Agreement

As part of my application, I have read and agree to the following terms of the Alameda County HelloADU Program ("Program"). I certify that statements included herein are true and correct to best of my knowledge.

Acknowledgements

I own and occupy the home that I am adding a new unit to.

I understand that the Program is for the purpose of building additional housing and therefore I agree that the new unit will house a friend, a family member or a community member who will enter into a lease agreement at the completion of construction.

I understand that the new unit must receive all necessary government approvals and that unpermitted dwellings are not eligible under the Program.

I understand that I must work with 3rd Party Professionals who are not family members (i.e. it must be an “Arm’s Length Transaction”) and that contractors working on the project shall be licensed and insured.

I understand that a requirement for participation in the program is my financial capacity to afford the costs associated with designing and constructing my ADU/JADU. I understand that if my application is selected to move forward in the Program, I will be asked and expected to provide documentation of my financial resources. Examples of acceptable documentation include, but are not limited to, a loan pre-approval letter from a lender, bank statement reflecting adequate cash savings, retirement account statement, gift letter, and current mortgage statement balance (if refinancing). Failure to provide documentation when requested will be a basis for declining to approve an applicant or removing an applicant from the Program.

I understand that if I rent out my ADU or JADU, it will be subject to a rent limit for 3 years to prevent price gouging. Rent limits are those used by Alameda County, based on 80% of area median income for Alameda County and typically adjusted annually. As an example, median income rent limits for 2024 are as follows: $2,200, for a studio unit, $2,300, for a 1-bedroom unit, and $2,800, for a 2-bedroom unit.

If I build the ADU/JADU I agree to participate in landlord and fair housing training approved by Hello Housing prior to entering into a lease with a tenant for either the ADU/JADU or the primary home.

I understand that an important aspect of this Program is evaluating what worked well for homeowners and what aspects could be improved. I agree to participate in evaluation activities, such as completing written and verbal surveys.

I understand that as part of the Program, I may be contacted to schedule a follow-up phone interview and/or site visit during business hours. Once an appointment is scheduled based on my stated availability, I agree to give 24 hours’ notice to cancel a phone interview and 48 hours’ notice to cancel a site visit. I understand that if I cancel two of these scheduled appointments, my application may be denied or I may be removed from the Program.

I will make a concerted effort to include all decision-makers in my household in any initial site visit with Hello Housing and in all decisions that need to be made regarding our ADU/JADU and the Program.

I understand that developing the proposed ADU/JADU on my property may not be feasible for a variety of reasons. I also understand that the purpose of site visits by Hello Housing and other contractors and consultants is to assist me in evaluating many conditions related to my property, the proposed ADU/JADU and the Program. I understand and acknowledge that Hello Housing makes no representation or guarantee at any time that I will be able to participate in or finish the Program or complete the ADU/JADU.

I understand that my participation in the Program will be subject to a lottery process.

I understand that my participation in the Program is voluntary.

I understand that my selection for and participation in the Program is subject to the discretion of Hello Housing.

I acknowledge I have read the following non-discrimination statement:

Hello Housing and Alameda County do not discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, source of income, genetic information, medical condition, physical disability or mental disability, or any other category protected by law.

As part of my application, I have read and agree to the terms of the Alameda County ADU Program ("Program"), and I certify that statements included herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Acknowledge by typing your name below: