Bay Area

BRIDGE Housing and The Unity Council Celebrate Grand Opening of Casa Sueños, a 181-Unit Affordable Housing Community in Oakland’s Fruitvale Village

OAKLAND, Calif. (June 26, 2024) – BRIDGE Housing, the leading nonprofit affordable housing developer and manager on the West Coast, and The Unity Council, an acclaimed social equity development corporation, today welcomed dignitaries, partners and community members to celebrate the grand opening of Casa Sueños, a 181-unit affordable housing community in Oakland’s Fruitvale Village.

Published

10 months ago

July 8, 2024

Oakland Post

The Unity Council is a non-profit community development organization committed to promoting social equity and improving the quality of life for diverse communities in Oakland and the Greater East Bay. Since its inception in 1964, The Unity Council has provided vital services, including affordable housing, workforce development, and health and wellness programs, to empower residents and strengthen neighborhoods.

As part of the award-winning, transit-oriented Fruitvale Village, Casa Sueños provides essential affordable housing for individuals, families, and those who have experienced homelessness

Casa Sueños, located at the intersection of East 12^th Street and 35^th Avenue, will help address Oakland’s critical housing shortage by providing studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments that will be affordable for families earning 20-80% of Area Median Income. Forty-six units are reserved for residents who have previously experienced homelessness, with permanent supportive services provided by Lifelong Medical Care and funded by Alameda County. Another 29 apartments are available through vouchers from the Oakland Housing Authority. Youth and family services are provided by The Unity Council.

Casa Sueños also includes 7,500 square feet of affordable ground-floor commercial space that will be utilized by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), an Oakland-based nonprofit focused on ending youth criminalization and mass incarceration.

Today’s ribbon-cutting was attended by dozens of government leaders, housing officials, financing partners, new Casa Sueños residents, and community members.

“Casa Sueños demonstrates the transformational power of high-quality affordable housing, along with resident services, that will make a lasting positive difference in the lives of 181 individuals and families,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. “Working shoulder to shoulder with The Unity Council and our other partners, we have made the innovative Fruitvale Village even more vibrant – setting a new standard for livable communities that help residents realize their fullest potential.”

“Place-based affordable housing is the cornerstone of stability. This incredible structure was a BART parking lot just a few years ago. Now it will offer affordable, dignified housing to families and essential workers in the heart of Oakland,” said The Unity Council CEO Chris Iglesias. “The return on investment will benefit the entire region. All parties need to find ways to remove barriers, work collaboratively, and speed up the process for the greater good.”

Casa Sueños responds to the growing need for affordable homes for working families and essential workers in Oakland and the Bay Area. It was developed in partnership with City, County and transit partners, is steps away from Fruitvale BART station, a major AC Transit hub, and the planned Bus Rapid Transit. Initially planned as a market-rate housing development, Casa Sueños is the final residential component of the award-winning Fruitvale Transit Village, which first opened in 2004.

Importantly, Casa Sueños was the model development instrumental in the passage of AB 434, a state law that streamlines four funding programs for rental housing into a single application and award process – accelerating the production of affordable housing for Californians.

Amenities at Casa Sueños include a multi-purpose room with chairs and tables for resident educational use; a community room with desks, sofas, and a kitchen; communal laundry rooms on the first four floors; Amazon lockers in the mailroom; a large courtyard with children’s play equipment, grills, and numerous seating areas; and an underground garage with EV chargers and a bike storage room.

Founded in 1983, BRIDGE Housing has a 40-year history of providing safe, affordable homes for families in the Bay Area and throughout the West Coast. With a focus on community development and comprehensive support services, BRIDGE has nearly 1,200 units of affordable housing in 10 locations throughout Oakland, including the historic St. Joseph’s campus in Fruitvale. Its total portfolio exceeds 13,000 units in California, Washington and Oregon, providing affordable homes for 30,000 residents.

For 60 years, The Unity Council has been focused on supporting Oakland residents through improved social equity and quality of life while addressing the area’s most pressing challenges – unemployment, poverty, access to education, and erasure of cultural identity. Its programs include workforce development, early childhood education, food security, youth leadership and senior services, and development without displacement.

“As we celebrate the grand opening of Casa Sueños, a beacon of opportunity in our beloved Fruitvale of Oakland’s District 5, we affirm our commitment to equity and dignity for all,” said Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo (D-5). “This remarkable transit-oriented community not only provides affordable housing but also embodies our shared vision of inclusive development. Thanks to the leadership of The Unity Council and BRIDGE Housing, Casa Sueños stands as a testament to what is possible when we come together with purpose and passion. Let us continue to build unity and bridges as we create homes where every resident can thrive and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of our city.”

Financing for Casa Sueños was provided by the City of Oakland; Oakland Housing Authority; Alameda County; Alameda County Health Care Services Agency; California Department of Housing and Community Development TOD Housing Program; California Climate Investments (funded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund); Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program through the Strategic Growth Council and the California Department of Housing and Community Development; National Affordable Housing Trust; Lument; JPMorgan Chase; California Tax Credit Allocation Committee; and California Debt Limit Allocation Committee. The architect is SVA Architects, and the general contractor is J.H. Fitzmaurice.

About BRIDGE Housing

BRIDGE Housing is a leading nonprofit developer, owner and manager of high-quality affordable housing on the West Coast, with a mission to strengthen communities and improve lives. Founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the creation of more than 21,000 affordable homes in California, Oregon and Washington, with a total development cost of $5.2 billion. Its current portfolio totals more than 13,000 apartments that are home to 30,000 residents, with another 8,000 units in the development pipeline. For more information, visit www.bridgehousing.com.

About The Unity Council

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Asm. Corey Jackson Proposes Safe Parking for Homeless College Students Sleeping in Cars

Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.

Published

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Assemblymember Corey Jackson. File photo.

By Bo Tefu
California Black Media

As California’s housing crisis continues to impact students, new legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 90, promises to allow college students without stable housing to sleep in their cars on campus, offering a stark but practical solution aimed at immediate relief.

“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” he said at a recent hearing.

The bill passed its first committee vote and is gaining attention as housing affordability remains a top concern across the state. California rents are more than 30% above the national average, and long waitlists for student housing have left thousands in limbo. CSU reported more than 4,000 students on its housing waitlist last year.

Supporters stress that the bill is not a long-term solution, but a humane step toward helping students who have no other place to go. A successful pilot program at Long Beach City College has already shown that safe, supervised overnight parking can work, giving students access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a secure environment.

However, the CSU and community college systems oppose the bill, citing funding concerns. Critics also worry about safety and oversight. But Jackson and student advocates argue the crisis demands bold action.

“If we know students are already sleeping in their cars, why not help them do it safely?” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.

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Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

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Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Barbara Lee Accepts Victory With “Responsibility, Humility and Love”

“I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love. Oakland is a deeply divided City,” Lee said in an April 19 statement. “I answered the call to run to unite our community, so that I can represent every voter, and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems.”

Published

2 days ago

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Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌,
California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

As a candidate for mayor, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee released a “10-point plan” last week to reassure residents that she will tackle Oakland’s most pressing challenges.

Now that she has edged out her competitors in the ranked-choice special election with 50% or more of the vote, the former Congresswoman, who represented parts of the Bay Area in the U.S. House of Representatives, can put her vision in motion as the city’s first Black woman mayor.

On Saturday evening, Taylor conceded to Lee. There are still about 300 Vote-by-Mail ballots left to be verified, according to county election officials. The ballots will be processed on April 21 and April 22.

“This morning, I called Congresswoman Barbara Lee to congratulate her on becoming the next Mayor of Oakland,” Taylor said in a statement.

“I pray that Mayor-Elect Lee fulfills her commitment to unify Oakland by authentically engaging the 47% of Oaklanders who voted for me and who want pragmatic, results-driven leadership.”

The influential Oakland Post endorsed Lee’s campaign, commending her leadership on the local, state, and federal levels.

Paul Cobb, The Post’s publisher, told California Black Media that Lee will bring back “respect and accountability” to the mayor’s office.

“She is going to be a collegial leader drawing on the advice of community nonprofit organizations and those who have experience in dealing with various issues,” Cobb said. “She’s going to try to do a consensus-building thing among those who know the present problems that face the city.”

Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee’s family moved to California while she was in high school. At 20 years old, Lee divorced her husband after the birth of her first child. After the split, Lee went through a tough period, becoming homeless and having to apply for public assistance to make ends meet.

But destitution did not deter the young woman.

Lee groomed herself to become an activist and advocate in Oakland and committed to standing up for the most vulnerable citizens in her community.

Lee traveled to Washington, D.C. to work for then U.S. Congressman Ron Dellums after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland in 1973. Lee later won a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fellowship to attend the School of Social Welfare, and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of California-Berkeley in 1975.

Lee later served in the California State Assembly and State Senate before she was elected to Congress in 1998.

After serving in the U.S. Congress for more than 25 years, Lee ran unsuccessfully for California’s U.S. Senate in the 2024 primary election.

Lee joins current Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass and former San Francisco Mayor London Breed as Black women serving as chief executives of major cities in California over the last few years.