The requirement states that as of July 1, 2003, in order to be eligible for continued occupancy, each adult family member between the ages of 18 and 61 must either:

• Perform 8 hours per month of community service (not including political activities); or

• Participate in an economic self-sufficiency program; or

• Perform 8 hours per month of combined community service and economic self-sufficiency activities unless they are exempt from this requirement.

Community Service includes performing work or duties in the public benefit that serve to improve the quality of life and/or improve resident self-sufficiency, and/or increase the self-responsibility of the resident within the community. Community service may not include political activities. Community service may be performed at a school, church, library, hospital, or non-profit organization in the local community.

An economic self-sufficiency program is one that is designed to encourage, assist, train or facilitate the economic independence of participants and their families or to provide work for participants. These programs may include job training, work placement, basic skills training, education, English proficiency, work fair, financial or household management, apprenticeship, and any program necessary to ready a participant to work, such as the Housing Authority's Self-Sufficiency Program.

Individuals may claim an exemption from the community service requirement if they are:

1. 62 or older.

2. Blind or disabled as defined under 216(I)(1) or 1614 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 416(I)(1) and who certify that because of this disability they are unable to comply with the community service requirements.

3. The primary care giver for someone who is blind or disabled as defined above.

4. Engaged in work activity (have a job).

5. Exempt from work activity under Part A Title IV of the Social Security Act or under any other State welfare program, including the Welfare-to-Work program.

6. Receiving assistance, benefits or services under a State program funded under Part A Title IV of the Social Security Act or under any other State welfare program, including Welfare-to-Work and who are in compliance with that program.

Adult family members between the ages of 18 and 61 who are not exempt will be required to submit quarterly proof that they have performed 8 hours per month of the required community service/self-sufficiency activity. If not, that family member will have to sign an agreement to cure the non-compliance by making up the hours, or vacate the unit; otherwise the family's lease may not be renewed and the family may have to move.  Quarterly reporting forms can be downloaded or printed by clicking on the following link community service verification.

An eligibility form must be completed for each member of the household, age 18 and older, and returned to your Housing Manager immediately. Your Housing Manager will be able to provide additional copies of the form if necessary. Using this form, your Housing Manager will be able to monitor who is required to participate in the community service requirement.

Questions regarding the new community service requirement should be directed to your Housing Manager at (510) 538-8876.

A listing of local non-profit organizations, schools and other agencies that accept volunteer community service workers can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Community Service Opportunities