Mayor Thao Issues Executive Order Supporting Encampment Management Policy
OAKLAND - Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao issued an Executive Order today directing all City of Oakland departments to fully execute the Encampment Management Policy and enforce all municipal codes to protect critical and essential infrastructure.
Mayor Thao’s explanation of the Executive Order can be viewed HERE and downloaded HERE.
A copy of the Executive Order can be viewed HERE
So far in 2024, the City has conducted full or partial closures of more than 100 encampments. This includes six emergency operations that were conducted urgently to address safety and critical infrastructure issues. Most recently, the first phases of an ongoing City encampment operation at Martin Luther King Jr. Way saw 16 individuals successfully relocated into a community cabin program with wraparound services, nine individuals enrolled in a medical respite care program run by the County of Alameda, and 40 tons of debris removed.
“Being unhoused is not a crime in Oakland, but it doesn’t give individuals the right to break other laws. We must protect our critical infrastructure, and do so by leading with compassion,” Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said. “We will focus on minimizing the impact to our residents while offering shelter and supportive services to help put our unhoused individuals on a path to dignified housing.”
“The City of Oakland’s encampment management team is already hard at work implementing the Encampment Management Policy adopted by our City Council, and this year alone has already accomplished numerous closures and guided scores of unhoused residents into programs and shelter. With Mayor Thao’s executive order we have a clear mandate to step up these efforts,” Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey said. “As always, Oakland will continue to lead with compassion and service, as we take this opportunity to deliver more results for our community, restore and protect our critical infrastructure, and support our community members who are seeking services.”
Mayor Thao has spearheaded several initiatives to tackle homelessness and increase affordable housing:
· Measure U Funding: Secured $200 million for creating and acquiring affordable housing units over the next two years, the largest investment of its kind in Oakland’s history.
· State Grants: Obtained $144.9 million to construct 1,223 new affordable housing units.
· Affordable Housing Preservation: Preserved at least 134 affordable units through Oakland’s Acquisition and Conversion to Affordable Housing program.
· Affordable Housing Projects: In 2024, 981 affordable units were or are under construction in Oakland. Of this, 45% (442 units) are permanent supportive housing (PSH) for people exiting homelessness.
· Encampment Resolution Fund: Secured a $7.2 million grant from the State of California to address long-standing encampments in collaboration with Alameda County.
· Wood Street Encampment Closure: Successfully closed Northern California’s largest homeless encampment, offering services to all residents and preparing the site for 169 affordable housing units.
MLK Jr. Way Encampment Closure:
16 encampment residents transitioned into Cabin Shelter Programs with Wraparound Services; 40 Tons of Debris Removed.