Mayor Schaaf Boosts Budget to Fight Homelessness, Invests $185 Million to Address Crisis

OAKLAND, CA – Yesterday, Mayor Schaaf announced three new investments in the proposed 2017-2019 City Budget to fight homelessness, bringing the total proposed funds to address the crisis to $185 million.

“Homelessness and housing insecurity are the most pressing problems we’re facing today,” said Schaaf. “Anyone who travels our streets knows that homelessness has reached a crisis level in Oakland. Our recent point-in-time count tells us we have 1,902 homeless residents living on Oakland’s streets and another 859 living in shelters, cars or temporarily on couches. Every Oaklander deserves safe, affordable housing. Every resident struggling with disabilities, mental illness or addiction deserves dignity and care.”

This proposed budget includes investments in both immediate and long term solutions as well as new, pilot strategies. It also includes key investments by the County. Yesterday, the Mayor added the following items to her proposal:

• $1,140,000 to create a new dedicated cleaning crew to compassionately clean in and around encampments, as well as to assist with on-site health and hygiene services, such as serviced port-a-potties and trash service.
• $200,000 match that will leverage $1.8 million to operate a new Navigation Center, doubling Oakland’s capacity to get unsheltered residents into supportive transitional housing and eventually permanent housing.
• $500,000 to start up a Proactive Rental Inspection & Renters Rights Education Program to prevent housing loss and displacement.

These additions bring Oakland’s total investment in homeless services, anti-displacement and affordable housing to approximately $185 million over the next two years. Compared with Oakland’s 2015-17 budget, this represents roughly a 50% increase in funding for homeless services, more than double the dedicated funding for renters’ services, and twelve times more funding to protect and create affordable housing.

“Just as the causes of homelessness are complex, the work to tackle it is as well. We need everyone in this community to help,” said Schaaf. “If you want to help, please visit EveryoneHome.org and join a working group, sign up for action alerts or donate to support their services for our unsheltered residents.”

Here is a summary of these proposed expenditures in the 2017-19 Budget:

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