Bay Area

Unhoused Wood Street Residents Prepare for Vehicle Clearance

Published

6 years ago

October 31, 2019

This trailer, parked at the Wood St encampment, is the home to 22 year old life long Oakland resident John Sing. He was gifted it by his uncle, Karlton Conley, to help keep him safe. The city is clearing trailers and vehicles that serve as people’s homes from the site on Nov . 5 and 6.

Unhoused residents living on a field, just west of Wood Street between 24th and 26th Streets in West Oakland, are anxious as the City of Oakland plans to clear all vehicles from the site on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. Many of the cars serve as people’s homes.

“The idea of losing my community is really traumatic,” said Lydia, who has lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years. “I know the people here and they know me and I feel like I belong here more than I’ve felt anywhere in a long time.”

Lydia has lived in a trailer in the Wood St. encampment since May, after she said Oakland Police told her it was a place where folks who lived in vehicles would not be bothered.During an interview with the Oakland Post, her trailer overflowed with possessions strewn out of her door and all around it in an unorganized manner.

Although she said she doesn’t need much of her possessions, she’s lost almost all of her things in previous Oakland evictions. The memory of that loss has caused Lydia much anxiety, and in anticipation of the upcoming eviction she has resorted to hoarding belongings. The Mayo Clinic defines “hoarding disorder” as a medical condition.

Previous city run evictions of RVs and vehicles have resulted in some residents losing their vehicles and all their possessions inside them because if vehicles can’t be moved in a timely fashion on eviction days, the city tows them. Unhoused residents then often don’t have the resources to get them out of impound lots.

The City had originally planned to remove the vehicles on Oct. 18 but pushed the date back. Lydia says the uncertainty of when exactly residents will have to leave makes the situation more difficult.“It snarls a lot of people like me into a PTSD hoarding frenzy,” she said.

Other Wood St. unhoused residents have also lost most of their possessions during city run evictions. Ramona Choyce, a lifelong Oakland resident sleeps outside in the Wood St encampment because she said the city towed her Subaru on Sept 25th, because she didn’t have the money for registration. She claims it was her fifth vehicle lost to city towing.

“I’m not safe,” said Choyce. “I don’t feel safe. My safe place is gone.”Choyce said she woke up recently to a man she didn’t know laying down beside her. She worries about being harmed by men in the future.

“If I get in my car and lock myself in I know it’s going to be a struggle for them to get in,” said Choyce, “but now I’m in the open and I’ve vulnerable.”

Many Wood St residents arrived there after the city forced them out of other areas. Jessica Huffman, who used to live in a parking lot bordering the bay at Union Point before the city evicted her and dozens of other residents, moved her bus to Wood St. She said the instability of being forced out of her previous community has caused her to drop out of medical school.

Oakland currently has two city run safe parking sites for those who live in vehicles that have security guards, bathrooms, and running water which can serve up to 45 vehicles. The city’s recent point-in-time homeless count showed 1430 people living in vehicles.

City documents show plans to add an addition West Oakland site that would serve “approximately 48 vehicles” in the fall of 2019.

“The city has been reviewing the idea of converting this privately owned lot to a safe RV parking area that would serve West Oakland RV dwellers, but the owner would need to clean it thoroughly first before it could be developed into such a use,” said Assistant to the City Administrator Joe DeVries.

The owner is Mike Bonifer, who runs GameChangers, LLC and lives in Los Angeles. The Oakland Post has attempted to reach him for comment but was unsuccessful.

Some residents of the Wood St encampment are skeptical that they’ll have access to the program. The Oakland Post counted around 85 vehicles at the site, and while some vehicles are abandoned, others showed evidence that people live in them. Most residents living in vehicles are unclear where they will go if they have to leave and some don’t know if they’ll be able to tow their inoperable vehicles off of the site.

DeVries claims the vast majority of the vehicles are abandoned but Wood St residents disagree and claim that no city census has been done there to find out how many people on site live in vehicles.

“The City is hoping the operation does not cause anyone to lose a vehicle they actually live in,” said DeVries, who also claimed spots would be offered in a West Oakland Safe Parking site near Target. But the site, which can hold 17 vehicles, currently appears half full.

Many Oakland Residents have lived on Wood St site for years, some for up to five.

Zack Haber

Posts by Zack Haber

Related Topics:City of Oakland Homeless Eviction Oakland Homeless Wood Street Encampment Zack Haber

Up Next

Corey Booker Campaigns in Oakland

Don't Miss

Opinion: Why Fund Empty Prisons Instead of Full Schools?

Zack Haber

Click to comment

Activism

Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

First 5 Alameda County Distributes Over $8 Million in First Wave of Critical Relief Funds for Historically Underpaid Caregivers

“Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers are lifelines for so many children and families in Alameda County,” said Kristin Spanos, CEO, First 5 Alameda County. “Yet, they often go unrecognized and undercompensated for their labor and ability to give individualized, culturally connected care. At First 5, we support the conditions that allow families to thrive, and getting this money into the hands of these caregivers and families at a time of heightened financial stress for parents is part of that commitment.”

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Costco. Courtesy image.

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers Can Now Opt Into $4,000 Grants to Help Bolster Economic Stability and Strengthen Early Learning Experiences

By Post Staff

Today, First 5 Alameda County announced the distribution of $4,000 relief grants to more than 2,000 Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, totaling over $8 million in the first round of funding. Over the full course of the funding initiative, First 5 Alameda County anticipates supporting over 3,000 FFN caregivers, who collectively care for an estimated 5,200 children across Alameda County. These grants are only a portion of the estimated $190 million being invested into expanding our early childcare system through direct caregiver relief to upcoming facilities, shelter, and long-term sustainability investments for providers fromMeasure C in its first year. This investment builds on the early rollout of Measure C and reflects a comprehensive, system-wide strategy to strengthen Alameda County’s early childhood ecosystem so families can rely on sustainable, accessible care,

These important caregivers provide child care in Alameda County to their relatives, friends, and neighbors. While public benefits continue to decrease for families, and inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, these grants provide direct economic support for FFN caregivers, whose wages have historically been very low or nonexistent, and very few of whom receive benefits. As families continue to face growing financial pressures, especially during the winter and holiday season, these grants will help these caregivers with living expenses such as rent, utilities, supplies, and food.

The funding for these relief grants comes from Measure C, a local voter-approved sales tax in Alameda County that invests in young children, their families, communities, providers, and caregivers. Within the first year of First 5’s 5-Year Plan for Measure C, in addition to the relief grants to informal FFN caregivers, other significant investments will benefit licensed child care providers. These investments include over $40 million in Early Care and Education (ECE) Emergency Grants, which have already flowed to nearly 800 center-based and family child care providers. As part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, preparations are also underway to distribute facilities grants early next year for child care providers who need to make urgent repairs or improvements, and to launch the Emergency Revolving Fund in Spring 2026 to support licensed child care providers in Alameda County who are at risk of closure.

The FFN Relief Grants recognize and support the essential work that an estimated 3,000 FFN caregivers provide to 5,200 children in Alameda County. There is still an opportunity to receive funds for FFN caregivers who have not yet received them.

In partnership with First 5 Alameda County, Child Care Payment Agencies play a critical role in identifying eligible caregivers and leading coordinated outreach efforts to ensure FFN caregivers are informed of and able to access these relief funds.FFN caregivers are eligible for the grant if they receive a child care payment from an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency, 4Cs of Alameda County, BANANAS, Hively, and Davis Street, and are currently caring for a child 12 years old or younger in Alameda County. Additionally, FFN caregivers who provided care for a child 12 years or younger at any time since April 1, 2025, but are no longer doing so, are also eligible for the funds. Eligible caregivers are being contacted by their Child Care Payment Agency on a rolling basis, beginning with those who provided care between April and July 2025.

“This money is coming to me at a critical time of heightened economic strain,” said Jill Morton, a caregiver in Oakland, California. “Since I am a non-licensed childcare provider, I didn’t think I was eligible for this financial support. I was relieved that this money can help pay my rent, purchase learning materials for the children as well as enhance childcare, buy groceries and take care of grandchildren.”

Eligible FFN caregivers who provided care at any time between April 1, 2025 and July 31, 2025, who haven’t yet opted into the process, are encouraged to check their mail and email for an eligibility letter. Those who have cared for a child after this period should expect to receive communications from their child care payment agency in the coming months. FFN caregivers with questions may also contact the agency they work with to receive child care payments, or the First 5 Alameda help desk, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, at 510-227-6964. The help desk will be closed 12/25/25 – 1/1/26. Additional grant payments will be made on a rolling basis as opt-ins are received by the four child care payment agencies in Alameda County.

Beginning in the second year of Measure C implementation, FFN caregivers who care for a child from birth to age five and receive an Alameda County subsidized voucher will get an additional $500 per month. This amounts to an annual increase of about $6,000 per child receiving a subsidy. Together with more Measure C funding expected to flow back into the community as part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, investments will continue to become available in the coming year for addressing the needs of childcare providers in Alameda County.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County builds the local childhood systems and supports needed to ensure our county’s youngest children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and life.

Our Mission

In partnership with the community, we support a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves the lives of children from birth to age five and their families.

Our Vision

Every child in Alameda County will have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential.

Learn more at www.first5alameda.org.