‘OnlyinOakland’ homeless solution
The city of Oakland opened its fifth “Community Cabins” site Wednesday in hopes of clearing homeless encampments on the West OaklandEmeryville border and helping homeless people transition to permanent housing.
As the city’s largest site, it will serve 76 people who are currently living in encampments near 35th and Magnolia streets and Hollis Street and West MacArthur Boulevard. Residents are expected to begin moving in next week.
“We understand it’s an interim solution, but it’s a bridge to a longterm solution, which is permanent housing,” said Sara Bedford, the city’s director of human services.
The 41 cabins line an empty lot near Mandela Parkway and 34th Street beneath Interstates 580 and 880 near a construction area, but car and machine noise is drowned out inside the cabins, which are made of drywall, are insulated and have doublepane windows. The sheds have one or two cots, a blanket, socks, hygiene items, lights, outlets and two storage bins for each occupant. The site will also have portable toilets, washing stations and shower service.
“This is an onlyinOakland intervention that is effective, dignified and compassionate,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said.
The new living units were built by California Sheds. The earlier units were supplied by Tuff Shed.
Like the previous four sites, residents can work with service providers to access health care, mental health and addiction recovery services and help with employment. As part of a partnership with Caltrans, which leased the land to
the city, the agency will offer 10 positions to residents of the Mandela site once they move into transitional or permanent housing.
“There’s a correlation between housing and transportation. We’ll help them navigate the employment system,” said Tony Tavares, the director of Caltrans District 4, which covers the Bay Area.
Moving into the community cabins is free and voluntary, but those in the geographical area who refuse will be forced to leave, Schaaf said.
The site grew out of a partnership between the cities of Oakland and Emeryville, and financial support from private businesses and the state.
“Homelessness affects Emeryville as much as everyone else,” Emeryville Mayor Ally Medina said. “The state’s new budget shows that Governor Newsom understands this is an acute problem facing our communities.”
Operation costs reaching $1.7 million per year will be covered by the California State Homeless Emergency Aid Program. Another $1.3 million in startup costs were funded by local businesses, including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the nearby Target.
The previous four sites, three of which are still in operation, have served more than 350 people and are currently housing 104. Of the 250 who have left the community cabin sites, 167 had successful exits, where they moved into permanent housing, a shelter or reunited with friends or family.
Some critics argue that the sites barely impact Oakland’s enormous homeless problem, and Schaaf estimates there are 3,000 people living on the streets in the city. The mayor takes the criticism in stride.
“I will take criticism any day of the week about doing something. Obviously, this approach has risks, it can be iterated and improved, but we are doing something to address this crisis,” she said.