Oakland is in the middle of an affordable housing crisis. From displacement to homelessness, existing tenants and people living in temporary housing need support to prevent homelessness.
Keep Oakland Housed (KOH), a program that will help prevent Oakland residents from losing their housing and help support those living in temporary housing, launched publicly on October 15.
KOH is a three-pronged approach to preventing homelessness before it starts: emergency financial assistance, supportive services, and legal representation.
At BACS, we receive a thousand or more calls each month from people who are on the brink of losing their housing.
“Homeless prevention is a critical piece of ending homelessness—for as many people who are living on the streets that BACS already helps,” Jamie Almanza, BACS’ Executive Director said. “Keep Oakland Housed means that we can say yes immediately to help people on the same day they need help.”
BACS is implementing this initiative with Catholic Charities of the East Bay and East Bay Community Law Center. Kaiser Permanente and the San Francisco Foundation provided funding to sustain KOH through the year 2022.
“We cannot make meaningful progress toward equity and inclusive prosperity in Oakland without addressing the housing crises and championing equitable approaches to protection, preservation and production focused on low income and people of color communities in the Oakland. Together with our donors, we are proud to be part of Keep Oakland Housed,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation.
KOH works in partnership with Mayor Libby Schaaf and the City of Oakland.
“Not one resident in Oakland should live with the fear that they’ll become homeless if they miss a rent check,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said. “The fight against homelessness starts with preventing homelessness, and our community partners at Kaiser Permanente and the San Francisco Foundation have stepped up with open hearts. Keep Oakland Housed is a first-of-its-kind collaboration among local government, philanthropic partners, and our social service providers to keep Oakland’s residents right where they belong—at home, and in Oakland.”
BACS will provide emergency financial assistance and case management services, in addition to coordinating with the city and county to ensure that clients are tracked effectively and services are not duplicated through the use of the Homeless Management Information System.
Learn more about KOH on KeepOaklandHoused.org, or find out more on our site.
