The History of ECHO Housing
The Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO Housing) was founded in 1964 and incorporated in 1965 by community volunteers dedicated to equal housing opportunities and the prevention and elimination of homelessness. Established as a fair housing agency, ECHO has expanded to a full service housing counseling organization providing services to very low and moderate income clients.
In 1968, ECHO and the Eden Council of Churches took a primary role in the development of Eden Housing, Inc., an affordable housing development agency. ECHO's Board of Directors recognized that while our mission was to offer housing services, it was essential that affordable housing be developed in the community. Eden Housing has since spun-off to become an independent entity, building affordable housing throughout the Bay Area.
ECHO received its first jurisdictional funding for discrimination investigation from the City of Hayward in 1973. Subsequently, ECHO received funding from every city in Alameda County, including unincorporated Alameda County, and Contra Costa County, the Cities of Concord and Walnut Creek.
Beginning in 1977, ECHO established a satellite office in the City of Fremont in order to make its services more accessible to Fremont residents. Additional offices were established, and still exist, in Livermore, Oakland, and Contra Costa County.
A federal grant from the Department of Housing & Urban Development was secured in 1980 to provide mortgage counseling to people faced with foreclosure. In 1983, ECHO began working with the San Francisco Development Fund to develop a Reverse Annuity Mortgage Program for senior homeowners. In the same year ECHO began delivery of counseling services for the Reverse Annuity Mortgage project.
1985 marked perhaps the most difficult period in the history of ECHO Housing. Severe funding cuts forced the closure of the Fremont office and staffing cuts eliminated the Senior Minor Home Repair Program, the Senior Housing Program, and Homeseeking programs for the Southern Alameda County area.
During this period, networking among service providers became essential for the survival of ECHO and most non-profits throughout the state. ECHO staff became active in the Emergency Services Network of Alameda County and participated in the formation of local and statewide fair housing coalitions. Even with limited resources, staff and board members remained committed to serving people in need of assistance.
In 1986, ECHO was chosen by the Southern Alameda County Target 1990 Housing Task Force to administer the innovative Rental Assistance Program. The program assists individuals and families with move-in deposits and delinquent rent. The program began operation in 1987, and has been so successful that it has been recognized as a housing assistance model throughout the state and the nation.
In 2000, ECHO was selected by Alameda County to administer the Revolving Loan Fund. This program assists Alameda County CalWORKs families with move-in deposit loans for moves within the County.
In 2003, ECHO Housing explored a merger with a sister agency, Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing (MCFH). In 2005, ECHO completed the merger with MCFH to provide fair housing counseling and investigation to Peninsula residents.
In 2011, ECHO began providing housing counseling services in Contra Costa County. ECHO now provides fair housing and tenant/landlord services in every jurisdiction of the County except Antioch.
In 2017, ECHO Housing expanded its service area to include Monterey County. We are currently under contract with the Cities of Monterey, Salinas, and Seaside, and urban Monterey County to provide Fair Housing and Tenant/Landlord Services.
ECHO Housing has been recognized throughout the years by means of resolutions and proclamations from city, county and state governments for outstanding service in fair housing, and has received mentions in the Congressional Record for its superior housing counseling services provision and its Fair Housing Leadership Conferences.
ECHO's services reach over 3,000 clients per year with housing information, referrals, and assistance. ECHO's primary service component continues to be equal housing access; however, more recent services have been directed to intervention and prevention of homelessness.
Current service programs include:
In 1968, ECHO and the Eden Council of Churches took a primary role in the development of Eden Housing, Inc., an affordable housing development agency. ECHO's Board of Directors recognized that while our mission was to offer housing services, it was essential that affordable housing be developed in the community. Eden Housing has since spun-off to become an independent entity, building affordable housing throughout the Bay Area.
ECHO received its first jurisdictional funding for discrimination investigation from the City of Hayward in 1973. Subsequently, ECHO received funding from every city in Alameda County, including unincorporated Alameda County, and Contra Costa County, the Cities of Concord and Walnut Creek.
Beginning in 1977, ECHO established a satellite office in the City of Fremont in order to make its services more accessible to Fremont residents. Additional offices were established, and still exist, in Livermore, Oakland, and Contra Costa County.
A federal grant from the Department of Housing & Urban Development was secured in 1980 to provide mortgage counseling to people faced with foreclosure. In 1983, ECHO began working with the San Francisco Development Fund to develop a Reverse Annuity Mortgage Program for senior homeowners. In the same year ECHO began delivery of counseling services for the Reverse Annuity Mortgage project.
1985 marked perhaps the most difficult period in the history of ECHO Housing. Severe funding cuts forced the closure of the Fremont office and staffing cuts eliminated the Senior Minor Home Repair Program, the Senior Housing Program, and Homeseeking programs for the Southern Alameda County area.
During this period, networking among service providers became essential for the survival of ECHO and most non-profits throughout the state. ECHO staff became active in the Emergency Services Network of Alameda County and participated in the formation of local and statewide fair housing coalitions. Even with limited resources, staff and board members remained committed to serving people in need of assistance.
In 1986, ECHO was chosen by the Southern Alameda County Target 1990 Housing Task Force to administer the innovative Rental Assistance Program. The program assists individuals and families with move-in deposits and delinquent rent. The program began operation in 1987, and has been so successful that it has been recognized as a housing assistance model throughout the state and the nation.
In 2000, ECHO was selected by Alameda County to administer the Revolving Loan Fund. This program assists Alameda County CalWORKs families with move-in deposit loans for moves within the County.
In 2003, ECHO Housing explored a merger with a sister agency, Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing (MCFH). In 2005, ECHO completed the merger with MCFH to provide fair housing counseling and investigation to Peninsula residents.
In 2011, ECHO began providing housing counseling services in Contra Costa County. ECHO now provides fair housing and tenant/landlord services in every jurisdiction of the County except Antioch.
In 2017, ECHO Housing expanded its service area to include Monterey County. We are currently under contract with the Cities of Monterey, Salinas, and Seaside, and urban Monterey County to provide Fair Housing and Tenant/Landlord Services.
ECHO Housing has been recognized throughout the years by means of resolutions and proclamations from city, county and state governments for outstanding service in fair housing, and has received mentions in the Congressional Record for its superior housing counseling services provision and its Fair Housing Leadership Conferences.
ECHO's services reach over 3,000 clients per year with housing information, referrals, and assistance. ECHO's primary service component continues to be equal housing access; however, more recent services have been directed to intervention and prevention of homelessness.
Current service programs include:
- Fair Housing Services serving urban and unincorporated Alameda, Contra Costa, and Monterey Counties, and the Cities of Alameda, Concord, Hayward, Livermore, Monterey, Oakland, Pleasanton, Richmond, Salinas, San Leandro, Seaside, Union City, and Walnut Creek;
- Tenant/Landlord Services serving urban and unincorporated Alameda, Contra Costa, and Monterey Counties, and the Cities of Alameda, Hayward, Livermore, Monterey, Pleasanton, Richmond, Salinas, San Leandro, Seaside, Union City, and Walnut Creek;
- Shared Housing Counseling Program serving the Cities of Livermore and Pleasanton;
- Rental Assistance Program and the Rent/Deposit Grant Program serving Alameda County,
- First-Time Homebuyer Education for those living or working in the Cities of Livermore and Pleasanton;
- Rent Review and Eviction Harassment Programs for the Cities of Albany, Concord, Emeryville, Larkspur and Union City; and unincorporated Alameda County.