City of Oakland issued the following announcement on Dec. 22
The City of Oakland, in partnership with Bay Area Community Services (BACS), will announce an innovative program that has resulted in the purchase of 17 residential homes for unsheltered residents.
Assisted by Project Homekey funds, the City contracted with BACS to purchase and convert 17 homes throughout Oakland to provide new interim housing for more than 100 previously unsheltered residents, the first of whom began moving in this month.
“This brings new meaning to the phrase ‘home for the holidays’”, said Mayor Schaaf. “More than 100 formally homeless individuals will receive their forever homes through this innovative project. These types of ambitious projects can take years, yet this gift of housing came in less than 90 days, due to the relationships we have with organizations like BACS, and the heart, urgency, and compassion of our City staff.”
Funding for this project was a combination of approximately $10M in state issued Project Homekey, and $5M in philanthropic donation from Crankstart.
“I have nothing but love and respect for this project and those who made it happen,” said Vice Mayor Larry Reid, District 7. “This program gives dignity and respect back to people who deserve it. There are many other properties like this around the City that can be acquired, so I am confident we can do this same thing again.”
The City held a press conference to announce the first homes openings today where Mayor Schaaf was joined by Councilmember and Vice Mayor Larry Reid, Shola Olatoye, Director of Housing & Community Development, and Jamie Almanza, Executive Director of BACS.
Below: City staff and partner agency statements; a recording of the 12/23 press conference; highlights from the 12/23 press conference; and a virtual tour of two Project homes.
“This project is a wonderful example of what can happen when partners come together – multiple levels of government, nonprofit agencies, and philanthropic entities – to house our most vulnerable,” said Shola Olatoye, Director of Housing & Community Development. “This is a proven model that provides dignity to residents. I look forward to doing more with the state and similar agencies to house our neighbors in need.”
“This model works,” said Jamie Almanza, BACS Executive Director. “It breaks the frame that it doesn’t have to be big hotels, we can place people in houses within residential communities. It really is about having a home that is within the community, neighbors who we all live by, that are truly deeply affordable and offers people a place to age safely with dignity.”
Original source can be found here.
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