Oakland

Opinion: City Council Must Prioritize Anti-Displacement and Homeless Prevention

Published

9 years ago

June 6, 2017

By Rev. Damita Davis-Howard* and John Jones III**

Most of us know that Oakland is the national epicenter of the urban displacement and racial injustice crisis, and things have gotten worse over the past two years.

Oakland has lost 36,559 African Americans since 2000, a 26 percent decline, while median rents have increased by over 50 percent in two years.

Oakland renters making the median household income of $36,000 would have to pay 100 percent of their incomes to afford the new market rate rents of $3,000.

Homelessness has also surged by 39 percent in 2 years. The new and growing homeless are people who cannot afford housing.

Research and direct experience show that the new faces of Oakland’s homeless crisis are working parents with children, elderly tenants and former homeowners who lost their homes, formerly incarcerated residents and students.

The good news is that $5 million for 2 years is available in the city’s budget to fund proven anti-displacement strategies that would help over 7,000 tenants and 300 elderly homeowners at severe risk of displacement and homelessness.

Why should the City Council prioritize funding proven anti-displacement strategies–housing counseling, legal services, and emergency housing funds for low-income tenants and homeowners—when the City has so many other pressing demands for its limited dollars?

First, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. It costs about $500 to keep a family in their home versus $500,000 to build a new housing unit or about $100,000/person to provide homeless wrap-around services.

And most of all, we can prevent human suffering and trauma from losing one’s home and slipping into homelessness or displacement.

Second, investing in anti-displacement prevents homelessness. Oakland recently passed policies to protect tenants—Measure JJ and the Tenant Protection Ordinance. But what’s needed to make these protections real is funding frontline housing defenders—housing counselors and lawyers—as well as emergency housing funds to help cover rent during a financial set-back or for security deposit.

There are over 3,500 tenants facing evictions annually who do not have legal representation. And there many Oakland elderly homeowners, disproportionately African American, who are at risk of losing their homes.

Third, non-general fund monies are available for anti-displacement, which means that the Council won’t have to choose between funding more police or keeping people in their homes. The City of Oakland has $5 million available over the next 2 years, housing boomerang funds used to build affordable housing, that can be used instead for anti-displacement. Through new housing bond measures and new housing impact fee, the city will have over $200 million in other funds for affordable housing development.

But it will take three to five years to build new units. Meanwhile, people are losing their homes every day. By prioritizing anti-displacement, the City’s housing boomerang funds could prevent displacement of over 7,000 tenants and 300 homeowners in the next 2 years.

With the thousand and one pulls on the council attention and budget, it’s going to take people willing to care enough to contact Oakland City Councilmembers and let them know that funding anti-displacement is a priority.

Without significant resources going into preventing displacement, Oakland’s African American population will be decimated, our homeless crisis will continue to escalate, and our ability to create Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community here in Oakland will be impeded.

Let’s make sure that the Oakland City Council takes action at the special Council budget meeting on June 12th to prevent displacement—call them today!

Reverend Damita Davis-Howard is a leader with Oakland Community Organization (OCO) and the Our Beloved Community Action Network. John Jones III is a life coach with Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) and a leader of the Our Beloved Community Action Network.

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Oakland Post: Week of July 1 – 7, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 1 – 7, 2026

Published

4 days ago

July 5, 2026

Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Prescott Circus Theatre Presents Free Summer Performance Series

Now in its 41st year, the Prescott Circus Theatre is a nationally recognized performing arts education program for Oakland youth. The circus offers safe environments that challenge Oakland youth, through circus arts training, to develop the skills and confidence to thrive on stage, in school, and in life.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Prescott Circus showcase pathways pyramid. Photo courtesy of Prescott Circus.

By Post Staff

The Prescott Circus, Oakland’s longest-running youth circus, is returning this summer with its free shows. Join the Prescott Circus’s young stars as they share their joys and talents through stilt-dancing, tumbling, juggling, and more.

At the heart of this one-hour show, which demonstrates teamwork, pride, and joy, are Oakland Unified School District students ages 8 – 17 from more than 10 different schools

This is accomplished through no-cost school and community programs for more than 300 Oakland youth each year. Performing company members from Prescott, where the program began, perform and make appearances at as many as 40 Bay Area events each year.

The summer program is funded in part by Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, California Arts Council, Port of Oakland, and the West Davis & Bergard Foundation.

Performances will be held Tuesday, July 14, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (ASL interpreted) and Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m., at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. For free reservations go to

https://PrescottCircusSummerShows.eventbrite.com

For group reservations for camps, childcare centers, senior centers, go to www.prescottcircus.org

A community show will be held Saturday, July 18, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., at DeFremery Park,1651 Adeline St., Oakland.

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Activism

NPRC Joins National Grand Jury Proceedings Seeking Accountability, Constitutional Restoration

Organizers state that testimony will explore historical and political developments that they believe have contributed to the expansion of corporate influence over public institutions and governmental decision-making. Participants are expected to discuss concerns regarding constitutional governance, individual liberties, property rights, and the protection of vulnerable populations, including seniors and persons with disabilities.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Billie Powers.

Special to The Post

The National Probate Reform Coalition (NPRC) has joined Toll and Roll and a growing coalition of advocacy organizations, victims, whistleblowers, and citizen groups in support of a nationally broadcast People’s Grand Jury proceeding scheduled for July 1 and July 7.

Organizers describe the event as a public forum designed to examine allegations of government abuse, judicial misconduct, legislative failures, and the erosion of constitutional protections affecting millions of Americans.

The proceedings will feature testimony from victims, families, advocates, and organizations from across the country who contend they have experienced harm through government actions, institutional neglect, and failures of oversight.

According to organizers, the People’s Grand Jury will focus on concerns involving probate courts, guardianships, conservatorships, child welfare systems, property rights, civil liberties, and what participants view as a growing disconnect between government institutions and the constitutional rights of the people they are sworn to serve.

NPRC is participating because many of the issues being examined mirror the concerns raised by advocates, victims, and families who have participated in its monthly town halls. For years, families have reported cases involving exploitation of elders, questionable guardianships, estate depletion, denial of due process, and a lack of meaningful oversight within probate court systems.

“This proceeding gives victims and advocates an opportunity to place their experiences on the public record,” said Tanya Dennis, lead facilitator of NPRC. “For too long, families have struggled to have their voices heard regarding elder abuse, probate exploitation, and government inaction. This forum allows those stories to be shared before a national audience.”

In keeping with principles of transparency and fairness, invitations have been extended to legislators, members of the judiciary, law enforcement representatives, and other public officials who may wish to respond to concerns raised during the proceedings or defend actions taken by their respective institutions.

One of the primary outcomes sought by organizers is public consideration and support for the People’s Remedy and Restoration Act, a proposed legislative framework that advocates believe would strengthen oversight, increase accountability, provide remedies for victims of governmental abuse, and restore constitutional protections.

The proceedings are expected to be broadcast nationally, providing citizens throughout the United States an opportunity to observe testimony, review evidence presented, and participate in an ongoing conversation regarding government accountability and the protection of individual rights.

Advocates hope the hearings will encourage meaningful dialogue, legislative reform, and renewed public engagement in the democratic process.

Individuals, organizations, public officials, and members of the media interested in attending or obtaining access information may contact the organizers at tollandroll2025@gmail.com.

As Americans continue to debate the future of constitutional governance, judicial accountability, and the protection of vulnerable citizens, the July proceedings are expected to serve as a significant forum for public testimony and civic engagement. For more information, go to https://tollandroll.com