Street view of the Grinnell in Berkeley, CA.

View of the the Grinnell entrance in Berkeley, CA.

Entrance and mailroom at the Grinnell in Berkeley, CA.

Abstract hallway mural at the Grinnell in Berkeley, CA.

People enjoy the ping pong table and roof deck at the Grinnell in Berkeley, CA.

People gather in the community room and kitchen at the Grinnell in Berkeley, CA.

Family plays outdoor chess at the Grinnell in Berkeley, CA

The Grinnell

2527 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley

Accepting Applications

Apply online

Accepting Applications

To apply online or download a paper application, please click the Apply Online button.
For more information, please click the Download Flyer button.

Eligibility

Head of household must be at least 18 years or older, or legally emancipated at the time of application.

The waiting list for studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom units at The Grinnell opens on October 20, 2026 at 9:00 AM. Applications will be available to submit online. A valid email address is required to apply online. Online applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on November 3, 2026.

Applications will also be available online to print. Paper applications will be available to pick up at 2527 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702 at these times:

Friday, October 23rd , 2026: 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM
Tuesday, October 27th , 2026: 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM
Thursday, October 29th , 2026: 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Paper applications must be mailed to the address listed on the application. Applications submitted by mail must be received by 5:00 PM on November 3, 2026.

A lottery will be conducted for all applications received by the deadline. The top 300 applications will be placed on the waiting list for consideration. If additional applications are needed, we reserve the right to process the next applications in lottery order.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application process. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please email grinnell@sahahomes.org or call the number above.

Contact +1 (866) 809-2496
Income Level
30-60% AMI
Resident Population
Families

People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Completion January 2024
Architect
C.M. Wong Architecture
Contractor
James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corp.
Financing Partners
California HCD (AHSC, IIG & Accelerator)

City of Berkeley

Regional Center of the East Bay
Property Manager
SAHA PM
Services Coordinator
Housing Consortium of the East Bay

The Grinnell is an affordable housing community for families and people with special needs. The six-story building provides 63 homes as follows: 21 studio units, eight one-bedroom units, 33 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom manager’s unit. Twelve homes are prioritized for people with an intellectual or developmental disability.

The Grinnell is programmed with ample indoor and outdoor community space clustered on the first and sixth floors. Property Management and Resident Services offices are located directly off the residential lobby, as is the main community room (approximately 829 square-feet) with kitchenette that can accommodate all the residents of the building for community wide meetings, game nights, movie nights and other activities. The building includes a dramatic 2,450 square-feet rooftop deck with landscaping and several seating areas that will be a welcome retreat and respite for residents. The laundry room is located directly off the deck as is a smaller 165 square-foot activity room. The design encourages informal interactions by providing multiple areas to sit adjacent to the laundry and mailboxes, essential services that all residents will use. In addition, the building includes a ground-floor retail space of approximately 830 square-feet to activate the streetscape.