Oakland CARES Act: Oakland Frontline Healers

The pandemic has amplified existing racial disparities and systemic racism ingrained in service delivery systems. In partnership with the Department of Violence Prevention (DVP), the Oakland Frontline Healers, an alliance of more than 20 small, grassroots organizations serving Oakland’s Black and Brown communities, fielded 150+ volunteers and consultants to serve Oakland residents in dire need. To learn more about the Oakland Frontline Healers, check out their website at https://www.oaklandfrontlinehealers.org/

Oakland Frontline Healers includes many partners with Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) as Lead Agency for 16 sub-grantees including Urban Strategies Council, East Oakland Collective, Serenity House, Roots Community Health Center, Adamika Village and several others. Oakland Frontline Healers activities included:

1. Community Outreach and Public Health Messaging
2. Distribution of Items, including personal protective equipment (PPE), food, and/or hygiene kits
3. COVID-19 Testing
4. Connecting Community Members to Resources (in particular rental assistance and hotel vouchers)

Main CARES Act Web Page