Oakland, CA – The City of Oakland has won a grant from Partnership for the Bay's Future (PBF) that will fund a two-year fellow to work in the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department to support the development of lead hazard abatement and proactive rental inspection initiatives.
The award will assist in Oakland’s work to reduce lead hazards in older rental housing, especially in communities most impacted by housing instability. The City hired a consultant, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, in 2024 to lead the technical aspect of the lead abatement work. By exploring the integration of lead hazard abatement with proactive rental inspections, the fellow’s work will aim to improve living conditions for families at risk of exposure and create safer homes for Oakland’s residents.
"We are grateful for the support of Partnership for the Bay's Future for this award," said Emily Weinstein, HCD Director. "Housing safety and habitability are top priorities for our work in the coming year, and this fellow will ensure specific attention is paid to creating equitable solutions.”
The fellow will be dedicated full-time for the next two years to facilitate collaboration between HCD, Planning and Building Department (PBD), and a coalition of community partners. The total benefit to City of Oakland is at least $675,800, of which $220,000 goes to a collaborative of community organizations to support the work.
The Healthy Havenscourt Collaborative brings essential community expertise to the project, connecting Oakland residents with resources and ensuring the program aligns with their needs. These partners will engage residents directly to shape the program and make sure their voices are central to its design and implementation. Coalition partners include Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP), La Clinica de la Raza, EBALDC, and Black Cultural Zone - all of which form the Healthy Havenscourt collaborative.
PBF is dedicated to creating equitable housing solutions across the Bay Area by fostering partnerships between local governments and community organizations. The award is one of ten throughout the Bay Area to address the region’s housing crisis and is the third Oakland has received since 2020.
About Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department
Homelessness and housing affordability are top priorities for Oakland residents. To address these challenges, the City is carrying out a multi-pronged approach. The Housing and Community Development Department is addressing housing affordability issues through its “3P” framework: Protect Oaklanders from displacement; Preserve the existing affordable housing stock; and Produce new, deeply affordable housing units. Oakland HCD also aims to prevent homelessness for vulnerable residents through partnerships with and grants to community service organizations. Read more about Oakland HCD and its current priorities in the 2023-2027 Strategic Action Plan.
In 2024, the City of Oakland supported 1,542 units of affordable housing under construction, of which 55% (829) were for people exiting homelessness. The City of Oakland leverages funds from the State and Federal governments to maximize the impact of local dollars whenever possible.
About the Partnership for the Bay's Future
The Partnership for the Bay’s Future is a collaborative effort to produce and preserve affordable homes, and protect tenants so the Bay Area remains a diverse place where everyone thrives. https://baysfuture.org/
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