Berkeley housing program cuts could be ‘tragic’ but needed, officials say

Berkeley housing program cuts could be ‘tragic’ but needed, officials say

BERKELEY — A year ago, the Berkeley City Council dedicated $5 million to a program meant to rehabilitate and preserve small housing sites as affordable and prevent displacement of existing tenants. Half of that money may be yanked back to help plug a looming budget deficit. The Small Sites Program, developed in 2018, aims to help in the acquisition and renovation of small multi-family apartment buildings that are already occupied and to keep tho…